STANDING BY OR STANDING AGAINST: Assessing how Zimbabweans respond to online gender based violence Survey

This survey is part of a project funded by the Mozilla Foundation

Zimbabwean cyberspace is rife with expressions of violent, hateful, and otherwise harmful sentiment. When directed at women, these violent, hateful and harmful sentiments constitute online gender based violence (OGBV).

Among other things, online gender based violence, involves attacking women in ways that are specific to their gender. It includes some of the following:

gender-based insults (e.g., explicit insults about women’s genitalia)
use of sexual or misogynistic narratives against women to ruin women's image and reputation
vicious language (e.g., crass references to women's bodies)
credible threats (e.g., rape threats, death threats)
referring to women as 'sluts' or 'whores', etc.
disparaging their appearance and mocking their perceived inability to attract men
misleading threats to expose nudes or private images to undermine their dignity and reputation

This survey is designed to understand how Zimbabweans respond when witnessing online gender based violence on Twitter.

2.Gender: How do you identify?

Man

Non-binary

Woman

Prefer to self-describe, below

Self-describe:

3.Where are you based?

4.Which of the following statements most accurately describes your Twitter habits?

I consider myself to be very active on Twitter (over 5 hours a day)

I consider myself moderately active on Twitter (at most 1 hour a day)

I consider myself to be more of a lurker on Twitter (log on and observe but do not participate)

I check Twitter from time to time but not often

I am rarely on Twitter but I have a Twitter account

I do not have a Twitter account

5.What is your Twitter handle (optional)

6.Have you ever witnessed online gender based violence on Zimbabwean Twitter?

Yes

I am not sure what qualifies as online gender based violence

I don't think online gender based violence is a real thing

7.Have you ever experienced online gender based violence on Zimbabwean Twitter?

Yes

I am a man

I am not sure what qualifies as online gender based violence

8.What tends to be your typical response when you witness online gender based violence targeting a complete stranger (i.e., someone you do not follow/know)?(Required.)

I mostly do not get involved (i.e., a passive bystander)

I mostly intervene to support the victim/target (i.e., an active/prosocial bystander)

I mostly amplify by retweeting, liking, taking screenshots, tagging others to discuss (i.e., a neutral reinforcer)

I mostly participate by agreeing with, egging on or cheering the perpetrator (i.e., an accomplice)

I mostly watch how others are responding (i.e., a spectator)

Other (please specify)

9.If someone you like or know well is the target of online gender based violence - what is your most typical response?

I mostly do not get involved (i.e., a passive bystander)

I mostly intervene to support the victim/target (i.e., an active/prosocial bystander)

I mostly watch how others are responding (i.e., a spectator)

I mostly reach out privately to offer support (i.e., an empathiser)

I mostly try to divert attention from it (i.e., a distractor)

Other (please specify)

10.If you have ever experienced online gender based violence - how did most people (i.e., bystanders) respond to your plight?

Most people did not get involved (i.e., passive bystanders)

Most people intervened to support me (i.e., active bystanders)

Most people amplified it by retweeting, sharing, liking, tagging others and taking screenshots (i.e., neutral reinforcers)

Most people participated by agreeing with, cheering and egging on my attacker (i.e., accomplices)

Other (please specify)

11.What sort of responses would you hope for from other people (i.e., bystanders) if you (or someone you cared about) were ever the target/victim of online gender based violence?

I hope they stay out of it and not get involved (i.e., passive bystanders)

I hope they extend support - in the moment or in private - to intervene (i.e., active bystanders)

I hope they ignore it so that the incident doesn't attract more attention or escalate

I hope they realise it is only social media so they don't have to make a big deal out of it

I hope they report the perpetrator's account to Twitter

Other (please specify)

12.If someone you are close to is a perpetrator of online gender based violence - what would be your most likely response?

