Sexual violence against women extends to any field, including dating apps.
A place "to establish emotional and sexual relationships that are increasingly common among the young population," explains the report by the Federation of Young Women
Apps without violence.
"Sexual violence against women has taken on new forms in virtual dating spaces, making the traditional
modus operandi
of patriarchal seduction, where sexual violence is located, mate and rearm."
According to the study, 21.7% of those who dated through Tinder —the
app
that they chose for being a leader among the youngest— assures that "they were forced to have a sexual relationship through explicit violence", that is, "they were raped in the most socially agreed sense of the term, mediating physical violence."
And almost 57.9% have felt pressured to have sexual relations.
The survey has "a total sample of 963 heterosexual women between the ages of 18 and 35, users of Tinder."
The figures continue and, they point out from the federation, "they are alarming."
Around 57% of those surveyed considered that one of their dates had encouraged them to drink with the aim of having sex;
almost 30% affirmed that their sexual partner continued with a practice after they had manifested physical pain and desire to stop, and 40% felt the same in relation to practices of sexual domination (BDSM).
Two methodologies were used for the study: quantitative and qualitative.
The first included an online survey of more than 40 questions to 963 Tinder users and the second consisted of creating two profiles, one male and one female, to "show gender stereotypes and the aggressions they face women” when relating to men.
One of the main findings in the Tinder profiles was the reproduction of discourses typical of a subordinate feminine ideal in which "a new femininity has spread in sexuality, which constitutes the only basis of feminine identity."
"It does not mean pleasurable sexuality, but as a form of power," explains one of the study's researchers, Irene Otero Pérez.
In addition, she points out that they found male profiles in which she highlighted her interest in finding "calm, smiling, princesses, affectionate" women, among other adjectives.
Compliments, nudity or conversations with sexual content
in the first interactions with a user are common.
The users who have received messages alluding to their physique reach up to 92.2%.
Of them, 87.6% said they felt uncomfortable because of it;
79% said they felt uncomfortable or pressured to send nude photos and 69.3% felt pressured to have sexually explicit conversations against their will.
Something that for Otero is "the spitting image of the dehumanization of women."
"There is no such thing as a person woman, but rather a beautiful woman," says Otero.
Other worrying data from the experiences is that 65.4% claimed to have received questions such as "Are you submissive?"
In the first contact via chat or very recent interactions, 54.6% of women state that they have been asked about their interest in violent sex.
To which 61% responded that they received violent responses for their rejection of this type of sex with qualifications such as "prude."
Sexual violence in face-to-face meetings
According to the study, there is "strong resistance to labeling many of the explicit assaults suffered by women as sexual violence."
In response to the question about
Have you suffered any kind of sexual violence on a Tinder date?
, 86.4% of women denied having suffered any type of sexual violence on dating apps.
This data, the researchers explain, clashes with the results of other more specific questions, in which, for example, 50% of the women said they had felt pressured to have sexual relations.
The affirmative responses to this more generic question (11.49%) are approximately half of the total of those who reveal having been raped (21.7%).
Mónica Sainz Martínez, another of the researchers, explains that this is due to the myth behind rape.
“This makes sexual violence identifiable as being committed by a stranger in a dark alley,” she points out.
But sexual violence doesn't just work that way.
When asked explicitly if their date got me drunk or drugged to have sex, the percentage reached 20%.
Already during sex, 48.8% of women said they felt an object whose pleasure does not matter.
Of that percentage, 26.3% said they had experienced it with a high frequency.
In addition, 27.7% of the women who had sex affirm that the men were violent during sex, drowning them, slapping them or insulting them.
And 28.2% said they had experienced some practice that hurt them and in which, despite the refusal, the man continued.
Data for which the Federation of Young Women have expressed their deep concern and demand prevention policies.