Introduction

Since the 20th century, Madagascar has ratified human rights agreements to uphold human dignity, including the implementation of gender equality between women and men. However, Malagasy society treats people differently based on their sex, both across all sectors and on social media platforms. This article focuses on the unequal treatment and its effects in order to achieve gender equity.

Different Types of Online Harassment

Currently, many people consider attacking someone based on their sex as entertainment on social media. But such mockery emphasizes multiple forms of cruelty, especially towards Malagasy girls and women. Harassment has thus become a source of amusement, as exemplified by people being judged on Facebook. Thousands of women are harassed in one way or another. This harassment occurs both in private and public spheres. Girls and women experience sexual and moral harassment through private messages, posts, and voice calls made by men, women, influencers, and especially various groups. The cases of singer Meizah, former deputy Fenohasina, and other prominent women illustrate this reality.

Forms of Violence Caused by Online Harassment

The violence can be economic, social, physical, verbal, or psychological. The latter types destroy women more than men on social networks. Many women today engage in online prostitution to meet their needs. They invest heavily in online sales to earn more money, seeking all means to survive like men, but they suffer more violence than men. This does not mean that men do not experience violence, but they tend to disregard it. Violence, regardless of its form, can hinder personal and collective development. It also undermines a nation’s growth. This is one reason why Madagascar remains impoverished.

Conclusion

For treatment based on human dignity to prevail in Madagascar both on social media and in all other domains, quality education is necessary, promoting skills, proper behaviour, and mutual respect between girls and boys, or women and men. This means revising school and university curricula, as well as the legal framework. Generally, strengthening primary and secondary socialization requires the efforts of state actors and their partners.

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