Sociologist: Sexual Chats in Men's Group Chats Are Not Normal

Allegations of electronic-based sexual harassment implicating 16 students from the Faculty of Law at Universitas Indonesia (FH UI) against numerous female students and lecturers continue to draw public attention. These students are alleged to have actively used the victims as objects of vulgar and inappropriate discussions in a closed group chat. Screenshots of these conversations circulated widely on social media, triggering public anger. The emergence of this case has revealed the phenomenon of sexual-toned discussions that secretly often occur within male friendship groups. However, is this phenomenon normal? “Sexual-oriented chats in male groups are often considered ‘normal’ because they have long been part of social practices that are continuously reproduced,” said Sociologist from Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Syaifudin, M.Kesos, when contacted by Kompas.com on Thursday (16/4/202). Syaifudin explained that this behaviour is closely tied to the concept of habitus in sociology, where the surrounding environment gradually shapes societal tolerance for verbal harassment behaviours. Syaifudin stressed that ethical boundaries in socialising must not be compromised for any reason. “From a sociological perspective, the frequency of a practice does not automatically make it normatively justifiable,” said the Sociology lecturer at UNJ’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Law. “Individuals form thought patterns and actions based on a social environment that habituates sexual jokes as a form of familiarity and masculine solidarity,” Syaifudin explained. Objectifying women in male friendship groups is not a phenomenon that arises naturally. There is a hidden motive behind such behaviour to gain validation from fellow men in their social circle. “In many cases, these chats serve as a means to demonstrate masculine identity, while avoiding the stigma of being ‘unmasculine’,” he added.