The Impact of Online Sexual Assault Testimonies on Social Change

Background

This research explores the impact of online sexual assault testimonies on social change aimed to address gendered violence. While existing studies focus on survivor testimonies as tools for recovery and solidarity, understanding their role in driving social change outside traditional judicial or commission settings remains underexplored. This project examines the life cycle of online survivor testimonies – their production, circulation, reception and impact. It investigates the potential of survivor testimonies to disrupt entrenched structures of gendered violence while also acknowledging the risk of backlash.

Aim

A key objective of this research is to analyse the mechanisms through which online testimonies facilitate shifts in public discourse, influence policy responses, and foster cultural change regarding sexual violence. It examines how survivors strategically use digital platforms to share their experiences, the ways in which these testimonies gain traction, and the conditions under which they prompt institutional or societal responses. Additionally, this project critically considers the risks and limitations of testimonial activism, including the potential for backlash, re-traumatisation and co-optation by dominant narratives that may dilute survivor agency or reproduce harmful discourses. Ultimately, this research seeks to bridge the gap between awareness and action, offering insights into how survivor testimonies can extend beyond narratives of trauma to influence structural reform.

Methods

This project uses an interdisciplinary feminist methodological framework, which includes: (1) a platform analysis of digital testimony archives, alongside close reading and thematic analysis of the testimonies; (2) semi-structured interviews with creators of testimony platforms; and (3) an online survey targeting individuals who have previously submitted testimonies to explore their perceptions of impact. This methodological approach lays the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of testimonial activism and its potential to drive social change.

Significance

To ensure that the rupture sparked by movements like #MeToo and #NiUnaMenos leads to substantive, long-lasting changes in both societal attitudes and institutional practices, efforts must focus on translating awareness of survivors’ experiences into action. This project offers a critical lens on digital testimonial activism, exploring how technology is being harnessed to amplify survivors’ voices and as part of efforts to address sexual violence. This research will generate evidence-based recommendations on how survivor testimonies can influence institutional frameworks, particularly best practices for integrating survivor voices into policy discussions. Moreover, understanding how online survivor testimonies shape public discourse will guide the implementation of sexual violence prevention campaigns. Amid the global escalation of gendered violence, this research is timely, as it contributes to both academic scholarship and practical interventions aimed at amplifying survivors’ voices to promote meaningful social transformation. This project will offer a model for affirming the lived experiences of survivors while also positioning them as central agents in addressing gendered violence.

Funding Body

Emmaline Monteith

Project start date

February 2024

Expected completion date

August 2027