In our daily life, it is not difficult to find that the way modern humans communicate and access information has been quietly changed by digital technology and social media. While this phenomenon has promoted globalization and the free flow of information, it has also been accompanied by some serious side effects, not least an increase in hate speech online. Such rhetoric not only causes psychological harm to individuals, it can also foster social divisions and undermine the quality of public discussion. Gender-based hate speech, as a kind of online hate speech, is particularly worthy of our attention and discussion, because it is directly related to the core issues of gender equality and women’s rights and interests. This article will introduce and discuss in detail the definition, causes and impact of online hate speech and gender-based hate speech on society and individuals, in order to explore effective strategies to reduce these negative impacts and enhance public awareness and understanding of this phenomenon, so as to achieve the purpose of promoting equality and respect in the digital space.
The Definition and Impact of Online Hate Speech
Online hate speech involves electronic communications that express, encourage, incite, or promote hatred or hostility against certain specific groups, such as based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.(Sinpeng, 2021) The harm of this speech lies in the underlying hostility and discriminatory intent that infringe on individual dignity and may trigger broader societal hostility and violence. Online hate speech often marginalizes the targeted group, making them seem legitimate targets for attack or discrimination. Its rapid spread and wide reach can often leave victims feeling isolated, impacting their mental health and leading to self-censorship on social media, which restricts freedom of speech.
How to recognize Online Gender-Based Hate Speech?
There is a lot of hate speech online that attacks people because of their gender. This is called gender-based hate speech. Abuse of women, gender stereotypes, assumptions about women’s gender roles, and fears of sexual violence are some examples of this. Not only do these actions and words invade women’s privacy and respect, they also go against the idea of gender equality and show how biassed and unequal society is towards women in general.
There are also social effects that can come from hate words based on gender. Because women have been attacked online, they may not feel comfortable going out in public, both online and off. This may make them feel even more alone, which can hurt efforts to promote gender equality and make social differences worse.
As members of society, we need to know what leads to and results in hate speech, as well as the harm it does to people and society. This is important for coming up with effective ways to respond and for making people more aware. In the section on case studies, I will look at how gender-based hate speech shows up and what happens as a result using a specific example. I will also talk about the difficulties and duties that digital platforms face when trying to control this kind of speech, which will help a larger audience get a better sense of how strategies and policy interventions work.
Roots and Causes of Online Gender-Based Hate Speech
Cyber-hate speech that is biassed against women is mostly caused by deeply rooted cultural practices, social structures, and psychological drives.
Our society and social systems make it easy for insults and devaluations of women to happen. Historically, the division of gender roles has been such that men are often dominant in our society by default, while women are often marginalised and ignored and expected to play specific roles. This cultural heritage of gender roles has not only limited women’s professional and social participation, but has also deepened the general underestimation of women’s capabilities.
Psychological factors also play an important role in the creation of gender bias on the Internet. The relative anonymity of the Internet environment is like wearing a mask for many Internet users, behind which they can express and release negative and hostile emotions towards women that they normally would not dare to show in real life without any worries. This anonymity makes them feel safe and reduces the risk of social punishment. Group dynamics also play a key role in online hate speech, and specific views, once recognized in social groups, can quickly amplify and spread, further strengthening sexist speech.
Digital platforms are not just technological tools but also channels for cultural and ideological dissemination. According to critical theory, media and technology are often used by the dominant classes to maintain existing social orders and power structures, with digital platforms no exception. The reproduction and reinforcement of gender bias can be seen as a reflection of power relations, where male-dominant culture is considered the norm, and behaviors deviating from this norm (such as women’s active participation in traditionally male-dominated fields) are questioned or even attacked.
In digital spaces, the reproduction of gender bias is also linked to algorithmic choices, platform policies, and content recommendation systems, which may inadvertently promote biased and stereotypical content.(Massanari, 2017) For example, if a platform’s algorithm tends to recommend content that generates intense controversy, then sexist or aggressive speech may be more frequently displayed to users, exacerbating the social impact of gender bias.
Case Study: Gender-Based Hate Speech in Video Game Culture
The gaming field has long been viewed as a male-dominated environment, with female players and practitioners often facing serious gender discrimination and harassment from peers and players. An extreme case is that of Brazilian female eSports player Ingrid Oliveira Bueno da Silva (nickname “Sol”), who was brutally murdered in 2021 by a male competitor, Guilherme Alves Costa.(Mettler, 2022) This incident not only revealed how online gender hate can spill over into real life with extreme consequences but also reflected the deeply entrenched gender bias in video game culture. In the video game community, gender-based hate speech often appears in the form of verbal insults, threats of sexual violence, and through the dissemination on social media. This speech is not limited to interactions within games, for example, using feminine usernames in games can significantly increase the number of threats or sexually harassing private messages received. Additionally, female players face a large amount of gender-based insults and attacks during live broadcasts on public forums such as Twitch and YouTube. Social media, due to its algorithmic recommendation mechanisms, may inadvertently promote content containing gender bias. These mechanisms often prioritize content that triggers controversy and interaction, thus exacerbating the visibility and frequency of gender-based harassment and attack behaviors.
