Online misogyny discredits victims’ and survivors’ stories and disrupts the collective conversation about violence against women and girls. The Mason Greenwood case demonstrates a simplistic online narrative which fails to acknowledge the complex nature of domestic abuse.
The #MeToo movement was a turning point in the conversation about violence against women and girls and has resulted in increased awareness, perpetrator accountability, empowerment for victims/survivors and social change. Despite this progress, there are still various barriers for victims and survivors, and while social media is being used to share experiences and call out a culture of violence, it is simultaneously being used to discredit women’s stories and derail the wider conversation about violence against women and girls.
Misogyny is pervasive in the online space, and rape myths often shape the discourse surrounding sexual violence. Rape myths are widely held but incorrect beliefs about sexual assault and rape that often blame victims and minimise perpetrator responsibility. This harmful narrative inevitably makes it harder for victims and survivors to disclose their experiences and receive justice. Online discourse can significantly impact them, especially if this is critical, questioning or dismissive, and can further stigmatise them and exacerbate the trauma they have experienced.
High-profile cases of violence against women receive significant media attention and prompt mass online discussion. Recent allegations have been made against a string of professional footballers, including David Goodwillie, Benjamin Mendy and Mason Greenwood. This discourse often focuses on whether they should continue to play at a professional level in light of these allegations, and the potential damage to their careers often overshadows any potential harm caused to the victim/survivor. A recurrent theme in the discourse of footballers, particularly younger footballers, is that they have made a mistake or did not mean to commit acts of violence. This reframes the narrative and directs sympathy towards the accused, rather than the victim/survivor, which minimises their responsibility and holds them less accountable for their actions.
While violence against women is a pervasive issue in all areas of society, it is important to acknowledge professional footballers’ position on and off the pitch as heroes and role models. Football fans idolise their team’s players and this appears to add to the vitriol directed at victims/survivors. Fans often rush to the accused’s defence with very little understanding of violence against women. The implications of this response reach far beyond the individual case; other victims/survivors witnessing this commentary could feel invalidated, disempowered and afraid, ultimately discouraging them from seeking support and limiting their own disclosure.
A recent example is the case of Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood. In January 2022, his girlfriend Harriet Robson shared images of bruises and injuries with the caption ‘To everyone who wants to know what mason greenwood actually does to me’ and an audio clip where he was allegedly attempting to have sex with her without consent. He was then charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault, but at the beginning of February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges because it was believed that there was not a realistic prospect of conviction due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and new evidence. This is not surprising, as convictions for crimes of violence against women are extremely low, with the criminal justice system often failing victims/survivors throughout the process between a report and court.
On 21 February, not long after the charges were dropped, a video surfaced that suggested the couple were back together and then on 25 February it was announced that they were expecting a baby. These revelations reignited the conversation about the case in news comment sections and on social media. There was some commentary expressing concern for Robson and attempts to challenge myths about domestic abuse. Disappointingly – yet unsurprisingly – however, much of the response was shaped by rape myths and victim-blaming.
The recent media updates are being used by football fans to dismiss his behaviour and any harm that may have been caused without acknowledging the nuanced and complex nature of domestic abuse. Many victims withdraw from the legal process for a variety of reasons. In this case, many see Robson’s ‘change of heart’ as confirmation that she must have been lying or exaggerating, accusing her of ruining his career, and claiming that his actions, if true, were simply a mistake on his part. The most persistent argument throughout this conversation is that as she has given him another chance, Manchester United should too. While it is common for victims/survivors to stay in abusive relationships, the questions being asked are ‘why is she still with him?’ and ‘why did she go back?’, rather than ‘why was he violent?’. This simplistic understanding places the responsibility of the situation onto her and conveniently provides his supporters with an excuse to dismiss the whole thing.
Despite the lack of legal action in this case and the couple’s continuing relationship, it is difficult to ignore the images and audio shared by Robson. While the conversation may currently be centred on this case, the discourse has a widespread impact. One in three women are subjected to physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes, so undoubtedly victims/survivors will read this misogynistic discourse online. What message does this send to them?
Erin Rennie is a PhD researcher and seminar tutor in Criminology and Sociology at Glasgow Caledonian University. She received her undergraduate degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in BA Social Sciences (Hons) and then went on to the University of Stirling, where she received a MSc in Gender Studies (Applied).
Erin’s main research interest is online harassment and abuse against women. Her research explores women’s experiences of online abuse who are engaged in social media activism related to violence against women, with a focus on how this impacts them and their responses to it. Erin’s Twitter: @Pink_Handed
‘What a lying slut’: the (re)production of rape myths in online misogyny towards women disclosing their experiences of rape through the #MeToo movement by Erin Rennie from the Journal of Gender-Based Violence is available to read Open Access on Bristol University Press Digital.
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