Gender violence in virtual environments

Abstract

Currently, the online space, where teenagers are playing a leading role, is a central aspect that vanishes in the offline everyday reality. These virtual environments are witness of adolescent boys and girls’ interactions, who, becoming autonomous individuals, interact naturally with their peers. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are part of their life, their world, and this is why the type of socialization they establish virtually reflects the culture and society where these boys and girls grow and develop themselves. Moreover, in these virtual spaces, stereotypes and gender inequalities are transmitted from traditional patterns of discrimination on which gender violence is based. Therefore, the virtual character does not prevent the spread of such violence among youth.