Sarah Young
The Independent
Author Sarah Young wrote the following article in The Independent:
One in seven young women have received threats that intimate photographs of them will be shared without their consent, according to a new survey.
Domestic violence charity Refuge conducted a survey of 2,060 people, including 282 women aged 18-34, and found that this age range are twice as likely than the general population to have sexual photos of themselves used against them as revenge porn.
The survey showed that of the one in 14 women overall who had been threatened with revenge porn, 72 per cent were threatened by a current or former partner and of these 83 per cent experienced other forms of abuse.
It added that while 60 per cent of those who experienced threats were under 40, around one in eight were in their 60s, suggesting revenge porn takes place across age groups.
The Refuge charity says this is vital given that sharing such images has become an increasingly common part of romantic relationships, adding that 27 per cent of young men and 43 per cent of young women have done so.
Refuge's survey highlighted that 83 per cent of the women who received revenge porn threats said their mental health and wellbeing suffered, with more than one in 10 saying they felt suicidal.
More than three quarters (78 per cent) also said they changed the way they acted, with one in 10 allowing the perpetrator contact with their children, and a slightly lower proportion saying they felt forced to continue or resume the relationship.
Furthermore, around four in 10 of the women had also experienced coercive and controlling behaviour or emotional abuse; a fifth experienced other forms of technology abuse such as phone monitoring, and more than one in four women were sexually abused.
Of those who received threats, almost a quarter (23 per cent) of women and 40 per cent of men said the image was then shared on social media platforms, which Refuge said could have been prevented if threats were made a crime.
Just under two thirds of the women surveyed said they did not report the threats to the police. Refuge said those who do are commonly told nothing can be done unless the image is shared because a threat is not illegal.
Natasha, 31, was six months into a relationship with her now ex-husband when he persuaded her to pose for photos.
"He would berate me and mock my appearance until I gave in. Posing for these photos made me feel so dirty and worthless, but I was just a teenager and I wanted to make him happy," she said.
"The threat of those intimate photos being shared was my worst nightmare - I had no choice but to comply with his continued abuse or face potential shame and humiliation."
Dame Vera Baird, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales, added: "Victims speak of not going out and being unable to meet anyone new because they feel sure that everyone has seen their intimate image online.
"One victim referred to it as 'like being raped again and again in public'. It is an increasingly used, and very potent threat by domestic abusers, especially if their victim threatens to leave."
