In Benin, as everywhere in the world, the digital space has become essential: people work, get informed, exchange and create there. But for many women, this space is anything but safe. Gender-based violence (GBV) takes new forms there: insults, pressure, public humiliation, smear campaigns and victim-blaming.
Between targeted attacks, social stigma and discrimination, women are exposed to violence that undermines their self-esteem, limits their participation online and reinforces inequality. This article explores three serious manifestations of this violence: digital victim-blaming, the belittling of women's ambitions and contempt for women living with a disability.
Through these realities, it becomes clear that protecting women online is not just a social issue, but an urgent necessity.
1. Digital victim-blaming: when the Internet makes violence worse
"They accuse, they judge, they say 'she provoked it'. Blaming the victim protects the abuser."
Victim-blaming is one of the most widespread forms of digital violence in Benin. Under posts, in WhatsApp groups, on TikTok or Facebook, some women who have been assaulted or harassed online paradoxically become the main target of criticism.
They are told that they "provoked it", that they were "looking for attention", that they should not have posted a particular photo or replied to a particular message. This mechanism shifts responsibility from the abuser to the victim, isolating her further and often preventing any reporting.
Why it matters
- It reinforces the violence already suffered.
- It pushes many women into silence.
- It trivialises harassment and protects abusers.
What to remember
- No woman deserves violence.
- Assaults are the choice of the abusers — never of the victims.
2. Digital belittling of women's ambitions: an attempt to silence them
"Let her dream. Digital abuse against a woman is punishable."
On social networks, many Beninese women who start businesses, create or share their ideas become the target of mockery, sarcasm or sexist attacks.
Their projects are ridiculed, their skills downplayed, and they are publicly discouraged:
- "A woman can't succeed on her own."
- "She's doing too much."
- "She wants to act like a man."
These attacks, often disguised as "jokes", aim to reduce women's visibility, intimidate them or prevent them from legitimately occupying the digital space.
Why it matters
- It discourages women's innovation and expression.
- It builds a hostile digital environment.
- It sustains the idea that women's place should be limited.
What to remember
- Ambition is not a provocation.
- No one has the right to censor a woman through mockery or humiliation.
3. Digital contempt for women living with a disability: a doubly invisible violence
"Disability is no reason to suffer GBV online."
Women living with a disability are among the most targeted on the Internet: mockery of their appearance, degrading comments, insults, deliberate exclusion from online discussions or communities.
They suffer intersectional violence: because they are women, and because they live with a disability.
Some are publicly humiliated, others see their private life exposed or their efforts downplayed simply because their physical condition becomes a digital spectacle.
Why it matters
- This violence reinforces existing barriers.
- It deprives women of a space for expression and participation.
- It amplifies forms of discrimination that are still taboo in Beninese society.
What to remember
- Disability takes away no dignity.
- Respect is a fundamental right, online as offline.
Acting together
Digital violence against women — blaming, belittling, mockery linked to disability — has profound consequences: isolation, anxiety, loss of confidence, withdrawal from digital spaces, and even real danger.
It is essential to act collectively:
- Report violent content.
- Support victims instead of judging them.
- Raise community awareness.
- Promote a respectful and inclusive Internet.
The digital space is not only a space of expression: it is a space of life. And every life deserves dignity, safety and respect — without exception.
