SPARK Op-ed | PDF Culture Among the International Students: An Accomplice in Disguise to Sexual Harassment?

Kelly Yang, Brown '27

“No international student can escape the PDF Culture.”

In the world of international students, the prevalence of PDF culture has become an inescapable reality. Whether as bystanders or the unwilling stars of these narratives, international students find themselves entangled in a web spun by digital documents. These PDFs, often shared through social media platforms like “Chaotic Circles, International Student Edition” (Guiquan Zhenluan), contain sensitive information about sexual harassment survivors and alleged aggressors. Masked with sensational titles and unauthorized images, they claim to champion the survivors’ cause. Yet, one can’t help but question: Are they truly aiding these individuals, or are they exacerbating the trauma?

These documents, rife with explicit content, not only fetishize the victims’ experiences but also strip them of their privacy. The detailed accounts of assaults, meant to feed the audience’s voyeurism, turn into gossip fodder, with each share distorting the truth further. Some content creators, drawn by the lure of increased traffic, have even monetized these narratives. Blue Whale has learned from industry insiders that the North American Student Daily (ID: collegedaily) has up to 1.5 million followers, with the headline rate priced at 23,710.5 USD per article, and 5000 USD for the second article in 2019. This commodification overlooks the survivors’ autonomy, presuming to speak on their behalf without considering their actual needs.

In my exploration of true allyship and PDF culture through the SPARK Allyship interview series, Ping Yifan, an student activist and advocate for sexual harassment reporting at Swarthmore, Oxford, and UChicago, emphasized the importance of centering survivor needs. The distinction between “victims” and “survivors” is crucial; while the former suggests vulnerability, the latter conveys resilience. Allyship, therefore, should not be about vocal advocacy alone but also about providing subtle, meaningful support—be it through assistance with daily tasks or connecting survivors with campus resources.

            The ethical creation of supportive PDFs should involve thorough cross-examination and consent from survivors, ensuring that their stories are shared with dignity and respect. In my interview, Lin, a social media influencer known for his sensitive handling of sexual harassment cases, illustrates his conscientious approach that balances the pursuit of justice with the preservation of survivor autonomy.

Yet, what drives international students to embrace PDF culture initially? What factors contribute to the popularity of PDFs among these students? The turn towards PDF culture among international students might stems from a distrust in institutional reporting mechanisms. Despite the risk of sexual harassment for international students is tripled, these students are less likely to report incidents, deterred by daunting bureaucratic processes and the fear of retraumatization. PDFs, in this context, emerge as an alternative means of seeking accountability, albeit with limitations in their ability to convey accurate information and avoid sensationalism.

PDF culture, then, is a double-edged sword. While it offers a platform for visibility and action outside traditional systems, it also risks further harm through fetishization and misinformation without consents. The phenomenon underscores deeper systemic issues requiring attention—not just within international student communities but within the broader discourse on sexual harassment and allyship.

If you are interested, please visit SPARK Allyship and its YouTube channel.

And email me ziyue_yang@brown.edu to give feedback or get featured in future interviews.