From victimhood to agency: women's digital resilience journeys

Online abuse has become a persistent feature of digital life, particularly for women who occupy visible spaces online. While existing research has substantially expanded the discourse in documenting the harms of such abuse, less attention has been given to how women continue to participate, adapt, and assert themselves within these same environments. This study examines how women move from experiences of digital victimization towards forms of agency.

Based on feminist theory and perspectives on digital power, the study adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach. It analyses publicly available experiential data relating to three women, Anita Sarkeesian, Ferial Haffajee, and Bonang Matheba, whose encounters with gendered online abuse have been widely visible. Using publicly available data, including social media posts, interviews, and media coverage, the study traces how their responses to online abuse unfold over time.

The findings show that movement from victimhood to agency is neither immediate nor straightforward. Women often experience online harassment that may result in psychological trauma and damage to both personal and professional reputations, which can leave them in a state of hesitation and self-doubt. However, such experiences can also lead to self-reflection and a change of strategy. In this study, women responded by managing visibility, revising narratives, and engaging audiences strategically. Thus, agency in this context is reflected in women's purposeful decision-making in terms of how they respond, participate, and sustain digital presence.

The study contributes to understanding how women sustain participation in digital spaces despite online abuse and provides insights for developing safer and more inclusive digital environments.