The Disinformation Project

Studying information disorder ecologies

Dangerous speech, misogyny, and democracy

Dangerous speech, misogyny, and democracy: A review of the impacts of dangerous speech since the end of the Parliament Protest

Kayli Taylor, Kate Hannah, Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa

This paper analyses the impacts of dangerous speech, particularly misogyny, from March 2022 to August 2022. The Disinformation Project (TDP) analyses misinformation and disinformation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Since April 2022, we have become particularly concerned about the rise of violent misogyny online and the way it impacts women’s willingness to participate in public life. This paper explores the trends of rising misogyny, the impact of dangerous speech on communities and individuals, and the way various intersections of identity impact people’s experiences of online harassment and hate.

Since we sent this paper to a limited mailing list of MPs in August 2022, misogyny has continued to grow, unmoderated by platforms. TDP continues to bear witness to the rise of violent misogyny on domestic mis- and disinformation ecologies. The consequences of this misogyny should not be underestimated – and require legislative and social change.

Download the paper here.

Image credit: Body Image #2, by Holly Atkins from City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, via BBC.

Sanjana

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