From offline to online violence: new challenges for the contemporary society

Abstract

So far, the focus on violence has been it as a concept and its evolution within contemporary societies. For instance, several studies consider violence to be influenced by singular cultural issues and perceptions, with the primary point being the presence of an authoritative presence capable of acting violently. Others instead focus on the degrees and typologies of violence and question the role of modernity in the execution of acts of violence by individuals, who are often both victims and perpetrators. In this article, we draw upon a theoretical reflection concerning the role of violence as a sociological concept. We highlight the transformations it has undergone considering the technological developments and its presence in online spaces. The aim is to stress the mutual shaping relationship between the online and offline realms regarding violence against women (although the subject could also involve other communities like the LGBTQI+, migrants, people with disabilities, etc.). Via our theoretical point of reference and examples, we highlight how the perception of the seriousness of violence is nuanced depending on the environment in which it occurs. Similarly, we argue that its acceptability or condemnation becomes the result of culturally metabolised principles and rules that characterise certain societies.

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