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Cybersexism in the context of online gaming communities, as epitomized by the Gamergate incident back in 2014, has been an issue for a while for gamer women, yet it has not received proper attention. In this scoping review, we have aimed to assess its main characteristics, its consequences for gamer women, its triggers and predictors, and related prevention and mitigation policies provided by the existing research. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were applied to the design of the scoping review. Empirical studies were accessed via database searches. The following databases were prospected: Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ACM from March to May 2021. A total of 33 studies were included in the final analysis after database searching, filtering, and snowballing. Most of the selected studies (66%, n = 22) were focused on the manifestations of cybersexism in gaming communities, with gender-driven trash-talking being the main one. The main drivers and triggers behind cybersexist behaviors were also the research topic in 66% (n = 22) of the studies and the consequences and coping strategies were studied in 52% (n = 17) of the articles. Furthermore, 12% (n = 4) of the studies assessed policies and actions to prevent cybersexism. Cybersexism and its manifestations are a reality that conditions gamer women, provoking avoidance and ultimately withdrawal from gaming and, therefore, creating inequality, impairing full digital citizenship, and widening the digital gender gap.

There has been growing concern about the increase in gender-based violence (GBV) among young people. The aim of this study was to explore the grey zones in GBV alongside gender (masculinities and femininities) discourses in young adults. We used the concept of a “grey zone” as an analytical tool to identify possible contradictory discursive positions where the notions of victims and perpetrators of GBV converge and become ambiguous. We performed a qualitative study based on 20 semi-structured interviews and 4 focus groups (October 2019 to February 2020) in Spain with a sample of 49 cisgender women and men, aged between 18 and 24, some involved in feminist activism and some not. We conducted a sociological analysis of the discourse system. Study findings show how culturally constructed gender norms intervene in the ways in which young people understand and deal with GBV. When asked general questions about GBV, this concept was problematized along with gender assumptions and two discursive positions were identified: the discourse of “men as authors of GBV” and the discourse of “GBV as an individual genderless issue.” When vignettes of everyday GBV situations were shown, grey zones became visible when discussing subtle forms of GBV influenced by the myths of romantic love, victim-blaming around sexual violence, digital GBV and bystander men intervention on GBV. In those grey zones, discourses on GBV were articulated around unequal notions of gender that, in turn, served as its justification, reproduction, and normalization. The grey zones identified represent contexts of oppression that illustrate how GBV is systematically reproduced, as well as the ways in which young people can be involved in it, perpetuating power and health inequalities. Our findings provide information as a guide to design GBV interventions and prevention actions that incorporate a focus on gender configurations.

Interventions engaging men that challenge unequal gender norms have been shown to be effective in reducing violence against women (VAW). However, few studies have explored how to promote anti-VAW positive masculinity in young adults. This study aims to identify key multicountry strategies, as conceived by young adults and other stakeholders, for promoting positive masculinities to improve gender equity and prevent and target VAW. This study (2019–2021) involved young adults (aged 18–24 years) and stakeholders from Ireland, Israel, Spain, and Sweden. We applied concept mapping, a participatory mixed-method approach, in phases: (1) brainstorming, using semi-structured interviews with young adults (n = 105) and stakeholders (n = 60), plus focus group discussions (n = 88), to collect ideas for promoting anti-VAW positive masculinity; (2) development of an online questionnaire for sorting (n = 201) and rating ideas emerging from brainstorming by importance (n = 406) and applicability (n = 360); (3) based on sorting and rating data, creating rating maps for importance and applicability and clusters/strategies using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis with groupwisdom™ software; and (4) interpretation of results with multicountry stakeholders to reach agreement. The cluster map identified seven key strategies (41 actions) for promoting anti-VAW positive masculinities ranked from highest to lowest: Formal and informal education and training; Preventive education and activities in different settings/areas; Skills and knowledge; Empathy, reflection, and understanding; Media and public efforts; Policy, legislation, and the criminal justice system; and Organizational actions and interventions. Pattern matches indicated high agreement between young people and stakeholders in ranking importance (r = 0.96), but low agreement for applicability (r = 0.60). Agreement in the total sample on prioritizing statements by importance and applicability was also low (r

Hegemonic masculinity has been especially linked, among other aspects, to unhealthy behaviors and heterosexuality. This study aimed to explore the discourses of masculinities with young Spanish men with different sexual orientations (heterosexuals, bisexuals, and homosexuals), comparing them with the social representations that are put into practice on Instagram. Three qualitative approaches were triangulated to seek a richer comprehension and interpretational level: discussion groups, semi-structured interviews, and an online non-participant observation on Instagram with a total of 26 young men aged between 18 and 24. Results indicate that hegemonic masculinity discourse is still significant when understanding and experiencing young men’s masculinities, promoting behaviors that put their health at risk and generating psychological discomfort, especially among non-heterosexual men. Our findings provide knowledge of the social framework that legitimizes and reproduces male domination in younger generations both online and offline and how this is reflected in men’s health.