I would most likely stay out of it (i.e., passive bystander)

I would most likely reach out to them privately and intervene to make them stop (i.e., active bystander)

I would most likely intervene in the moment and publicly to make them stop

I would most likely assume they have a good reason for doing it (i.e., they were provoked first)

I would most likely reinforce their actions by agreeing with them, cheering and egging them on

I would most likely amplify what they were doing by retweeting, tagging others, liking and taking screenshots

I would shrug it off because it's only social media, they wouldn't do it in 'real life'

Feel free to elaborate further:

13.Have you ever called out a friend (or someone you are close to) when you witnessed them perpetuating online gender based violence?

Yes, in private

Yes, in public

Feel free to elaborate:

14.On Zimbabwean Twitter, highly visible women (e.g., politicians, journalists, activists) are usual targets/victims of online gender based violence. Can you give examples of victims and perpetrators you have observed?

15.What do you believe is the biggest factor influencing online gender based violence against highly visible women on Zimbabwean Twitter?

Political affiliation; meaning highly visible women can be attacked because of the political party they are associated with

Feminist ideals; meaning highly visible women can be attacked because of being vocal feminists

Religious convictions; meaning highly visible women can be attacked because of the religious beliefs they either embrace or reject

Degree of prominence; meaning highly visible women are targeted online for such things as having achieved some prominence in an a given field or profession

Other (please specify)

16.If you were 100% certain that you would not face any repercussions or backlash - how likely would you be to intervene in online gender based violence?

17.Which of the following possibilities would make you more likely to intervene in online gender based violence on Zimbabwean Twitter?

If I had a fake account (i.e., anonymity)

If I was taking a moral stand (i.e., helping someone in need)

If I was certain of all the facts (i.e., if there is no situational ambiguity)

If I feel solidarity with the target/victim (i.e., shared affiliations, values, ideals like political views)

If I personally know and care for the target/victim (i.e., personal connection or relationship)

If the perpetrator is someone I dislike (i.e., pre-existing 'beef')

If it is a matter of principle (i.e., personal conviction about fighting against online GBV)

Other (please specify)

18.Do you think you have any role to play to address online gender based violence on Zimbabwean Twitter?

Yes

Please explain your reasons:

19.Do you think people (i.e bystanders) who retweet or like or screenshot posts that perpetuate online gender based violence also bear responsibility for any harm to the victim/target?

Yes

Maybe

Please explain your answer:

20.In your view, who should bear the greatest responsibility for speaking up against online gender based violence on Zimbabwean Twitter?

Other (please specify)

21.Do you think it matters if other people (i.e bystanders) retweet, like or take screenshots of posts that perpetuate online gender based violence?

Yes

Maybe

Please explain your answer:

22.Would it bother you if someone you know retweeted, liked or took a screenshot of a post targeting/victimising you (or someone close to you)?

Yes

Please elaborate further:

23.Have you ever reached out privately to show support to a victim/target of online gender based violence?

Yes

Feel explain further:

24.Have you ever reached out privately to try and stop the actions of a perpetrator/instigator of online gender based violence?

Yes

Please explain further:

25.If someone you don't get along with is a target/victim of online gender based violence, would you be able to put your feelings aside and intervene on their behalf?

Yes

Maybe

Please explain:

26.If there is an incident of online gender based violence and a bystander responds by tweeting '*grabs popcorn*🍿 '; they are

Please explain further:

27.If there is an incident of online gender based violence and no bystanders react to it, what effect do you think it is most likely to have on the victim/target?

It will make the victim/target feel worse

It will make the victim/target feel better

It will keep things the same for the victim/target

Other (please specify)

28.If there is an incident of online gender based violence and no bystanders react to it, what effect do you think it is most likely to have on the perpetrator/instigator?

It will make the perpetrator/instigator feel successful in achieving their aim

It will make the perpetrator/instigator feel unsuccessful in achieving their aim

It will make the perpetrator/instigator feel that things are still the same

Other (please specify)

29.Would you agree that the power of a perpetrator/instigator of online gender based violence lies in how bystanders respond?

Please explain further:

30.If there was a way to INDIRECTLY help a victim/target of online gender based violence, how likely would you be to intervene?

Other (please specify)

Current Progress,

0 of 30 answered