From a critical theory perspective, the gender bias in the video game industry is the result of the interaction of culture, social structures, and industry dynamics. Gender bias in the gaming industry is not only reflected in player interactions but also in the industry’s internals, such as the underrepresentation of women in eSports and the objectification and marginalization of female figures in game content creation. This notion is continuously reproduced and reinforced in game design, marketing, and community culture. The gender stereotypes in video games, such as the sexualization of female characters and the violent characterization of male characters, not only limit players’ gender expression but also affect players’ expectations and acceptance of gender roles. This cultural background leads to the shaky status of female players in the gaming community and allows opposition to women’s statements and behaviors to be tacitly tolerated or even supported in these communities.
Regulatory Challenges and Dilemmas
In dealing with online hate speech, key stakeholders—governments, firms (digital platforms), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—each play a crucial role. This interaction is often referred to as the “platform governance triangle,” covering multi-faceted strategies and challenges in platform governance.(Gorwa, 2019) Each role has its unique responsibilities and capabilities, but also faces its own limitations and challenges.
Government agencies are typically responsible for drafting and implementing laws to prohibit and combat hate speech. But when writing rules about freedom of speech, care must be taken not to violate legally protected rights to free speech. Some of the hardest parts of law enforcement are figuring out what “hate speech” really means, making sure that laws keep up with how quickly technology changes, and dealing with the problems that come up when you have to police laws across borders, like protecting data privacy and letting people in other countries see your user information.
When making and following rules, digital sites also have to deal with a number of problems. The problems are technological, like automatic content identification not working correctly, and the resources needed to handle the huge amounts of data and Internet content that come in every day. In the global market, they also have to deal with different culture and law norms, which is not easy.
Non-governmental groups (NGOs) are needed to keep an eye on what the government and platforms are doing, educate the people, and help victims. But they often have trouble because they don’t have enough resources, they don’t have enough say in decisions, and it’s hard to work together with many different parties. When people try to stop gender-based hate speech online, they often have to deal with tough issues like how to protect free speech while also making sure everyone is safe, how to make rules that apply everywhere but can be changed to fit different areas and countries, and how to be open while still protecting everyone’s privacy. All of these are tough problems that they need to solve.
Solution Strategies and Recommendations
It is important for governments to make it clear what hate speech is and how it is controlled online. This means making it clear what gender-based hate speech is and what the legal consequences are, while also making sure that it doesn’t get in the way of people’s freedom of speech. Strengthening gender equality education in schools can also help people understand gender equality and diversity. This is especially true for young people who need to be taught how to think critically about gender bias.
Also, digital platforms need to be in charge of handling content, creating cutting-edge AI to spot and stop gender-based hate speech, and being more open about how their rules are being followed. Platforms should be clear about their rules and procedures for controlling content, so we all know what the rules are and how they are applied. Platforms should also offer teaching materials to help individuals recognise and get rid of gender bias and offer support for victims by working with mental health workers and legal aid organisations.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are also very important for changing policies and keeping an eye on how platforms and the government act. They can run efforts to make people more aware of gender-based hate speech and watch how government and company policies are carried out. These groups can also do their own study, gather information on gender-based hate speech, put out papers, suggest policies, and help shape policymaking that is based on facts.
If things go well, the government, platforms, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could form a working group. This group would make sure that policies and actions are coordinated and effective, using everyone’s resources and knowledge. Because the network spans countries, working together across borders is also very important. We can better deal with hate speech based on gender around the world if we make international agreements and share best practices and success stories.
Conclusion
Hate speech based on gender on the Internet not only shows a strong bias against women, but it also changes how people think about and act on gender equality. Long-term, lowering the value of and breaking personal morals and respect, as well as limiting freedom of speech on the Internet, can hurt women’s mental health and their ability to take part in real life. We need to learn more about why people use gender-based hate speech online, understand and relate to what women and other groups are going through online, and think critically about these issues in order to find solutions. When you look at these problems as a whole, you can see that they shouldn’t be the job of just one group. Governments, firms, NGOs, and even each of us need to do our part to get rid of gender bias and make sure that men and women have the same rights. Society, schools, and the government need to keep going through big changes so that everyone can feel safe, useful, and important in the digital world. We’re alll looking forward to a fairer digital future where gender-based hate speech no longer exists and everyone can speak out without fear of being judged or harmed.
Reference List
Gorwa, R. (2019). The platform governance triangle: Conceptualising the informal regulation of online content. Internet Policy Review, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.14763/2019.2.1407
Massanari, A. (2017). Gamergate and The Fappening: How Reddit’s algorithm, governance, and culture support toxic technocultures. New Media & Society, 19(3), 329–346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444815608807
Mettler, K. (2022). Let her play: A report on gender-based violence in video games. Embodied: The Stanford Undergraduate Journal of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, 1(1).
Sinpeng, A., Martin, F. R., Gelber, K., & Shields, K. (2021). Facebook: Regulating Hate Speech in the Asia Pacific. Department of Media and Communications, The University of Sydney. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25116.3
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