As the final deadline for our thesis is Decembre 2020, this article is a summary of a work in progress.
The #MeToo movement which started on Twitter in 2017 was a real turning point as for breaking the taboo about sexual violence. It was rapidly followed in France by the #BalanceTonPorc, through which multiple victims have disclosed their experiences online. The main goal to these waves of tweets was to address this matter in public spaces rather than in private ones.
A traumatic experience such as rape or sexual assault implies a moment of astonishment during which the victim’s mental activity stops. Amnesia, denial, depersonalization are clinical symptoms that may come up in the short-term following it. We can also highlight that shame and guilt towards the situation are the main feelings described by victims. In the long run, revivification episodes and thematic nightmares can appear, representing an endless repetition of the traumatic experience (Damiani, 2001; Moors & Webber, 2013).
Among victims of rape, we can notice a lack of confidence in the legal system. Some researchers explain that it might be due to the fact that there is a certain conception of rape in today’s society as a unique and violent event perpetrated by a stranger. Cases that do not meet those criteria are much less reported (Loney-Howes, 2018; Ullman, 1996).
Self-disclosure aims to remove inhibition by letting the emotions flow. When disclosing information about a stigmatized identity, people’s reactions determine the outcomes of the situation. When the reactions are positive, victims of sexual violence report perceiving less suffering related to the traumatic event. On the contrary, negative reactions lead to re-victimization (Chaudoir & Fisher, 2010).
We can point out that social networks and online forums are used by victims as informal places to share their stories and support each other. Although anonymity can stand out as a way to avoid social judgement, it can also be perceived as an obstacle for the emotional content to flow during the disclosure (Chaudoir & Fisher, 2010).
As there are a very few studies on this topic, this study sets out to explore the reasons why victims of sexual violence use posting on social media as a way to disclose their experience as well as the psychological and social consequences it may involve.
A qualitative methodology was chosen in order to highlight the singularity of our participants. Subjects were recruited online through various social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. We conducted semi-structured interviews using three ways of communication: written messages, phone calls and video calls.
Participants reported both social and psychological repercussions of their traumatic experience including post-traumatic symptoms and difficulties approaching the subject in “real” situations for fear of being stigmatized. Self-disclosure on social media seems to be an auto-therapeutic method for the victims: a way of symbolizing the traumatic experience and also share it with people who have experienced similar events. Even though most participants report social support online, there is still a risk of violence which leads negative outcomes and re-victimization. For instance, a denial of victim status taking place through accusatory comments seems to accentuate the feelings of guilt and shame. Nevertheless, many participants report that their online self-disclosure makes it easier for them to share about their trauma in other situations; although these positive effects appear to be temporary.
It is necessary to highlight limits to our work. First of all, it was conducted with a very small sample. Due to the fact that we picked out a qualitative methodology, our results can not be generalized to our population. Finally, interviews by written messages were difficult to carry out because of the amount of information given without revealing emotions.
However, this study raises both clinical and societal questions about the psychological care of victims of sexual violence. As clinical psychologists, it is our role to be trained to deal with these issues and to be aware of the “therapeutic” effects that social networks might have in order to meet subjects in their reality and provide adapted therapeutic means.
Words I have learned:
Astonishment: stupéfaction
Revivification: reviviscence
Temporary: temporaire
Victimization: victimisation
Sample: échantillon
References:
Chaudoir, S. R., & Fisher, J. D. (2010). The disclosure processes model : Understanding disclosure decision making and post-disclosure outcomes among people living with a concealable stigmatized identity. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 236‑256. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018193
Damiani, C. (2001). Violences publiques et crimes privés. Dans : Éric Baccino éd., Victime-Agresseur. Tome 1 : Le traumatisme sexuel et ses devenirs (pp. 143-146). Nîmes, France : Champ social. https://doi.org/10.3917/chaso.bacci.2001.01.0143.
Loney-Howes, R. (2018). Shifting the Rape Script : “Coming Out” Online as a Rape Victim. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 39(2), 26. https://doi.org/10.5250/fronjwomestud.39.2.0026
Moors, R., & Webber, R. (2013). The dance of disclosure : Online self-disclosure of sexual assault. Qualitative Social Work : Research and Practice, 12(6), 799‑815. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325012464383
Ullman, S. E. (1996). Correlates and Consequences of Adult Sexual Assault Disclosure. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11(4), 554‑571. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626096011004007