How to deal with unwanted attention in the digital age

[KitSileya]

45. I wonder how many here on DU would refuse to accept

that receiving a pic like that is sexual harassment, bordering on sexual assault? How is this different from a flasher? Not in the least. It is deliberately breaking someone's boundaries, which some do for the thrill of it, and others do to test how good of a victim she'll be. It's typical rapist behavior in the latter form, because as we know, most victims know their rapist. See if she protests minor violations of boundaries, such as pressure to drink more, or a shoulder massage, even when she signals that she is uncomfortable is typical in these cases. If she has problems voicing her protests clearly enough, usually because of cultural condition, and because she will be considered rude if she isn't accomodating, signals a victim less likely to report, or even tell anyone of a rape. Having the picture of a naked man suddenly show up in your chat may also be triggering to survivors, and I am sure that it is intensely uncomfortable for many others.

Here on DU, though, we have some who would tell us to just not look at the picture if it is so disturbing. I think that tells us a lot about how little interested they are in preventing sexual harassment, assault, and rape.