Thursday February 26, 12.15 - 13.00 at Galaxen [map] and on Zoom
On Thursday the 26th of February the Centre for Digital Social Research (DIGSUM) will host the first seminar in a new seminar series celebrating a decade of interdisciplinary digital scholarship at Umeå University. Throughout the coming year, DIGSUM will host monthly seminars featuring leading researchers, emerging scholars, and invited speakers working at the intersection of digital technology and society. In the first seminar Belma Isakovic, Örebro University, will talk about “Technology-facilitated sexual violence against adolescent and young-adult women”.
Abstract
Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is an increasing form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects adolescent and young adult women. This literature review examines how TFSV is described in empirical research and how women aged 13–29 experience and understand its consequences. A systematic search of four databases identified 20 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 that met the inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that TFSV encompasses a wide range of sexually harmful behaviors enabled by digital technologies, characterized by boundary violations, control, and persistent access to victims across time and space. Three overarching themes were identified: Power and Identity, reflecting loss of autonomy, shame, self-blame, and diminished self-esteem; Social Dynamics, highlighting stigma, normalization, and social isolation; and Emotional and Psychological Impact, including e.g. anxiety, fear, depression and distress. Overall, TFSV emerges as a harmful form of violence, underscoring the need for increased awareness, prevention, and targeted support for young women.
Belma Isakovic is a PhD student at Örebro University and holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Criminology. Belma is part of the project Women's Online Wellbeing: a European Examination of digitalised violence against women. Belma's research project aims to contribute to an understanding of how digital violence against women affects women's lives online and their well-being, from several different perspectives.
Seminars take place over lunch once a month on Thursdays in Galaxen at Umeå University. All students, researchers, and interested colleagues are warmly welcome! Zoom links will be available for some of the events, stay tuned! For more information see [here].
For those participating online, the Zoom-meeting for all seminars in the seminar series is:
https://umu.zoom.us/j/67690806973
Meeting ID: 676 9080 6973