Revenge Pornography : Gender, Sexuality and Motivations

"Revenge pornography" involves the online posting of sexually explicit media without the featured individual’s consent. Most commonly, the material in question is posted by an ex-partner. Almost unknown prior to 2010, both the phenomenon itself and the attention devoted to it have grown enormously in recent years. This pioneering study adopts a discursive psychology approach and examines revenge porn from the perspective of the perpetrators themselves. It studies the complex ways in which they invoke gender and sexuality, and the discourses they deploy in blaming the victim for the violent form of revenge chosen. This enhanced understanding of the perpetrator mindset provides important insights into the use of social media to facilitate gender violence, and holds the promise of more effective intervention in future. Important reading for researchers and students in gender, violence and the law, it will also appeal to psychologists, sociologists, feminists, and anyone with an interest in the gender and sexuality issues online.

Facilitated by developments in technologies, the non-consensual posting of sexually explicit images of someone else for revenge, entertainment or political motive – so-called revenge porn – has become a global phenomenon. This groundbreaking book argues that fundamental and recurring issues about how victims are violated can be understood in terms of gender and sexual dynamics and constructions, binary gender and sexual positioning and logics, and the use of sexual meanings.

Using a discourse analytical approach the authors examine revenge pornography through the words of the perpetrators themselves and study the complex ways in which they invoke, and deploy, gender- and sexuality-based discourses to blame the victim. They explore strategies to curb the phenomenon of revenge porn, and by placing their research in a broader social and political context, the authors are able to examine the effectiveness of current legislative frameworks, education and awareness raising, victim support and perpetrator re-education programmes, along with wider political considerations.

This enhanced understanding of the perpetrator mindset provides important insights into the use of social media to facilitate gender violence, and holds the promise of more effective interventions in future. This is a unique resource for students, academics, researchers, and professionals interested in revenge pornography and related issues.