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Internet trolls & how they impact women
“'A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”
Melinda Gates
Perfectly illustrated by Ariel in The Little Mermaid, the power of having a voice is immeasurable – particularly for women. However, for finless females who aren’t surrounded by singing crustaceans and magical shell necklaces, it can be ‘remarkably difficult’ to find (thanks, Gates). The internet, and the incessant trolling of women online, have made damn sure of that.
Yep, if there’s one thing the modern woman can rely on, it’s the harassment and verbal abuse from men online. With the rampant rise in social media and incel culture, violence towards women is at an all-time high. This not-so-lovely byproduct of having an online presence is known as ‘trolling’. Feminist activist and author, Karla Mantilla, says:
“Gender trolling involves specifically gender-based insults, including the widespread use of pejorative terms that are levelled particularly at women – and comments designed to insult and humiliate women, especially regarding their weight and physical appearance.”
According to a study by Glitch, abuse against women 'disproportionately impacts Black women, non-binary people and women from minoritised communities.’ Let’s take the famous case of British politician, Dianne Abbott, as an example. She was ruthlessly trolled for sipping on an M&S cocktail on the train to Hackney.
The Independent wrote:
“Our Tory press allied to those strange gammonite people you can find on social media, and some online comments sections really, really hate[d] her. You wonder why, and why she [received] such unusually hostile, disrespectful treatment.”
They even went as far as to say that ‘if it was Nigel Farage [...] he could probably get pissed and light up a Rothmans on the escalator at Kings Cross station and still be praised’. The key difference between Nigel and Dianne, the praised and the profaned, is that she’s a Black woman and he’s a white man. Case closed.
Women deserve to be online and not have to face ugly trolls and their insatiable need to inflict hurt, but the reality is that they’re likely to encounter them… here’s what can help:
Don’t give the trolls the time of day: It’s easier said than done, but silence is the deadliest weapon against a troll. Simply not feeding into their desire to inflict pain and upset will encourage them to step back. Don’t give them the reaction they crave.
Put together a case: If you fall victim to trolling, be sure to collect evidence and proof against the account in question before blocking them. Reporting and holding them accountable will help stop persistent trolls from hurting someone else.
Call for aid: If you’re an influencer or public figure who isn’t able to have a ‘friends only’ account, it may be worth investing in moderators. Having an extra pair of eyes to filter through the damaging comments and fight back against policy violators could help with any mental strain the trolling may be causing you.
For more information on how to combat trolling and internet abuse, visit our Insights page here.
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