DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUTUBE COMMENTARIES

Abstract

Campus sexual assault has recently become a significant issue and has gained substantial global attention, including social media users in Indonesia. Prior research has not sufficiently examined the use of linguistic resources in campus sexual assault discourses. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, this study aims to explore the discursive constructive of sexual assault on Indonesian campuses through the evaluative resources employed by commentators on YouTube commentaries. The commentaries were created in 2021 in response to Daddy Corbuzier and Narasi Newsroom’s video on campus sexual assault. Findings revealed that sexual assault on Indonesian campuses was attributed to power dynamics, social structures, power imbalances, power abuse, and patriarchal culture. These factors left the victims feeling powerless, which led to normalisation. These results provide insight into the contribution of broader discourse on sexual assault prevention and response.

Keywords

• Campus sexual assault; Indonesian campus; critical discourse analysis; appraisal framework; discursive constructions; YouTube commentaries