With the state-of-the-art technology in the 21st century, regardless of gender in society are dealing with online sexual harassment that is way too hard to stop.

Wednesday 30 June 2021

     Online sexual harassment or Cyber sexual harassment is any act in a digital communication channel relating to sexual conduct towards another person that he or she is aware that it is violating, unwanted, unconsented, not ready, or even consents in the moment, in that situation, but if it negatively affects the victim, it can also be considered sexual harassment as well.

     Asst. Prof. Ronnapoom Samakkhikarom, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University said; “In the online world, we do not know who is who. Therefore, sexual harassment can occur easily, and many people would think that it is normal for them to comment. They only communicate, but they really don't, because the impact is greater than the general harassment. Because we can't see the offender, and that we communicate through images, sound, and texting. Therefore, the victim will feel great suffering, do not know who to ask for help, unable to immediately stop those actions, and do not know how to resolve.

     Asst. Prof. Ronnabhum added, “There are many forms of online sexual harassment. 1. Written form, such as typing comments to communicate directly with us like; “Can I….You?”, “I wish to hug you”, “That one is big”, “That one is small”, “That one is the size of a fried egg”, etc. Or even now, we would be able to see in many online chat rooms that seem like a normal tease, for example, “Can I S Singapore H you?” Which is to ask to conduct Sexual Harassment. This can be implied as; “I'm going to have twin babies with you”. 2. Symbols or Emoji form, such as putting a smiley heart-shaped Emoji on some parts of the victim’s body, such as the breasta, genitals, or the area with body hairs, etc. 3. Recipient directed or email form, for example, sending pornographic material without permission, inviting to have sex or referring to a third party in saying that the third party is sexually damaging”.

     “And more importantly, there are many researches have found that there is a connection between online sexual harassment and real-world sexual harassment, for example, sexual harassment takes place in the real world first in the room, on the bed, or at places, after which it is publicly published online. This is where they come in relation or some cases occur in the online world first, then occur in the real world again. This is the characteristics that I want everyone to know and be aware of”.

     Asst. Prof. Ronnabhum suggested that when we are sexually harassed online 1. We need to stay calm and consider whether what they are communicating makes us comfortable or not. Or is it a harassment to us? 2. We must immediately stop the communication. Try not to retaliate, or if you to do so, tell the offender, which can be one or more people, either known to us or as we call Avatar, we have to inform the offender that it is a harassment to us. 3. Collect all evidence, if we decide that we do not want them to do this to anyone else and we need some compensation, the victim must keep all the evidence and then take the next step of the judicial process. In the present, there is technology to take photgraph, capture the screen, or send it to a third party to know what we have encounter? And most importantly, professor suggested that the diary should be written as a record of what happened. As many times, when the offender knows that it is regarded as a harassment, the technology of sending information may allow them to unsent or delete the data. So make sure to record in your diary of what happended, how you felt, what have you told to third parties, etc.

     For Thammasat University, this issue was taken into account. University under the leadership of the President and Vice Rector for Student Affairs Therefore, a committee was set up called the “Committee for the Promotion of Sexual Safety and Understanding”, which consisted of both inside and outside the university. It serves to prevent, control, supervise, solve problems and heal those who do and are treated. Finally, I would like to say to those who have been sexually harassed both online and face-to-face. Don't feel too bad about it. We have to get up and fight through it. Then all the bad things will pass, Asst. Prof. Ronnabhum concluded.