Cyberbullying and feminism in Pakistan: the stories of feminist activists in Lahore
Maheen Baloch, Ammar Yasir, Ali Ab Ul Hassan · Feminist Media Studies · 2025
The article explores the intersection of feminist activism and cyberbullying in Lahore, Pakistan through the experiences of feminist activists. The researchers conducted ten in-depth interviews with the feminist activists using a qualitative research design and a purposive and snowball sampling strategy. The study employed IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological analysis), and three major themes emerged and were divided into sub-themes through thematic analysis. The findings revealed the various forms of cyberbullying that feminist activists experienced and pointed to misogyny, patriarchy, and hostility toward feminism as the causes. Moreover, it provided insights into the psychological effects of cyberbullying and the difficulties that they face in Pakistani Society. The study also shares the coping mechanisms that feminist activists employ to deal with the effects and exercise their agency. By providing a thorough analysis of the issue of cyberbullying and the dangers it poses to feminist activism, the study highlights the need for stronger legal frameworks and cultural shifts to address gender-based digital abuse, advocating for safer online spaces for women.