Background: Hegemonic masculinity has been recognized as contributing to the perpetration of different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Abandoning hegemonic masculinities and promoting positive masculinities are both strategies used by interventions that foreground a “gender-transformative approach.” Preventing GBV among young people could be strengthened by engaging young men. In this article, we aim to systematically review the primary characteristics, methodological quality, and results of published evaluation studies of educational interventions that aim to prevent different forms of GBV through addressing hegemonic masculinities among young people. Main body: We conducted a systematic review of available literature (2008–2019) using Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, the CINAHL Complete Database, and ERIC as well as Google scholar. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication was used for data extraction, and the quality of the selected studies was analyzed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. More than half of the studies were conducted in Africa (n = 10/15) and many were randomized controlled trials (n = 8/15). Most of the studies with quantitative and qualitative methodologies (n = 12/15) reported a decrease in physical GBV and/or sexual violence perpetration/victimization (n = 6/15). Longitudinal studies reported consistent results over time. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of using a gender-transformative approach in educational interventions to engage young people in critical thinking about hegemonic masculinity and to prevent GBV.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and its associated factors may vary according to women’s age. In this study, we analyze the effect of age on help-seeking behavior and the associated factors among women exposed to IPV in Spain. Using the Spanish Macrosurvey on Gender Violence of 2014, we analyzed the frequency of help-seeking behavior (police report, formal resources, and informal networks of support) in women who were exposed to lifetime physical/sexual or fear-based IPV (n = 1,567 women). We used Poisson regression models to obtain variables associated with support resources. The analysis was carried out in three age groups: young women (16–29 years old), adults (30–49 years old), and older women (50 years and over). Our results show that informal support networks are the most used resource by all women´s age groups. The probability of filing a police complaint increases among women exposured to physical IPV (PRadult : 1.58; PRelder : 2.17 ). The probability of using formal resources decreased among older women with low family socioeconomic status (PR: 0.80) and in adult women exposed to sexual IPV (PR: 0.78), and increased among young women and adult Spanish women (PRyoung: 1.65; PRadult: 1.34). The use of informal support networks increased among adult women with physical and mental health effects (PR: 1.22). In older women use of informal support networks was associated with the type of IPV (PRphysical: 1.14; PRsexual: 0.88). The presence of minors who witnessed IPV increased help-seeking behavior among adult and older women. In conclusion, the knowledge of the differences in help-seeking strategies by women in different age groups could contribute to designing strategies to promote women’s ability to seek formal help when exposed to IPV.

The objective of this study is to identify challenges and facilitators for detecting and addressing cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) against Roma women, from the perspectives of health personnel and representatives of Roma organizations, and to compare both perspectives. A total of 28 semi-structured interviews were carried out between November 2014 and February 2015 in different Spanish cities. A thematic analysis was carried out, guided by Aday and Andersen’s model regarding barriers to access to health services. Both groups signaled the following as principal challenges: (a) consideration of IPV as a private problem among the Roma population, (b) little use of primary care providers for prevention, (c) distrust of Roma women toward primary care professionals as resources for seeking help, (d) the inexistence of Roma professionals in health services, (e) health professionals’ lack of cultural sensitivity related to Roma people, and (f) the focus of health protocols for action against IPV on filing a police report. Potential facilitating factors included Roma women’s trust in nurses, social workers, and pediatricians and ethnic heterogeneity. There is need to promote action to address the identified challenges through a health equity approach that includes greater training and awareness raising among health professionals about Roma culture and the specific needs of Roma women.

During the last 5 years, Ecuador has published a series of progressive laws aiming to protect girls and women against any type of violence. While these efforts are of extreme importance, concerns were raised by national nongovernmental organizations that the official numbers might be biased due to the restricted definition of femicide applied. The main objective of this study was to assess the magnitude and spatial distribution of the femicide rate by province in Ecuador in 2017. Data on cases were collected by a national network of nongovernmental organizations. Age-specific population data were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics for the year 2017. Thematic maps of overall and age-specific femicide rates were also constructed. Moran’s index was used to identify clusters of provinces with similar risks for the occurrence of the outcome. The total number of femicides during 2017 was 155, but age could not be recorded in 9 of those cases. More than one-third of the cases (36.99%) occurred in young women aged 15 to 24 years. The total rate was 1.99/100,000 women. When the femicide definition was restricted to women 15 years and above, the total rate increased to 2.41 cases/100,000. The femicide rate in Orellana boosted to 10.21 cases/100,000 in the age group of 15 years and older, the highest in the country. No pattern of spatial autocorrelation was observed. Femicides in Ecuador is a big public health problem, particularly in certain Amazon provinces. The observed rate for women above the age of 15 years (2.41) places Ecuador among the countries in the Latin American and the Caribbean region with the highest femicide rates. While progressive policies have been implemented in the last years, more educational interventions are needed at all societal levels to eradicate this kind of violence.

