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Addressing Online Harm in Australian Womens Sport_FEB24.pdf (771.32 kB)

Addressing Online Harm in Australian Women's Sport

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posted on 2024-06-04, 06:57 authored by Kim ToffolettiKim Toffoletti, Caitlin McGraneCaitlin McGrane, Sarah ReddanSarah Reddan
Addressing Online Harm in Australian Women’s Sport presents the findings of a landmark investigation into the online harassment and abuse of the nation’s top sportswomen. It explores the experience, impact and potential solutions to online harm of professional and elite women’s sports athletes across Australia. Through a survey of 138 elite, professional and semi-professional sportswomen from 32 sports, and 8 in-depth interviews, this project provides important new knowledge about the implications of experiencing and witnessing online harm to guide the development of recommendations and strategies to improve athlete safety and wellbeing. This report covers four topics: 1. Patterns of athlete social media use; 2. Prevalence and type of online harm; 3. Impacts of online harm; 4. Reporting online harm and seeking support.

History

Pagination

1-1

Open access

  • Yes

ISBN-13

9780730004134

Language

eng

Research statement

Background Studies have shown that abuse of sportswomen is rife on social media (FIFA/FIFPRO, 2023; Kavanagh, Litchfield & Osborne, 2021; Plan International, 2019). These studies typically detect and categorise abusive messages directed towards athletes. Our research extends existing studies by surveying elite sportswomen about their experiences of online harm. It centres athletes’ voices and perspectives to shed new light on the consequences of negative online encounters and explore their gender-specific effects. In doing so, this report identifies new online harms and impacts to those currently addressed in the literature. Contribution Addressing Online Harm in Australian Women’s Sport presents the findings of a landmark investigation into the online harassment and abuse of the nation’s top sportswomen. It explores the experience, impact and potential solutions to online harm of professional and elite women’s sports athletes across Australia. Through a survey of 138 elite, professional and semi-professional sportswomen from 32 sports, and 8 in-depth interviews, this project provides important new knowledge about the implications of experiencing and witnessing online harm to guide the development of recommendations and strategies to improve athlete safety and wellbeing. Significance This research contributes to advancing the fields of gender studies, sport sociology and digital media by establishing a robust evidence base for understanding the type, prevalence and impacts of online harm for women in sport. It also makes a significant contribution to advancing gender equality in society and culture through developing recommendations for sport organisations and other stakeholders to implement in response to the serious social problem of gendered online abuse.

Publication classification

A6 Research report/technical paper

Publisher

Deakin University

Place of publication

Geelong, Vic.

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    Keywords

    cyberabuseelite athletesonline harmwomen's sportSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences220502 Internet, digital and social media130602 Organised sports230108 Gender and sexualities441010 Sociology of gender470102 Communication technology and digital media studies350405 Sport and leisure management

    Licence

    All Rights Reserved

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