“Stripped”: an analysis of revenge porn victims’ lives after victimization

This study examines the experiences of female revenge porn victims. To date, no other academic studies have exclusively focused on experiences of victimization in revenge porn cases. Researchers have focused on legal and moral aspects of revenge porn rather than on victims’ experiences. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted between February 2014 and January 2015 with 18 revenge porn victims to understand how they experienced victimization and its effects on their lives. Inductive analysis revealed six main themes among the interviews: (1) emotional effects of revenge porn, (2) coping mechanisms, (3) relationships, (4) dealing with the law, (5) revenge porn as a gendered crime, and (6) intimate partner violence. The findings underscore the need for new policies and laws that would afford protection to revenge porn victims and the need for in-depth research on revenge porn victimology.