Cybercrimes Against Women in Pakistan: Feminist Narratives of Resistance, Resilience & Coping Strategies

Abstract

The study was conducted  to understand the nature of cybercrimes against women and their resistance, resilience and coping strategies. To have in-depth analysis of cybercrime related women’s narratives, qualitative research methodology was used to conduct this research and the research data was collected from Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi, where Federal Investigation Authority’s cybercrime wings were already working. Total 41 women were interviewed and the number of interviews was based upon saturation of data. The research concluded that ineffective state response, identity crisis of state institutions, women’s unique geographic location and cultural notion of honor restricted women’s access to their legal rights. However, women were resistant and resilient against cybercrimes but the level of their resistance and resilience was directly linked to their social status and cultural association. Furthermore, women were having unique coping strategies influenced by their financial status, family education, legal awareness and family support level.  Majority of the women were using normalization, gender concealment and withdrawal as coping strategies against cybercrimes.