#ErasingWomen – The use of violent, derogative and dehumanizing narratives in promoting anti-gender sentiments online

In the last decade, anti-gender equality discourses have proliferated. Especially, in online spaces like X (formerly Twitter) anti-gender equality sentiments are displayed daily by both anonymous individuals as well as by public institutions and figures. Here, we analyse in depth how influential actors from 8 European countries shape anti-gender discourses and mobilize followers. First, we analyse the extent to which actors use violent, derogative and dehumanizing language and narratives when referring to pro-gender equality actors and pro-gender equality policies. Second, we examine the successfulness of those strategies in mobilizing followers. Third, we explore how narratives spread transnational. Content analyses of 20.000 tweets by 40 core actors from 8 European countries indicate that especially dehumanizing narratives are widely endorsed. Additionally, more formal/ institutionalised anti-gender actors predominately narrated gender-equality issues as an attack on families (especially children) and on free speech. Less formal/ institutionalised actors predominately use derogative and ridiculing statements depicting policies and opponents as abusers, perverts and deranged. All actors frequently depict gender equality issues and actors as being anti-women, that is they insinuate that for example promoting transgender rights aims to erase women rights. While the specific topics of gender equality discourses vary between countries and actors, the implemented strategies are strikingly similar. Indeed, local more extreme actors are often connected through international less extreme actors. Through retweets this broadens their reach beyond their local contexts. Further, we find that anti-gender equality sentiments are associated with anti-EU sentiments. Specifically, pro-gender equality policies by the EU are depicted as non-democratic with the aim to dominate its member states and implement a “woke” agenda.