Pornification of the Cyberspace During Intrastate Conflicts

Abstract

Beyond the physical world around us, a deeply penetrating digital world or cyberspace began to bring about new opportunities and threats for national and international actors. The violent non-state actors (VNSAs) are not exempt from this development. Above all, the age of cyberspace changed the propaganda and recruitment strategies of the VNSAs. Armed groups acting in intrastate wars that want to recruit individuals and increase their supporters now reach people more effectively through cyberspace. Women play an important role at this point. Numerous studies explain various dimensions of the changing role of women in intrastate wars. Rather than a simplistic division of roles between men and women, some organizations began to present women as respected members rather than baits and sexual objects. By observing propaganda made by the VNSAs in cyberspace, this study shows how women are used differently to recruit new members and receive international support comparatively. In this sense, the study focuses on female fighters' role and representation in cyberspace.