Gender and Disinformation
(2026) p.124-131- Abstract
- Gendered disinformation refers to the deliberate spread of harmful and false content targeting women, gender non-conforming individuals and marginalized groups, with the aim of advancing political agendas. It exploits polarization around gender equality and identity politics to weaken democratic systems and erode societal cohesion. Gendered disinformation leverages strategies such as amplifying misogyny and homophobia, spreading sexualized content, and orchestrating targeted harassment to increase societal divisions and silence public voices, especially those of individuals in leadership and decision-making roles. The widespread normalization of gendered hate speech, coupled with the ambiguous boundaries between free speech and hate... (More)
- Gendered disinformation refers to the deliberate spread of harmful and false content targeting women, gender non-conforming individuals and marginalized groups, with the aim of advancing political agendas. It exploits polarization around gender equality and identity politics to weaken democratic systems and erode societal cohesion. Gendered disinformation leverages strategies such as amplifying misogyny and homophobia, spreading sexualized content, and orchestrating targeted harassment to increase societal divisions and silence public voices, especially those of individuals in leadership and decision-making roles. The widespread normalization of gendered hate speech, coupled with the ambiguous boundaries between free speech and hate speech, makes detecting, regulating, and attributing gendered disinformation particularly difficult. By undermining representation and pluralism, gendered disinformation threatens the foundations of democratic systems. Tackling this issue requires comprehensive strategies to mitigate its effects and uphold democratic integrity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/87944ee4-bd33-4f71-9757-f42277680da8
- author
- Hedling, Elsa LU and Smedberg, Martina LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-01-19
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Information influence
- host publication
- Psychological Defence and Information Influence : a Texbook on Theory and Practice - a Texbook on Theory and Practice
- editor
- Falkheimer, Jesper and Pamment, James
- pages
- 124 - 131
- publisher
- Psychological Defence Agency
- ISBN
- 978-91-989646-8-4
- project
- ADAC.IO
- Psychological Defence Research Institute
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 87944ee4-bd33-4f71-9757-f42277680da8
- alternative location
- https://mpf.se/psychological-defence-agency/publications/archive/2026-01-19-psychological-defence-and-information-influence----a-textbook-on-theory-and-practice
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-19 13:05:59
- date last changed
- 2026-01-26 10:31:04
@inbook{87944ee4-bd33-4f71-9757-f42277680da8,
abstract = {{Gendered disinformation refers to the deliberate spread of harmful and false content targeting women, gender non-conforming individuals and marginalized groups, with the aim of advancing political agendas. It exploits polarization around gender equality and identity politics to weaken democratic systems and erode societal cohesion. Gendered disinformation leverages strategies such as amplifying misogyny and homophobia, spreading sexualized content, and orchestrating targeted harassment to increase societal divisions and silence public voices, especially those of individuals in leadership and decision-making roles. The widespread normalization of gendered hate speech, coupled with the ambiguous boundaries between free speech and hate speech, makes detecting, regulating, and attributing gendered disinformation particularly difficult. By undermining representation and pluralism, gendered disinformation threatens the foundations of democratic systems. Tackling this issue requires comprehensive strategies to mitigate its effects and uphold democratic integrity.}},
author = {{Hedling, Elsa and Smedberg, Martina}},
booktitle = {{Psychological Defence and Information Influence : a Texbook on Theory and Practice}},
editor = {{Falkheimer, Jesper and Pamment, James}},
isbn = {{978-91-989646-8-4}},
keywords = {{Information influence}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{124--131}},
publisher = {{Psychological Defence Agency}},
title = {{Gender and Disinformation}},
url = {{https://mpf.se/psychological-defence-agency/publications/archive/2026-01-19-psychological-defence-and-information-influence----a-textbook-on-theory-and-practice}},
year = {{2026}},
}