Sexual Abusive Trolling of Women on Social Media

Hindustan Times

21 Apr 201704:19

Summary

TLDRThe speaker discusses the harsh reality of online harassment, particularly towards women, on social media. They recount personal experiences of being trolled and abused for expressing opinions or posting content, including receiving rape threats and derogatory comments. The narrative highlights the double standards in the treatment of men and women, where women face direct abuse while men are targeted through threats against their female relatives. The speaker acknowledges the fear and intimidation but sees it as a small price for the freedom of speech.

Takeaways

📢 The speaker expresses excitement about social media engagement but also highlights the negative experiences they've had, particularly as a woman.
😡 The speaker has been subjected to derogatory and sexist comments, including being called a 'porn star' and being objectified for their gender.
🎬 The major trolling incident mentioned was related to a film called 'Sexy Durga', where the speaker faced backlash for their involvement.
🚫 The speaker mentions receiving threats and abusive messages on social media, especially after posting about certain controversial topics or events.
🤔 The speaker reflects on the nature of online abuse, noting that it is often sexualized and intended to demoralize, with specific references to rape threats.
👥 Both men and women are involved in the trolling and abuse, but the nature of the abuse differs, with women receiving direct threats and men having their family members targeted.
🏠 The speaker felt threatened when their residential address was shared on social media, leading to an increase in harassment.
💬 The speaker discusses the impact of free speech and how it comes with the risk of facing such online abuse, which they consider a 'small price to pay'.
🤝 The speaker touches on the idea of solidarity among women, suggesting that the support of other women can be a source of strength in the face of online harassment.
🤔 The script raises questions about the societal attitudes towards women with opinions, suggesting that they are often not appreciated and are subjected to questioning based on their sexuality.
🚫 The speaker also mentions the use of the 'f-word' as a trigger for receiving abusive responses, indicating the volatile nature of online discourse.

Q & A

What is the speaker's general feeling towards social media responses to their tweets?
-The speaker expresses a mix of excitement and disappointment, highlighting the negative and abusive responses they often receive on social media.
How does the speaker describe the treatment of women on social media?
-The speaker indicates that social media can be unkind to women, with instances of derogatory and sexist remarks, including being called a porn star and receiving inappropriate comments.
What incident led to a major trolling experience for the speaker?
-The speaker mentions a major trolling incident that occurred after they posted videos on social media from an event where they were present, which led to five consecutive days of online abuse.
What kind of messages did the speaker receive after posting videos from an event?
-The speaker received a different kind of messages, which were threatening and abusive, likely due to the content of the videos or the event's political nature.
What was the speaker's experience with online abuse in relation to their article on defamation laws?
-The speaker faced a significant onslaught of trolling in 2014 after writing an article about how defamation laws are used against media persons, which led to sexist and derogatory comments.
How does the speaker describe the nature of the abuse they receive online?
-The abuse is described as sexualized, demoralizing, and often involving threats of rape or other forms of sexual violence, intended to silence or intimidate the speaker.
What was the speaker's reaction to receiving inappropriate questions or comments about their personal life?
-The speaker seems to express a sense of frustration and disappointment with the inappropriate and invasive nature of the questions and comments they receive.
How does the speaker feel about the solidarity among women who face similar online abuse?
-The speaker acknowledges the solidarity among women who face similar abuse, suggesting a shared experience of being targeted for their gender and opinions.
What was the speaker's experience when their residential address was tweeted?
-The speaker felt scared when their residential address was shared on social media, as it led to a flood of responses and potential threats to their safety.
How does the speaker compare the online abuse directed at men versus women?
-The speaker notes that while both men and women face online abuse, the nature of the abuse is different, with women receiving direct threats and men being targeted through threats to their mothers or sisters.
What does the speaker believe is the price to pay for free speech in the face of such online abuse?
-The speaker considers the online abuse as a small price to pay for the freedom of speech, acknowledging the challenges but also the importance of expressing opinions openly.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Social Media Harassment of Women

The speaker describes her experience with social media, highlighting the negative and abusive responses she has received, particularly as a woman. She mentions being called derogatory names and receiving inappropriate comments and threats, including rape threats. The speaker also discusses the broader issue of how women with opinions are often silenced or discredited through such harassment. She recounts specific incidents, such as the backlash from a film and a public event, and the impact of her writings on defamation laws and the treatment of Muslim women. The paragraph emphasizes the sexualized nature of the abuse and the emotional toll it takes on her.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Media

Social media refers to digital platforms that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In the video's context, it is portrayed as a space that, while exciting for engagement, can also be a source of negative experiences, particularly for women. The script mentions the speaker's love for social media responses but also highlights the abuse and trolling they've received.

