New forms of digital power on the web: dimensions of the sexual politics of Big Tech
Águeda Gómez Suárez, profesora titular de universidad, Departamento de Sociología, Ciencia Política y de la Administración, y Filosofía, Universidad de Vigo. agueda@uvigo.es. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4001-3060
Rosa Mª Verdugo Matés, profesora contratada doctora, Departamento de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. rosa.verdugo@usc.gal. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9842-3391
Although it initially appeared that the Internet would be a universal, decentralised, horizontal and egalitarian space, it has ultimately evolved into an ecosystem of vast domains controlled by major tech corporations. This new form of digital power manifests a specific “sexual politics” that primarily extends through leisure, culture, consumption and virtual communication channels, which reproduce and naturalise gender disparities, sexism and misogyny. This paper examines how patriarchy operates through gender dynamics by disseminating and proliferating misogynistic and sexist content online (cyber violence, “mainstream pornography”, the sexual exploitation industry, “digital pimping”), deploying a strategy aimed at consolidating its power, perpetuating sexual hierarchy and the “monetisation of misogyny” within the framework of a specific socio-sexual order.
Key words: Big Tech, digital sexism, digital misogyny, digital pimping, sex industry
How to cite this article: Gómez Suárez, Águeda y Verdugo Matés, Rosa Mª. «Nuevas formas de poder digital en la red: dimensiones de la política sexual de las Big Tech». Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, n.º 138 (diciembre de 2024), p. 97-120. DOI: doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2024.138.3.97
Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, nº 138, pp. 97-120
Quadrimestral (September-December 2024)
ISSN:1133-6595 | E-ISSN:2013-035X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2024.138.3.97
Receipt date: 20.03.24 ; Acceptance date: 05.08.24
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