Investigation of the cyberbullying experience of generation Z women and its impact on everyday life on the basis of gender

This research was carried out within the framework of phenomenological pattern by applying qualitative research method. Generation Z women who use social media applications widely were selected as participants. In this selection, the criterion of having experienced cyberbullying in the use of any of the social media tools was decisive. In this context, the study was conducted by conducting in-depth interviews with 20 female participants in the Central District of Bolu Province. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to reveal, understand and describe the phenomenon of cyberbullying, how generation Z women experience it and how it makes sense. In addition, it is among the objectives of the study to examine and understand the impact of cyberbullying on the daily lives of victims within the framework of gender. The data obtained from in-depth interviews were analyzed in a descriptive way. In the study, it was found that the phenomenon of cyber bullying negatively affected the participants' social relations, school life, participation in social activities, the way they used social media and their duration. While it was found that all participants between the ages of 19 and 23 were exposed to cyberbullying by men, other findings included that the victims explained the reasons for being exposed to cyberbullying by emphasizing their being women through learned sexist discourses. In addition, it has been found that there are traces of sexuality and women's body in the cyberbullying suffered by the victims. It has been found that the emotions that the victims feel intensely are fear and helplessness. Finally, it was found that the participants were mostly limited to their own methods in coping with cyberbullying, only six of them complained to the police, and eleven participants received psychological assistance after cyberbullying.