We’ve taken several steps back on women’s rights.
Donald Trump’s re-election as America’s 47th President of the United States has already caused a spike in hateful and violent rhetoric toward women in the digital sphere—a trend we fear has already spilled into the offline world.
An analysis from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue shows a continuous trend in misogynistic rhetoric on social media, with surging engagement leading up to this year’s election and following Trump’s victory. Particularly, the mass circulation of phrases, “Your body, my choice” and “Get back to the kitchen,” link back to platforms of extremist male misogyny that must be urgently addressed.
We’re seeing an unparalleled entitlement and, for lack of a better word, bravery, over the Internet, where both extremist and casual social media s feel comfortable saying outrageous and hate-fueled things with zero ability or repercussions. This rhetoric is even reaching young male audiences, signaling the disturbing rise of problematic role models.
In fact, the lack of consequences for espousing such hate is linked to Trump’s authority—if a man with the same beliefs manages to be re-elected as the leader of the free world, it mobilizes harmful behaviour and invites ordinary citizens to act in ways they’re shown to be acceptable.
Yet, hate and violence against women aren’t simply fueled by leaders; there’s an entire community feeding into the rhetoric and insulating the walls of the far-right, extremist echo chamber, also known as the manosphere.
The Internet makes for the perfect place to breed hatred. Influencers will appeal to individuals seeking guidance and advice, molding them to follow extreme ideologies, often intersecting with conservatism and misogyny.
Popular media channels, such as podcasting, are dominated by hyper-masculine influencers, like Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate, who only engage with likeminded people. These figures will use macho masculinity, toxic masculinity, and hustle-culture to reel in impressionable young men to their community, many of which look up to them.
This isn’t to say progressive, liberal men don’t exist. They’re just more ive and silent. It’s up to these healthier, diverse voices to enter toxic spaces and disrupt the echo chamber.
There’s no doubt times are changing, yet not everyone is panicking. Those claiming that our concerns over women’s issues are unfounded, even dramatic, and that the world will keep spinning clearly aren’t the ones being impacted. It’s a privilege to believe nothing will change.
This year’s election shines a spotlight on reproductive rights, as laws surrounding abortions and pregnancies are subject to drastically different trajectories depending on the election outcome. Trump’s new policies threaten a future of precarity and health risks for women.
Anti-feminist rhetoric has dangerous potential, whether or not people comprehend the severity of what’s being said. Teenage boys, repeating what they see online, might not grasp the social nor historical implications of “Your body, my choice.” But the phrase has made its way into the real-world, which is the danger we should focus on.
We must push against the sexist, misogynistic jokes and the trivializing of women’s rights before they become further engrained in our daily cultures and begin reaping tangible effects. We must promote a healthier, more empathetic reality to younger generations and of online communities who risk growing up in a world where devaluing women is the norm.
In the absence of a leader the people can look up to, we must vow to protect each other as best as we can, to show there’s no room for sexism and misogyny on- or offline.
—Journal Editorial Board
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