Exposed

What is Intimate Image Abuse?

The legal definition of intimate image abuse is,

"Person A discloses, or threatens to disclose, a photograph or film which shows, or appears to show, another person (“B”) in an intimate situation”

In this definition, 'intimate' is defined as being something of sexual nature.  

Muslim & BME women's experiences of intimate image abuse differ. For them, intimate images could include photos without their hijab, or showing their bare legs. Whilst these do not fall under the legal definition of ‘intimate images’, many women in Scotland experience abuse at the hands of perpetrators using their photos and videos in this way. Such photos are exploited to control and manipulate women, by sharing them without consent on social media, with friends and family, or even threatening to do so, in order to control women. Victims often become ostracised by their families and communities, with detrimental long-term consequences.

A key aim of our work is to open pathways of support for Muslim & BME women, while also equipping people with the understanding and skills to respond with kindness and empathy when a woman shares her experiences of abuse. We recently spoke to some young women and asked what they would do if this happened to them. They said, “Never go to parents. Keep it to myself or go to a close friend" and "Not go to the police as this would result in family finding out". We also asked the women how intimate image abuse would affect their reputation and they responded, "You would be disowned".  

Through this campaign, we aim to highlight the experiences of Muslim & BME women, who are often silenced on these issues. We hope to campaign for legislation that has greater scope and includes the lived experiences of these women.