💡Trolling

Trolling is the act of intentionally provoking or upsetting others online, often for personal amusement. The video discusses the speaker's experiences with trolling, including derogatory comments and threats, which is a key aspect of the narrative exploring the darker side of social media interactions.

💡Defamation Laws

Defamation laws are legal statutes that protect individuals from false statements that may harm their reputation. The speaker mentions writing an article on how these laws are used against media persons, indicating a broader discussion on freedom of speech and the legal consequences of online interactions.

💡Rape Threats

Rape threats are a form of online harassment where individuals, particularly women, are threatened with sexual violence. The script describes how the speaker has been targeted with such threats, illustrating the severity of online abuse and its impact on the victims.

💡Sexism

Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender, typically against women. The video script includes examples of sexist remarks and attitudes the speaker has encountered, showing how gender bias manifests in online spaces.

💡Public Shaming

Public shaming involves subjecting someone to public humiliation, often as a form of punishment or to express disapproval. The speaker talks about being publicly shamed and abused on social media, which is a central theme in the video discussing the consequences of online harassment.

💡Free Speech

Free speech is the right to express one's opinions without censorship or restraint. The video touches on the concept of free speech, suggesting that the speaker values this freedom despite the negative experiences they've had as a result of expressing their views online.

💡Harassment

Harassment is a pattern of behavior that involves unwanted and unwelcome attention, often causing distress or harm. The script details various forms of harassment the speaker has faced, including sexualized comments and threats, which are central to the video's exploration of online abuse.

💡Solidarity

Solidarity is the unity or agreement of feeling among individuals with a common interest or purpose. The speaker mentions 'solidarity' in the context of women supporting each other against online abuse, indicating a collective response to a shared problem.

💡Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse involves a range of behaviors that harm a person's emotional well-being, often through intimidation, humiliation, or manipulation. The video script describes the speaker's experiences with emotionally distressing comments, which contribute to the overall narrative of the psychological impact of online harassment.

💡Gender Bias

Gender bias refers to a preference or prejudice for one gender over another, often leading to unfair treatment. The speaker discusses how their gender has been a factor in the type of abuse they've received, highlighting the video's focus on the intersection of gender and online harassment.

Highlights

The speaker expresses excitement about social media responses but also highlights the negative experiences of women on these platforms.

Experiencing derogatory names and sexist comments on social media, including being called a 'porn star' and being objectified.

Being a member of 'Cash Credit I Bar' and facing immature and derogatory comments due to gender.

Major trolling incidents occurred after the film 'Sexy Little Guys', leading to the deletion of the character Padalka.

Receiving threatening messages and experiencing a different kind of harassment online.

Personal presence at an event where a group of goons disrupted a seminar, leading to social media backlash.

Being trolled for five consecutive days on social media after posting videos on Facebook and Twitter.

The correlation between making comments against certain political parties or events like the Gujarat riots and receiving abusive responses.

The first major onslaught of trolling happened in 2014 after writing an article on defamation laws used against media persons.

Experiencing trolling for writing about Muslim women who worry, showing the impact of content on public opinion.

Receiving inappropriate and invasive questions from followers, such as the color of the speaker's bra.

Being settled with rings by well-meaning individuals, highlighting the range of responses women receive online.

Defending the right to speak at the University of Delhi and receiving derogatory comments about the speaker's character.

The sexualization of abuse, with comments intending to demoralize the speaker by making crude and offensive remarks.

Experiencing threats of rape and graphic descriptions of violence, showing the severity of online harassment.

The involvement of both men and women in the harassment, indicating that it is not gender-specific.

The speaker's address being tweeted, leading to fear and further harassment from social media users.

The difference in the type of abuse men and women receive, with men's family members often being targeted.

The speaker's perspective on the small price of facing harassment for the sake of free speech and expressing opinions.