Sexist bullying and harassment of girls and women is widespread on social media sites in Tajikistan, according to Radio Ozodi [1] [tj] (Tajik service of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty [2]). The problem has to do with a strongly-held stereotype that female social media users are sexually promiscuous. On Odnoklassniki [3], the most popular social network in the country, girls routinely encounter abusive and sexist comments, Radio Ozodi reports. As a result, female users change their real names and profile images to fake ones, limit what the public sees about their profiles, or leave the social network altogether.
Interestingly, comments under the report show that many Internet users in Tajikistan believe that “good girls” should not use social media. In a comment typical of many others, Nurik writes [4] [tj]:
Хубтараш духтархои точик, однокласникро истифода набаранд.
It would be better if Tajik girls did not use Odnoklassniki.