Acceptability of violence against women (VAW) is a key dimension in addressing this social problem, given its influence on both the violent conduct of aggressors and the decisions of affected women. This study analyzes, for the first time, the magnitude of acceptability of VAW and associated factors in the Roma population in Spain. The Roma population is the largest ethnocultural minority in Europe. Data were analyzed from the Spanish National Health Survey of the Roma Population of 2014, a survey of 1,167 people identified as members of the Roma community. The results indicate that 70.9% of those surveyed completely reject VAW, with lower probability of acceptability among women than men (odds ratio [OR]: 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.51, 0.86]). There is also a decrease in probability as income increases, in people who identify themselves as evangelical (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: [0.36, 0.71]) and among those who report being acquainted with a battered woman (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: [0.48, 0.97]), similarly in women and men. It has to be highlighted that the observed associations between socioeconomic conditions and acceptability of VAW should be considered when designing strategies for raising awareness about the consequences of VAW for the Roma population.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a violation of human rights and one form of discrimination compounded by other discrimination factors as migration. The risk of violence can increase among immigrant women because of the legal and economic situation and the barriers they encounter to accessing information and support services. This qualitative study explores in-depth the perspective of experienced social workers about challenges faced by immigrant women suffering from IPV in Spain. This study may help professional social workers, others professionals, and public policy makers to design effective strategies for meeting the demands and needs of this population.

In Spain, in 2013, the 20% of women who were murdered by their partner had reported him previously. We analyze the 2011 Spanish-Macrosurvey on Gender Violence to identify and analyze the prevalence of and the principal factors associated with reporting a situation of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the main reasons women cite for not filing such reports, or for subsequently deciding to withdraw their complaint. Overall, 72.8% of women exposed to IPV did not report their aggressor. The most frequent reasons for not reporting were not giving importance to the situation (33.9%), and fear and lack of trust in the reporting process (21.3%). The main reasons for withdrawing the complaint were cessation of the violence (20.0%), and fear and threats (18.2%). The probability of reporting increased among women with young children who were abused, prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]): 2.14 [1.54, 2.98], and those whose mother was abused, prevalence ratio (95% CI): 2.25 [1.42, 3.57]. Always focusing on the need to protect women who report abuse, it is necessary to promote the availability of and access to legal resources especially among women who use them less: women who do not have children and women who do not have previous family exposure to violence.

This study aims to analyze how middle-level health systems’ managers understand the integration of a health care response to intimate partner violence (IPV) within the Spanish health system. Data were obtained through 26 individual interviews with professionals in charge of coordinating the health care response to IPV within the 17 regional health systems in Spain. The transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory in accordance with the constructivist approach described by Charmaz. Three categories emerged, showing the efforts and challenges to integrate a health care response to IPV within the Spanish health system: “IPV is a complex issue that generates activism and/or resistance,” “The mandate to integrate a health sector response to IPV: a priority not always prioritized,” and “The Spanish health system: respectful with professionals’ autonomy and firmly biomedical.” The core category, “Developing diverse responses to IPV integration,” crosscut the three categories and encompassed the range of different responses that emerge when a strong mandate to integrate a health care response to IPV is enacted. Such responses ranged from refraining to deal with the issue to offering a women-centered response. Attempting to integrate a response to nonbiomedical health problems as IPV into health systems that remain strongly biomedicalized is challenging and strongly dependent both on the motivation of professionals and on organizational factors. Implementing and sustaining changes in the structure and culture of the health care system are needed if a health care response to IPV that fulfills the World Health Organization guidelines is to be ensured.

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of service providers in Spain regarding their daily professional encounters with battered immigrant women and their perception of this group’s help-seeking process and the eventual abandonment of the same. Twenty-nine in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 43 professionals involved in providing support to battered immigrant women. We interviewed social workers, psychologists, intercultural mediators, judges, lawyers, and public health professionals from Spain. Through qualitative content analysis, four categories emerged: (a) frustration with the victim’s decision to abandon the help-seeking process, (b) ambivalent positions regarding differences between immigrant and Spanish women, (c) difficulties in the migratory process that may hinder the help-seeking process, and (d) criticisms regarding the inefficiency of existing resources. The four categories were cross-cut by an overarching theme: helping immigrant women not to abandon the help-seeking process as a chronicle of anticipated failure. The main reasons that emerged for abandoning the help-seeking process involved structural factors such as economic dependence, loss of social support after leaving their country of origin, and limited knowledge about available resources. The professionals perceived their encounters with battered immigrant women to be frustrating and unproductive because they felt that they had few resources to back them up. They felt that despite the existence of public policies targeting intimate partner violence (IPV) and immigration in Spain, the resources dedicated to tackling gender-based violence were insufficient to meet battered immigrant women’s needs. Professionals should be trained both in the problem of IPV and in providing support to the immigrant population.

A systematic review was performed to analyse the characteristics and quality of the studies that consider the relationship between verbal marital conflict and/or male domination in the family and violent behaviour by men towards their partner. Only 11 articles were identified between 1986 and 2006. Most of them find a positive association between male domination in the family and/or verbal marital conflict and violence towards the woman in the couple. However, limitations such as misclassification bias, recall bias, selection bias, external validity and the problem of consistency (overestimation of effect) were acknowledged by authors of this studies. In eight of the 11 studies reviewed, preventive measures or interventions to deal with the problem were recommended. More and better empirical evidence is required in order to provide suitable measures to address the issue of verbal marital conflict and male domination and its influence on IPV.