In an increasingly digital age, criminal law has struggled to keep pace with online abuse, particularly for women and girls. Professor Clare McGlynn, from our Law School, is changing this.
Early in her career, Clare recognised that UK law wasn't designed with women's interests in mind. She was determined to change this, particularly regarding online abuse. Her goal was clear: reform legislation so women and girls can exist freely online with the same liberty and safety as men.
For over a decade Clare has worked directly with politicians and victim advocate groups, driving forward legal reforms and positive changes in society.
This direct approach is a key part of what Clare sees as her academic role – undertaking research, developing new ideas and sharing them with the world.
One of Clare’s biggest achievements has been to change the way various forms of online abuse are described, how exactly it is perpetrated, and the impacts it can have.
For example, previous terms such as 'revenge porn' were problematic as it suggested the victims are to blame and failed to capture the devastating nature of the crime.
Clare, alongside colleague Erika Rackley, developed the term 'image-based sexual abuse' to more accurately describe the crime. It includes taking intimate images without consent, sharing them, and creating fake explicit images.
The new term has changed how society understand this type of abuse and has informed and been incorporated into laws and policies globally.
For Clare, equally important is that the new term gives victims a way to describe their experience. It recognises the harm it can cause.
Clare's research aims to both identify gaps in criminal law where women's experiences are being missed and to show the devastating impact of online abuse on victims' lives.
In 2019 she published the report 'Shattering Lives and Myths: A Report on Image-Based Sexual Abuse'. The report, based on victims’ experiences, reveals the reality of these crimes' impacts.
Clare's work has played a major role in reforming UK law to ensure these crimes are taken seriously and their impacts on women and girls are understood.
Clare’s distinguished career means that she has been sought out for political and constitutional roles beyond academia.
In 2023 His Majesty The King appointed Clare to the body responsible for selecting judges in England and Wales. As part of the Judicial Appointments Commission Clare is helping ensure the judiciary represents the community it serves.
Clare has also worked on Parliamentary disciplinary panels for cases of sexual misconduct and bullying.
As technology evolves, so does Clare’s research. She continues tracking new forms of digital abuse, including how emerging technologies like the metaverse create fresh opportunities for harassment.
In 2026 Clare will publish a new book entitled 'Exposed'. It examines the hidden dangers of online pornography where extreme content is available on mainstream sites and how this normalises violence against women.
It is another example of how Clare's work transforms lives. She tackles uncomfortable subjects, drives legal reforms for women's safety and creates a safer digital world.
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