The Digital Witch Hunt: How Disinformation Targets Women and Undermines Equality

Misinformation and disinformation have long been weapons of manipulation, shaping public opinion, reinforcing prejudices, and distorting historical and social narratives. When these deceptive practices collide with gender, they fuel harmful stereotypes, discredit women in positions of power, and sabotage efforts towards gender equality.

These attacks often spring from deeply rooted misogyny, making it harder for women to participate fully in society without facing reputational damage or personal harm. Today, social media amplifies these narratives at an unprecedented rate, enabling the rapid spread of falsehoods that target women’s existence, careers, lifestyles, and well-being.

History of Gender-Based Information Disorders

Gendered mis/disinformation is described as “the spread of deceptive or inaccurate information and images against women politicians, journalists and female public figures” in a way that reinforces misogyny and societal stereotypes. Its history is rooted in centuries of misogynistic attitudes, war success, politics and such other practices. Throughout historical events, women have been subjected to various forms of falsehoods, stereotypes and often maliciously intended narratives that have been used to diminish their abilities and intelligence as humans.

Men in history mostly get dis/misinformation spread about them in war settings and during political power plays. Their counterparts/opponents always spread information that can get the opinion of people to turn on them. However, throughout history, men have not had to live through narratives that disempower them as humans. The women of the Middle Ages had their lives determined by the church and aristocracy. Medieval society was guided by the rule that women are not to be trusted with serious matters and are inadequate at decision making. Therefore, hindering women from making decisions and creating conversations that protect and show their abilities.

The nineteenth to twenty-first century has seen a rise in women challenging the norms and taking on more activities concerning education, politics, journalism and more. Despite their achievements, women are still facing constant challenges due to how information about them, their career, lifestyle are put under a microscope and judged through predetermined stereotypes. Moreso, disinformation and misinformation in this era is constantly aided by sexist stereotypes from the past eras. These stereotypes are adopted to silence or limit women in their daily lives and choices.

The spread of Gender-Based Misinformation and Disinformation

Disinformation is gendered if it targets women on the basis of their identity as women. Historically, yellow journalism has played a significant role in spreading exaggerated or outright false narratives. Originating in the 1800s in New York, this sensationalist style of reporting thrived on misleading headlines and fabricated stories to attract readership. While its methods have evolved, the same principles persist today, shaping how gendered disinformation is framed and disseminated through modern media.

Social media plays a crucial role in amplifying stereotypical narratives about women. Platforms like TikTok and X are designed to promote engagement, often prioritising sensational content over accuracy. Without strict regulations, users exploit these spaces to spread misleading or harmful information about women, fuelling misogynistic narratives that shape public perception both online and offline.

Beyond digital spaces, religious groups can also contribute to gendered misinformation by weaponising faith to suppress women’s voices and diminish their contributions. Some individuals or institutions use religious interpretations to justify discrimination, framing women’s choices or actions as violations of faith-based principles. This creates an environment where women are shamed, silenced, or excluded based on manipulated religious narratives.

Whether through social media, religious rhetoric, or sensational journalism, gendered disinformation continues to shape narratives in ways that distort reality and limit women’s agency.

Real-World Examples of Gender-Based Information Disorders

Media representation of gender refers to ways in which gender is portrayed in various forms of media, films, advertising, music, news and other forms. For example, a governor in Kenya, Susan Kihika was a victim of disinformation, manipulated images and videos were used to alter people’s perception of her development agenda for her county. A manipulated video of her opening a dry tap during an event was posted and these generated intense reactions from people, the claim was eventually debunked with posts from her social media and AFCN Lake Region Bulletin’s report.

Another example can be found in how a former Minister of Education and a residential candidate, Oby Ezekwelisi faced a bout of fake news, false claims about her leaving the presidential race to endorse a male candidate was circulating on the internet, before she eventually confirmed her leaving the race for different reasons. These claims were made to discourage her supporters and reduce her credibility.

Another example is how a video of former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin dancing and partying went viral on social platforms, she was accused of neglecting her duty as a prime minister, being a bad wife and parent.

Meanwhile, one of the most important areas of discussions on gender and politics revolves around achieving gender balance in political offices. Yes, there are more women in various political positions compared to the last century but women still remain largely underrepresented in politics. This could be because women in politics are still under a lot of scrutiny and more prone to social judgement and sometimes, violence.

In social media conversations, there are various ways through which mis- and dis-information has been at the forefront of conversations on the internet and limits the spread of accurate information. In 2023, a viral tweet claimed Achraf Hakimi’s ex-wife attempted to seize his fortune, but he had already transferred everything to his mother—however, this story turned out to be entirely false. The conversations around the claim showed how gendered misinformation could become a basis for bants and op-eds on football, marriage, relationships and everyday life.

Another example of social media conversations revolves around how assault, rape and murder are discussed on social media, especially when women are the victims. Moreso, commenting on women’s choices or body in social media conversations is another gendered issue that keeps recurring. Take a look at renowned author and journalist, Lauren Wendy Sanchez being an online target because of her outfit choices and relationship with billionaire Jeff Bezos. She is often slut-shamed, misgendered and called demeaning words. Recently, she received backlash across various social platforms because of her outfit for Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony.

Comments from social media users regarding Lauren Wendy Sanchez:

Amongst African female politicians, we have Judy Kengo, a Kenyan legislator who experienced misinformation shortly after she was appointed in 2023. A doctored picture of a lookalike kissing a woman surfaced on the internet and this got people talking, she was quick to get on top of the matter by hiring bloggers to get rid of the social media smear campaign, she shared that the aim of the picture was to force her to quit her position in the county assembly of Kwale.  

Another example can be found in how various rumours were used to target the late Nigerian politician, Aisha Alhassan. She was a Nigerian lawyer and politician that served the country as a senator, minister amongst other activities. She faced targeted fake news during her political career. False information regarding her marital status and other fabricated scandals were spread. 

Without regard for the careers and persons of these women, they are reduced to liars, gold diggers or empty heads. This type of situation further cements the stereotypes against women and belittles their hard work. It can also lead to violence and negatively contributes to communities where misogynistic characters and tone are always readily accepted. Meanwhile, targeted dis- and misinformation against female politicians continue to undermine the democratic process by significantly impacting women’s political ambitions and their ability to hold office. Overall, inaccurate and biased narratives about gender hinder the creation and implementation of policies designed to promote gender equality.

Turning the Tide

Efforts to combat gendered misinformation are gaining momentum globally, with countries and organisations implementing strategies to counter its spread. However, targeted solutions are necessary to create lasting change.

Education plays a crucial role in dismantling harmful gender stereotypes. Integrating gender studies into school curriculums fosters a more informed and open-minded society. Additionally, strengthening media literacy, especially among young people, equips individuals with the skills to critically assess information, recognise misinformation, and respond to it effectively. Media awareness and advocacy campaigns are also vital. Collaborations between social media platforms, influencers, activists, and organisations can amplify accurate gender-related content while exposing false narratives. Platforms must also take greater responsibility by enforcing stricter content moderation policies to curb the spread of harmful disinformation.

Fact-checking initiatives must be expanded. Independent fact-checkers and media organisations should actively debunk gendered misinformation, ensuring that false claims are identified and corrected before they cause harm. Policy and legal reforms are also essential in addressing gendered disinformation. Governments should introduce or update laws that specifically tackle the spread of misleading gender-based narratives. While many countries have legal protections for women, few directly address digital misinformation targeting them. Strengthening legislation will provide mechanisms for accountability and protection. These combined efforts can help shift the narrative toward a more accurate and equitable representation of gender in society.