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Rape has long been classed as a crime of violence and control, and recent virtual assaults (on Second Life and AutoAdmit) have people talking about the long-term effects of Virtual Rape. Women who have been ‘assaulted’ online report feelings of being threatened, devalued and demeaned and it has impacted their daily lives leaving them ‘violated’.
Whether virtual rape can be classed as a true crime is now being called into question. But the impact that that the world wide web has had on our interactions, relationships and daily life cannot be denied.
On the other hand, what is most appalling in both sets of attacks is the misogynistic nature. The griefing attack used penises to disrupt an interview. The attacks on AutoAdmit, while including racist, anti-semitic and homophobic comments, certainly displayed attitudes that devalued women as a group, and specific individuals. There were comments that considered sexual attacks and punishments against these women, and discussed their physical attributes in overtly sexual ways. These are both specific examples of cyberbullying of a sexual nature.
The women attacked both on Second Life and on the AutoAdmit chat have said they felt demeaned, devalued and threatened. Women law students who have been the subject of AutoAdmit attacks have said they felt they could no longer go to the gym, and had trouble attending class. They felt violated and threatened.
(outofthejungle.blogspot)
References: outofthejungle.blogspot
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