Exploring social representation of gender based violence in Tanzania’s social media

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background In Tanzania, little is known on typical types of social media reactions to sexual and physical violence against women, which may play a role in perpetuation of physical and sexual violence. Similarly, little is known on opportunities accorded by social media for combating sexual violence in the country. It is this gap in knowledge that this study intended to fill. Objective To assess the gendered nature of representations of physical and sexual violence in the Tanzania’s context of social media. Methods An exploratory study was conducted using qualitative data collection techniques. Purposeful sampling techniques were used. Thematic and content analysis approaches were used. Results Analysis of comments on sexual violence incidents that were extracted from the shared contents of Instagram, Facebook YouTube and Tweeter revealed five main themes, namely: victim blaming, victim defending, rape myths, perpetrator blaming, and defence of social norms and gender stereotypes. Regarding comments that followed posting of inceidents of physical violence against, analysis resulted into three main themes, namely: deviance, disciplining a wife/ female partner, defending the victim. Moreover, challenges for combatting GBV through social media include; Anonymity of the perpetrators; Easy accessibility to internet; Funy and porpularity; and limted legal frameworks &technology. Further that, social media can positively serve as platforms for controlling GBV by changing people’s perceptions, challenging harmful norms, and demanding government accountability through infomation sharing. Conclusion This study found that social media comments on sexual and physical violence are gendered. They reflect socio-cuturally rooted men dominance over women. TABLE OF CONTENTS