A Study of Sexual Violence in the Digital Age: Working with Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Against Women Within Sexual Violence Support Services
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Hamid, Foziha (2019) A study of sexual violence in the digital age: Working with technology-facilitated sexual violence against women within sexual violence support services. DPsych thesis, Middlesex University / Metanoia Institute. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/26846/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated. See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy A Study of Sexual Violence in the Digital Age: Working with Technology-facilitated Sexual Violence against Women within Sexual Violence Support Services Foziha Hamid Middlesex University and Metanoia Institute Doctorate in Psychotherapy by Professional Studies 2018 Dedication I dedicate this study to my mum, missed always and loved always. 1 Acknowledgements A heartfelt thank you to all the practitioners who took part in the study for the generosity with which they shared their experiences, knowledge and insights into their work. This would not have been possible without you. Also to the three women who I started this journey with in the pilot study. Your voices continue to be heard and valued. I would like to say thank you to Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson, whose continued support, guidance, knowledge and warmth have helped me realise my aims. To my academic consultants, Dr Mona Livholts and Davina James-Hanman for your insight and knowledge in those early years. To Bernadette and Robert, with whom I started the doctoral journey, a heartfelt thank you for being a great support network and never allowing me to give up. Your friendship made the experience special. Thank you to all my colleagues at Women and Girls Network who inspired me to undertake this research for all the incredible work you do and the support you have given me. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support: my children, Ilyas and Amber, who have made me the best version of myself and to David for caring so much and being there for me. 2 Abstract The progressively interactive capabilities of new technologies are combining to change the landscape of personal, social and professional lives. Research is growing on the use of technologies to sexually exploit, harass and abuse individuals, with the majority of studies focusing on the experiences of young people. Less is known about the experiences of adult women and the subsequent impact of these events. Addressing this gap in the research is therefore important in responding to and supporting women’s experiences of sexual violence facilitated by the use of technology. The study is from a social constructionist perspective and utilised a qualitative methodological approach in the form of narrative inquiry and thematic analysis to analyse the data and is based upon interviews with five participants who work within sexual violence support services. It explored how participants construct meaning in relation to technology-facilitated sexual violence against women, how they respond to it and how it subsequently impacts victims. The data was then examined using thematic analysis, which identified four primary themes. The findings demonstrate that understanding technology-facilitated sexual violence is a complex process encompassing the context, frequency and type of sexual violence experienced; it involves the sexualisation of women online and understanding online predatory behaviour. Participants report a negative personal and professional impact on victims, ranging from feelings of shame and fear of exposure to being prevented from pursuing professional goals. Service provision is viewed as inconsistent and problematic. This study considers the findings in the context of theories of shame, the embodiment of harm online and the construction of identity in relation to technology. It also considers the changing landscape of sexual violence against women in relation to technology within the wider context of violence against women. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments……………………………….…………………………………………………..….…2 Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………………...…....….3 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………….……….….…7 1.1 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………….…....……7 1.2 Purpose of the Thesis……………………………………………………………….…………....12 1.3 Structure of the Thesis……………………………………………………………….…………...13 1.4 Definition and Concepts………………………………………………………………..………..15 1.5 Background: The Pilot Study…………………………………………………………..……….17 1.6 Locating Myself in the Research …………………………………………………….…..….19 Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………….….…....22 2.1 Approach……………………………………………………………………………………………….……22 2.2 Emerging Technology……………………………………………………………………………….…24 2.3 Counselling and Psychotherapy……………………………………………………………....….27 2.4 Sexual Behaviour and Technology………………………………………………………….……34 2.5 Sexual Violence and Technology…………………………………………………………..…..…43 2.6 Sexual Exploitation and Technology…………………………………………………….......…56 2.7 Evaluation of Findings……………………………………………………………………….......….…62 Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY AND METHODS…………………………………………….....…....65 3.1 Research Aims……………………………………………………………………………………............65 3.2 Philosophical Paradigms and Theoretical Concepts…………………………….......……66 3.3 Methodology………………………………………………………………………………………….…...…75 3.4 Methods………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….84 3.5 Reflexive Statement……………………………………………………………………………….….…..94 4 Chapter 4 FINDINGS……………………………………………………………………………………….…95 4.1 Primary Theme One: Constructing Meaning………………………………………………..98 4.2 Primary Theme Two: Perpetrators in the Cyber-world……………………………....112 4.3 Primary Theme Three: Embodied and Disembodied Harms ……………………….118 4.4 Primary Theme Four: Practice and Service Provision…………………………………..130 Chapter 5 DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………………….….142 5.1 The Pilot Study………………………………………………………………………………..…………..142 5.2 Final Study…………………………………………………………………………………………..…..….144 5.3 Construction of Meaning and Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence…….….146 5.4 Perpetrators in the Digital Age…………………………………………………………………….158 5.5 Embodied and Disembodied Harms……………………………………………………..……..164 5.6 Practice and Service Provision………………………………………………………………..…….168 5.7 Gaps between the findings and the literature……………………………….…………..…172 5.8 Summary of Discussion………………………………………………………………….…….…..…..175 5.9 Strengths and Limitations of the Study…………………………………………………..……..177 5.10 Recommendations for Future Research………………………………………………..…….179 Chapter 6 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.......................................................................181 6.1 Contribution to Knowledge and Practice.........................................................181 6.2 Dissemination of Findings………………………………………………………….………………….182 6.3 The Way Forward……………………………………………………………………….…………………187 6.4 Concluding Comment………………………………………………………………….………………..188 6. Personal Reflections on the Study……………………………………………………………………189 References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………190 5 Appendices and Figures Appendix A: Ethical Approval Letter Metanoia Institute……………………………….……228 Appendix B: Information Sheet……………………………………………………………………..……229 Appendix C: Consent form………………………………………………………………………………..…233 Appendix D: Partial extract of Transcription Grace……………………….……………….…..234 Appendix E: Codes and Themes……………………………………………………………………….….237 Appendix F: Training Pack TFSV…………………………………………………………………………..241 Appendix G: Evaluation Summary of TFSV Training………………………………………….…242 Figure 1: Chart of Participants…………………………………………………………………………….246 Figure 2: Findings Primary Themes and Sub-themes……………………………………………247 Figure 3: Pilot Study Primary Themes and Sub-themes……………………………………….248 Figure 4: Findings from the Final Study……………………………………………………………….249 Figure 5: Research Findings and Literature Identification of TFSV……………………….250 6 Chapter 1 Introduction In this introductory chapter, I begin with a statement of the issues surrounding the use of technology to sexually victimise, abuse, harass and exploit women. I then set out the purpose