Shamed into silence online: the sexualised, personal hate reserved for Somali women | Sahra Ahmed Koshin

Social media has given Somali women the space to be free, to organise themselves to effect change and to connect with their sisters. Unfortunately though, this newfound liberation has a heavy price, and women are subjected to more online harassment than their male counterparts.

Since 2009, when I first created a Twitter (now X) account, I’ve been following the trolling, hate speech, harassment and bullying that Somalis face. However, I’ve also seen another trend worth mentioning: the disproportionate consequences for men and women. More often than not, the terms and phrases used to lash out against Somali women’s active presence online are more derogatory, offensive, degrading and destructive than they are for men.

These trolls tend to spew their misogynistic views by digging into women’s private lives. They use language that is harmful, extremely sexualised and deeply personal.

Many Somali women end up bearing the brunt of fake news and rumours that men spread in an attempt to taint their online presence. Fake nude pictures are created with their bodies and they are called derogatory names such as “bitch”, “westernised prostitutes” and the like. Somali women are demonised for voicing what they believe in, or for what they share online. The opposite is true for men.

Many women I know have revealed some sort of experience with sexist cyber hate speech. It doesn’t matter whether you are veiled or not, once you “cross the boundary”, you will be trolled.

So, what do you do when your personal or family photos are manipulated and exposed online? How far is too far? How much freedom are Somali women allowed online? How helpful can campaigns be against hate speech?

Unfortunately, the line has already been crossed for most Somali women. Many have begun to minimise their online presence or left social media altogether. The few who have stuck it out are forced to conceal their identities and hide behind fake profiles – a limited freedom. Those who bravely spoke out and shared their experiences under the topic #SomaliMeToo are no longer present online.

Time and time again, abusive campaigns target the right to self-expression that many Somali women lack.

Somali women with an active social-media presence are risking their “image” and “reputation”. Some of the content that women post or share is seen to be indecent and labelled immoral. Social norms in Somali society, which are also present online, dictate how women are expected to speak, act, dress and conduct themselves.

If women conduct themselves in a manner that isn’t considered decent, this will reflect on her family and issues of “honour” come to the fore. A common phrase is, “Ooh maad gurigaaga iska joogtid oo iskaba dhaaftid social media, ma gabar yar baad tahay?”, which translates as: “Why don’t you just stay in your house and quit using social media like a little girl?”

Those who speak up about the wrongs they face are told to keep off the internet or accused of behaving improperly. They are not seen as being respectable enough to be good women or good wives, further deterring them from expressing themselves online.

But some Somali women are nevertheless becoming more expressive and unapologetic online. Many have large followings on social media, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

Whether it be vlogging, blogging or tweeting, Somali women are voicing their solidarity with each other across geographic divides. We are seeing more women working alongside women from the diaspora to organise online events, fundraising initiatives and conferences via Zoom and other platforms, to highlight and recognise each other and their causes.

The use of social media has paved the way for a new culture of solidarity, community and self-reliance for Somali women, wherever they live.

However, social norms greatly influence how we behave online. So, it is not only important that we maintain norms of respect and decency but also carry them over when dealing with one another online. Raising awareness of cyberbullying and addressing the mental and psychological harms that it brings will lead to change.

This is a subject deserving of in-depth research into trends and patterns. I first wrote this four years ago and yet nothing seems to have changed. Women need to be trained in how to protect their identities online and how to use the internet safely while having the freedom to be themselves. Rather than be shamed into silence, we need more women to speak up and speak louder about these issues that affect them personally and professionally.

• Sahra Ahmed Koshin is a Somali author, poet and humanitarian expert. She is the founder and director of the Somali Gender Hub