The Reality of Cyberbullying in Pakistan Facing Women
A Growing Threat to Women in Pakistan
It has been years since we have been hearing about workplace bullying and harassment cases against women. In countries like Pakistan and India, many women have given up working due to the fact that they were never safe. You may wonder why they did not complain to their bosses, but quite often it is the very people in power — the CEOs and bosses — who harass them. Speaking up means risking their jobs, and with everyday rising in the cost of living, this is a risk many cannot afford to take. Unfortunately, family and friends are also most often nonsupportive, thus leaving these women to fend for themselves.
There has been a certain kind of shift over the years, particularly during the pandemic. More and more people were earning money online and engaging on social media in Pakistan. But this new opportunity has its perils. Women often hide their names and identities online to save themselves from the judgment and negative comments of known persons.
Cyberbullying: A New Form of Harassment
Cyberbullying is the term used to refer to harassment, threatening, embarrassment, or putting a target on somebody through the use of technology. It denotes online threats, mean or suggestive texts, tweets, posts, and messages. This might include the posting of personal information, pictures, or videos designed to hurt or embarrass someone.
in Pakistan, it was evident that almost 90% faced issues relating to cyberbullying. People belonging to a higher socioeconomic background or those who had more access to digital technology were bullied more. There were no significant differences in cyberbullying based on demographic characteristics.
Personal Experience on Twitter
I had recently joined Twitter as it had monetization capabilities. From the very beginning, I used my real name and ID. But soon I was caught in severe problems. In live spaces meant for open conversation and making friends, there will be groups of people with fake accounts and they start bullying/ abusing women for no reason.
This would further provoke these bullies, who then proceed to hack into their accounts, leak out personal information, and abuse them with messages. Blocking them did no good because they harassed with renewed accounts.
A Broader Issue
It’s not just a problem on Twitter. It happens with Facebook, Instagram, whatever. People steal pictures, make fake profiles, bully, and blackmail. What’s worse is that women bully women. This envy and hatefulness, basically a result of people watching others succeed and do well, is what’s turning the online world into just as much a hellhole as the physical one.
The case of a well-known YouTuber from Pakistan who has been trolled and abused for the past two years stands that turning anywhere, including the FIA, has come to nothing. This is one great problem in trying to cope with and reduce cyberbullying in this country.
Conclusion
Cyberbullying is an important and escalating issue in Pakistan. Our study confirms its presence at a university level, with an important positive relationship between SES and cyberbullying victimization. The more affluent the background, the more the bullying probably due to greater access to digital devices.
What we should do is work hard and uplift each other, not tear each other down. Of course, safe online spaces must be created where women can share experiences of struggle and rise without a fear of harassment. What we all need to do is stop making life harder for hardworking women and learn to raise each other up.
