Too into you: Digital intimate relationship abuse against young women in Ireland

McMahon, Ellie. (2021). Too into you: Digital intimate relationship abuse against young women in Ireland. Dearcadh: Graduate Journal of Gender, Globalisation and Rights, 2. doi:https://doi.org/10.13025/NTJH-5A83

Abstract

Background: A large proportion of young people's lives now takes place online where they pursue community, creativity and self-expression. However, as young people's intimate relationships move to the digital sphere, digital technology risks becoming a tool of abuse. Methods: An online survey conducted with 500 young Irish women and men aged 18 to 25 years old and four qualitative focus groups with young Irish women and men with varying levels of experience with intimate relationship abuse. Results: 49% of young women aged 18 to 25 years old who had experienced intimate relationship abuse experienced the abuse digitally. The most common form of digital intimate relationship abuse experienced was harassment by phone, text, email or private message. Young women perceived digital technology to be a key tool of abuse in intimate relationships. It is seen as easy to perpetrate but difficult to address and seek help for because of ‘internalised stigma’ and the perception that such abuse is not taken seriously within society. Discussion: Further in-depth research is needed to gauge the prevalence and nature of intimate relationship abuse perpetrated digitally. Although criminal legal protections have improved in Ireland in recent years, civil remedies are now needed particularly in relation to image-based sexual abuse. Education and awareness-raising that comprehensively reflects young people’s lived experiences in terms of sex, relationships and technology are needed. These must be firmly rooted within the overall context of the gender (in)equalities that are part of young people’s lives in and outside of the home.

Publisher

School of Political Science and Sociology, University of Galway

Rights

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IE

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Collections

School of Political Science & Sociology (Scholarly Articles)