Cyber Sexual Abuse

This guide is in progress.

Developed by Lachrista Greco, MA, MLIS
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2022

About this Guide

This bibliography is a list of resources relating to the nature and tactics of digital violence. Cyber sexual abuse (also known as digital violence, cyber violence, cyber bullying, online abuse) is pervasive. It is defined as:

Violence refers to actions or words that inflict harm; with digital violence, this harm is perpetrated through the misuse of digital technologies and tools such as computers, smartphones, and Internet of Things devices. There are many forms of digital violence, abuse and harassment; throughout this handbook, we use the term “digital violence” as an umbrella term to describe this array of activity. Digital violence may occur simultaneously with physical violence, and often overlaps and flows into offline violence of many kinds. Like physical violence, it can be inflicted both by strangers and people whom victims know. It can take place publicly on digital platforms, privately on personal devices, or in other digital spaces such as virtual reality or the blockchain. Overall, digital violence is a ubiquitous but frequently overlooked form of harm rooted in systems of oppression including cisheteropatriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, and misogynoir (misogyny targeted against Black women). The groups who are most vulnerable to violence in real life are also the most vulnerable to abuse and harassment online. Although prevention strategies often fall on the shoulders of survivors, abuse can never be fully prevented. Furthermore, abuse is never the survivor’s fault.

National Forum on the Prevention of Cyber Sexual Abuse

This bibliography is number 102 in the series “Bibliographies in Gender and Women’s Studies,” published by the University of Wisconsin System Office of the Gender and Women’s Studies Librarian.

If you have suggestions for additions or updates, please contact Lachrista Greco.