Exploring the Gendered Experiences of Youth on Violence Through Smartphone Applications

Abstract

Violence against women happens all over the world, in our houses, workplaces, public places, and now in digital spaces. The study explores the gendered experiences of young people on violence through smartphone applications. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample size based on the criteria in Rawalpindi (Pakistan). Ten young people, five males and five females, agreed to participate in the study. The data was analyzed thematically using a violence framework developed by Evaynai and Rido (2019). The three facets of a violence frame of analysis include where it happens, what happens, and how it happens to. The thematic analysis revealed a spectrum of violence that was found online through different applications. The findings showed various forms of violence, including distressing conditions that young people experience as a result of using applications, non-consensual online interactions, and unintentional forms of encounters. The most intriguing finding was that participants had experienced violence both offline and online as a result of their interactions in digital spaces but had different perceptions regarding that violence. It is concluded that it is difficult to explain, comprehend, and deal with this online and offline violence due to the uncertainty that comes with digital spaces, and that requires the development of new values to deal with this online/offline violence.