The fear of family involvement and societal backlash is a powerful deterrent to
reporting. A recurring theme among young women was the desire to keep their
families unaware, with one asking, “What should I do? I do not want my family to be
involved, especially since honor crimes are common here in Jordan.” This fear is
rooted in the reality that a victim's ability to seek justice is often contingent on
having “a supportive and understanding family.” Without this, the prevailing social
shame takes over, as there is still stigma surrounding girls who go to the police
station or file complaints. Families often pressure victims to remain silent,
saying “don’t expose us, just delete the comment,” or questioning “why did you post
your picture in the first place?” This societal pressure, which shifts blame to the
victim, makes the decision to file a complaint “neither easy nor straightforward.”
Perpetrators strategically exploit these patriarchal norms. They prey on the fear
of reputational damage by threatening to share private images or chats. This
demonstrates that online violence is an extension of offline violence, with digital
platforms providing unlimited access for public humiliation. The case of public
figure Nadia Al-Zoubi, who faced a hate campaign based merely on the implication
of a scandal, illustrates this dynamic35. While she had the platform to fight back,
most young women lack the same social and financial capital, leaving them
vulnerable.
This culture of silence can have severe, escalating consequences. As one expert
noted, “a girl or woman telling her family she is abused online, and they pressure her
to not report, is an advanced step. Most of the time... the woman doesn’t even tell her
family.” This isolation allows crimes to escalate from blackmail into more severe
offenses like theft or trafficking. Even for adults, the fear persists, with one
participant sharing, “as an adult you have the resources... but still you are afraid to
speak up... sometimes it is fear of disappointment that they don’t want to see from
their parents.” Finally, the reporting process itself can be influenced by social
stigma, as those speaking on sensitive issues like violence against women often
find “there is not always support when reporting abusers.”
Conclusion: TFGBV as a Political Instrument of Exclusion
When asked how they changed their use of online platforms after facing online
violence, 77.4% of our respondents adopted alternative tactics that involved
anonymizing their online persona, such as deleting profile pictures, using
pseudonyms, or changing privacy settings. The remaining respondents withdrew,
either partially by avoiding certain platforms or completely by deleting their
accounts. Analytically, these coping mechanisms represent a severe curtailment
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/, 2022, ،’” سوشيال ميديا،مش_رح_تكسرني#‘ “مذيعة أردنية ترد على محاوالت تشويه سمعتها بحملة، العربي الجديد35
https://short-url.org/1gtF3.
21