Article Review #4

Article review #4 is for the article titled "Sexual Harassment on the Internet" by Azy Barak. The article was published in Social Science Computer Review, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2005, pages 77-92.

Introduction:
Sexual harassment is something that has always affected people. It h as played a role "at work, school, military installations, and social gatherings". Mostly women suffer from sexual harassment, however, men, children, and homosexuals are also targets of SH as well. The Internet has become a medium where people can be sexually harassed . "SH and offense on the Internet is considered a major obstacle to the free, legitimate, functional, and joyful use of the Net, as these acts drive away Net users as well as cause significant emotional harm and actual damage to those who remain users, whether by choice or by duty." In other words, despite all the positives of the Internet, bad exists, which causes harm and distress among the victim.

Offline Sexual Harassment
SH has largely been performed face to face in social environments. SH happens all over the world and is not limited to one culture or society. However, SH affects people in different ways. The authors state there are three categories of sexual harassment: gender, unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion. Gender is verbal and visual comments that put down the person because of their gender. These are intended to give the person negative emotions. This could be in the form of sexual jokes, insults, posting pornography, and making gender degrading remarks. Sexual attention refers to behaviors that display sexual desire and are unwanted by the victim. This could be staring at a womans breasts or making statements that insinuate sexual activities or desires. Sexual coercion is putting sexual pressure on another person . This could be touching, bribing, or making threats.

Sexual Harassment in Cyberspace
The three above types of SH are also online, but most of SH tends to be in the form of gender harassment and unwanted sexual attention. Gender harassment is very common online. It may be verbal, which could be offensive sexual messages toward a victim. Messages may be gender humiliating, such as saying a woman shouldn't be in a forum but rather in the kitchen, sexual remarks, or dirty jokes. Based off of a study by Mitchell, Finkelhor and Wolak (2003), 62% of youth received unwanted sexualized email's, 92% from senders they did not know and 73% unintentionally visited the websites which were sex sites (pop up windows, clicking a link they didn't know what it was, etc).

Passive verbal SH online is less intrusive than the pop ups or messages described above. The individual who is performing this type of SH online doesn't necessarily target a specific person, rather potential receivers. Example depicted in the article describes user names in chats, forums, instant messaging, emails, etc, which are offensive and possibly demeaning.

SH online can be both passive and active. Active harassment can be intentionally sending pornographic materials to another individual online. The amount of offense the receiver takes, it upon the sensitivity of that receiver. Therefore, whether the person deems the material as SH, depends on their attitudes, sensitivity and preferences, as well as, the content of the materials.

SH online is different than face to face SH, because communication between the harasser and victim is not necessary. The sender may post a message, however, the victim does not necessarily has to respond. It is important to note, that these activities may also not be considered sexual harassment based on the context of the situation. For instance, if someone enters a chat room in order to meet a partner, and they have a screen name which can be considered lude in other contexts, and make sexual statements, would not necessarily be considered SH, as both individuals entered the room for a sexually driven purpose.

Cases and Prevalence of SH on the Internet
There have been numerous articles depicting the dangerousness of SH on the Internet, however, very little empirical studies have been completed. One British study found that 41% of Internet users were sent pornographic materials online. Another study found that 19% of youth, mostly girls, had some form of SH in the past year.

The Dynamics of SH on the Internet
SH behavior is based on the online interactions and situations to which they are a part of. Online disinhibition tends to lead to a person exposing more of their "true self" than they would, prior to feeling disinhibited. It has always been stated that SH is about power, not about sex. The same is true online. Getting someone to lower their inhibitions, is a powerful factor in leading to SH. Disinhibition, more openness, and an environment which can be more masculine, can lead to higher likelihood of SH behaviors, especially by men towards women. As well, people online tend to follow group standards. This leads to further disinhibition and forms the groundwork of SH behavior. It is almost as if there is a lack of clear boundaries. Online there isn't the set of rules necessarily to state that SH behavior is wrong and will not be tolerated, as there is in the work place. The lack of legal and social sanctions supports SH behavior.

Effects of SH on the Internet
The main effects SH has on the victims is avoidance of certain sites where the SH took place. As well, women tend to change their online presence after SH takes place. Much more empirical research needs to be done to assess the effects SH online has on individuals.

Prevention of SH on the Internet
The main message in preventing SH on the Internet is educating potential victims and harassers, as well, changing culture and norms. It is argued that behaviors and attitudes are based on the media and users perspective. However, targeting specific populations online is virtually impossible, due to the vastness of the Internet. Therefore, the best method would be educating people on SH, especially starting with the youth.

Conclusion
SH exists online as much as it exists online. The Internet provides a unique environment where SH can be easily facilitated. Legally enforcing the prevention of SH is virtually impossible, educating with prevention messages to people, especially youth, can help the reduction of SH.