81% internet users watch content abusive to women: Study

Some 81% of internet users in the country watch content abusive to women, finds a study by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and Dnet.

Contents condemning and insulting women are frequently posted on YouTube, a video-sharing social media platform, by YouTubers in the country, and most internet users watch them as well, reads the report, titled "Impact of easy accessibility of pornography on the internet and its relevance with violence against women and girls in Bangladesh", disclosed on Thursday.

While presenting the research findings at the National Press Club, ABM Sirajul Hossain, innovation adviser to Dnet, said, "The study was aimed at understanding the nature and depth of pornography present on the internet and what degrading content is being spread online, and how technology or ICT is being used for sexual and arousal purposes.

"Attempts were also made to find out the primary purpose of those consumers behind watching or accepting the abusive material being spread about women on the net."

It has been found that pornographic content, which has been made locally, spreads more and leaves a greater impact on society, said Sirajul Hossain, adding that here locally made pornography is used more for condemning, torturing, and humiliating women rather than for obscenity.

Dnet, a non-government organization, conducted the study on 518 people, of whom 53% were men.

The study was done through desk research, online research, hypothesis, survey, and analysis in 16 districts of eight divisions.

The survey has also found that 82% of respondents believe that violence against and exploitation of girls have increased in society.

Sirajul said 82% of respondents said they think an increase in pornography viewing has also contributed to an increase in violence against women in society.

According to the report, 74% of the respondents think "evil" girls are more dangerous than "evil" boys, while 79% of them believe that there are both "good" and "evil" girls in society.

Some 53% of respondents think girls and women who have been raped or sexually abused have had their own faults for the violence they have undergone. 73% of them think a woman can become successful in life only when she marries a suitable man, while 63% think if women start dominating men if they are given more freedom and 58% think girls often consider innocent behaviour of boys as abuse.

Besides, 52% of the respondents think it is not right for girls to work in the media and cinemas, work night shifts with men, or travel or work far away with men and 81% think if girls wear open clothes, behave indecently, use bad language, move freely and socialize, they can be subjected to various forms of degrading and degrading treatment.

Those who dress up and act like western actresses or wear western clothes and post their photos and videos on social media platforms such as TikTok, Likie, and Instagram have been branded as evil girls. On the other hand, those who follow religious norms are good girls, think 66% of the respondents.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, who moderated Thursday's programme, said shutting down pornography sites is not the answer. She emphasised changing the education curriculum and attaching importance to sex education in educational institutions. She also observed that children should be taught to respect women by their families.

Shahnaz Huda, professor of law at Dhaka University; and Mohammed Shahadat Hossain, executive director of Dnet, and psychological health and wellness clinical counselor Rahnuma E Jannat, also spoke at the session.