Skip to main content

Gender-based cyberbullying

  Gender-based cyberbullying: Understanding expected bystander behavior online


As we discussed in class and as other classmates shared on the blog, a bystander is someone who witnesses an event but is not directly involved in it. To learn more about this topic, I read an article that specifically explores bystanders in gender-based cyberbullying, which is also a topic we covered in class.


Cyberbullying, especially gender-based harassment, is a growing issue in online spaces. This study explores how bystanders react when witnessing such harassment and what factors influence their responses.


In a very brief summary of the key finding in this reading, they found out that: 

  • Women are more likely to support the victim and condemn cyberbullying than men. 

  • Men are more likely to accept or ignore online harassment, possibly due to social norms around masculinity.

  • Past experiences matter: Those who have suffered gender discrimination are more likely to support victims, while those who have discriminated in the past tend to side with the bully.

  • Emotional intelligence plays a role: People who can recognize and understand emotions are less likely to support bullies and more likely to help victims.


In conclusion, the study highlights the need for awareness campaigns and education to encourage online users to intervene and support victims of gender-based cyberbullying. Strengthening emotional skills and promoting empathy can make a difference in fostering safer digital environments.


This article not only confirms what most of us believe about the impact of gender on bullying, but it also raises

important questions about how deeply social norms influence our behavior, both online and offline.

The study highlights that gender-based cyberbullying is not just an issue of individual aggression but a reflection

of broader societal attitudes toward gender roles and power dynamics.


Beyond individual reactions, the article challenges us to think critically about the role of bystanders in online

spaces. If bystanders fail to intervene, they allow harmful behaviors to persist, reinforcing a culture where

gender-based cyberbullying is normalized. However, the study also points to potential solutions, such as promoting

emotional intelligence and awareness to encourage active intervention.


Ultimately, this research serves as a call to reflect on how social norms construct our perceptions of bullying and harassment.

Are we passively accepting harmful behaviors because they align with traditional gender expectations?

Or are we willing to challenge these norms and create a more inclusive, respectful digital environment?


The article leaves us with a powerful debate on whether we, as individuals and as a society, are truly willing to redefine these social constructs for the better.










Herry, E., & Mulvey, K. L. (2022). Gender‐based cyberbullying: Understanding expected bystander behavior online. Journal of Social Issues, 79(4), 1210–1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12503

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Definition of Bullying

 Hi everyone! The World Anti-Bullying Forum, together with UNESCO, created a Working group for establishing a new definition of school bullying. Its new definition keeps the idea that bullying requires unwanted repetitive aggressiveness and imbalance of power, and adds the idea that this power imbalance is supported by societal and institutional norms. The emphasis is now in the idea that bullying is not an affair among students but a social process. The new definition is this one: School bullying is a damaging social process that is characterized by an imbalance of power driven by social (societal) and institutional norms. It is often repeated and manifests as unwanted interpersonal behaviour among students or school personnel that causes physical, social, and emotional harm to the targeted individuals or groups, and the wider school community. You can find the document where it is explained  here . Fes
Post a Comment
Read more

Salutogenic approach and a personal opinion

  As I briefly mentioned in my previous post, on the website called PDA Bullying , among various resources, there is a section dedicated to explain the Salutogenic approach . After doing some research, it becomes clear that this approach gets its name because its main goal is to promote health and well-being . The platform aims to address bullying from this perspective, adopting a strength-based approach that focuses on individuals' potential and the creation of a cooperative community working toward a shared goal . It slightly reminds me of the No Blame Approach we studied in class, as it also refers to a method based on compassion and a solution-focused outlook , rather than assigning blame. Their aim is not simply to act against bullying, but rather to overcome it , moving beyond a simplistic understanding of bullying as just a dynamic between two individuals. Instead, they view it as a broader social process . For this reason, the protocol designed and implemented by...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Simpsons: Bull-E

  Bull-E - The Simpsons (Season 26, Episode 21) The Simpsons has reflected bullying as a complex issue through their episodes, whether through Bart’s pranks, Nelson’s struggles, or Springfield’s collective response, the show highlights the importance of addressing bullying thoughtfully and empathetically.  Many schools and communities have anti-bullying policies, but the debates arise about how to enforce them without oppressing free expression or over-penalizing minor infractions. The episode of The Simpsons reflects these concerns by showing the challenges of finding a balance. It highlights how good intentions, like preventing bullying (passing an Anti-Bullying law), can sometimes go way too far, leading to unintended consequences. Also, it brings up the difficulty of bullying’s definition, what feels like bullying to one person might seem harmless to another, that is Homer’s storyline, which reminds us that our words and actions, even if unintended, can impact on others d...
Post a Comment
Read more