Targeted and Trolled: Dark Side of Online Celebrity for Women Business Leaders
In boardrooms and in the cyber world, women are leaving an imprint like never before. From leading Fortune 500 companies to creating unicorn startups, women entrepreneurs are redefining success. But with praise and success brings increased growth of a trend-a movement of online abuse that is solely directed at influential women.
The Gendered Nature of Digital Harassment
Women business leaders are not randomly harassed online; it is targeted, gendered, and quite often extremely personal. From comments about their looks to threats of rape and manipulated images, the online abuse is intended to shame and silence.
A new study by Amnesty International found that women leaders are subjected to much more abuse on the internet than men are when they speak out against male-dominated narratives or discuss unpopular subjects.
Why Women Leaders Are Under Attack Online
Public Exposure: Greater levels of media attention and social media support expose women leaders to attacks.
Stereotypes and Misogyny: Leadership is still a man’s profession in the minds of most, and those women who defy this are targeted.
Lack of Platform Responsibility: Social media sites tend not to act quickly enough when notified of abuse.
Cultural Norms: In certain areas, patriarchal traits generate resentment against strong or successful women.
The Impact: Career and Mental Health
The psychological damage cuts deep. Women leaders have indicated they feel depressed, anxious, and self-censoring, some avoiding social media or even public life altogether in an attempt to escape further abuse. Not only does this stall the career of the individual but also sends a chilling message to aspiring women leaders.
Time to Act: Safe Digital Spaces
The responsibility falls to several stakeholders:
- Tech Platforms need to increase moderation ability, implement anti-abuse measures, and provide more reporting capabilities.
- Corporate organizations need to offer digital security training and psychological guidance to women leaders.
- Governments need to implement cyber legislations that guard against gendered online violence.
- Society at large needs to end normalizing hate speech on the net and mobilize for women under attack.
Conclusion: Internet abuse is the new war zone for gender equality. Women executives should not need to be visible or safe. We must celebrate their achievement and also ensure that they are safe from internet abuse.
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