RRU researcher wants to dispel myths on gender-based online violence
Topics
Featured
Share online
Learn more about the College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
When so much of our lives are spent online, real-life dangers can translate to the virtual world. And in some cases, these risks are increasing.
Reporting on a group research effort on male sentiment of gender-based online violence and abuse, Associate Professor in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies Jaigris Hodson wrote in a recent opinion piece for The Conversation:
“We cannot address gender-based online violence and abuse by simply reporting and deleting offensive content. It also won’t stop by simply mandating that platforms have codes of conduct in place. In order to tackle the problem, we must address the cultural narratives that sustain it.
“Everyone — from academics to policymakers to the public — needs to think about how we can address toxic beliefs to create long-lasting change and foster safer online communities. We can aim for such change in multiple ways.
“Practitioners and researchers must keep exploring the nature and prevalence of myths surrounding gender-based online violence and abuse. We need to spend time with young men and ask them questions about what they think it is to be a man, and we need to provide positive examples of masculinity in order to make manosphere-style ideas less attractive.”
Hodson co-authored the piece with Esteban Morales from the University of Groningen, Kaitlynn Mendes from Western University and Yimin Chen, a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads.
Read the full opinion piece with research findings in The Conversation.