Gender Bias and Cyber Violence: Spotlighting the Pink-Haired Girl Incident by a Critical Discourse Analysis
Abstract
The Internet serves as a communication medium that facilitates interaction among individuals, thereby overcoming the constraints imposed by temporal and spatial boundaries. Nonetheless, the internet also poses some risks, such as instances of online violence. For example, a few months ago, a young woman pursuing her postgraduate studies became the target of numerous netizens who subjected her to verbal and emotional abuse. This onslaught was triggered by a photograph in which she had dyed pink hair while visiting her grandfather. Tragically, the relentless harassment she endured ultimately led her to end her own life. Subsequently, following this occurrence, there has been a growing consolidation among women’s organizations. This study employs qualitative analysis and literature review to examine the Pink Hair Girl incident as a case study, aiming to gain insights into its societal ramifications. The findings of this study indicate that the controversies surrounding the girl’s hair coloring can be attributed to the influence of patriarchal norms and masculinist ideologies, among other factors. Furthermore, it is argued that this incidence serves to foster a sense of unity among women.
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