Transdisciplinary research project: “Misogyny online”
Transdisciplinary research project: “Misogyny online”
Image Credit: Mika Baumeister / Unsplash
Although equality between women and men is guaranteed by law, gender roles and identities have become more diverse and acceptance of them has grown in society, gender issues often still trigger fierce disputes. On the internet, Communities of uninhibited violence and misogyny form and become active online and offline. In the transdisciplinary research project “Misogyny online”, SCRIPTS and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) are investigating the various forms of misogyny online and the growing threat posed by misogynist online groups to political participation. The project is accompanied by a series of public debates organized in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Pilot study “Mapping the GerManosphere”
Over the last few decades, a growing network of groups that propagate misogynistic ideologies and represent a radical rejection of feminism and the liberal social order has established itself in German online spaces. These movements, often summarized under terms such as “incels”, “pick-up artists” or “men's rights activists”, provide an ideological platform for the dissemination of masculinity crises and fantasies of violence. The pilot study “Mapping the GerManosphere” aims to map these groups and their networks, examine their influence on digital society and document the impact of their ideologies on those affected. The results should help to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies against gender-based online violence and identify support needs for victims.
The study uses an ethnographic analysis to record the most important actors and digital spaces of the “manosphere”. It also examines the various sub-currents within the scene, such as the radicalized group of “Incels” or the “Men Going Their Own Way” (MGTOW), who have a negative attitude towards women and their social role. The aim is to analyze the prevailing narratives of these groups as well as their strategies and their influence on society.
The results of the study will be published here soon.
Series of public discussions
Prof. Dr. Gülay Caglar
In cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the project has produced a series of events dealing with the tension between misogyny and the acceptance of modern gender roles. The “Gender Issues?” series explores the questions of how our society deals with aspirations for equality and justice, power shifts between the sexes and resistance to them.
The kick-off event took place on November 12, 2024 and was dedicated to the topic of “Gender issues and the potential for violence”. Members of the Bundestag Dorothee Bär (CDU/CSU) and Angélique Yumuşak, Federal Women's Representative of the German Police Union, discussed the effects of digital violence and social responsibility in dealing with gender-based violence, among other things.
On December 2, 2024, Prof. Dr. Marion Ackermann, Director General of the Dresden State Art Collections & future President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Theresa Brückner, Pastor & Influencer and Dominik Hammer, Reserach Manager at ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) discussed. The discussion focused on the link between media gender roles and violence.
The preliminary closing event of the series will take place on February 26, 2025. The study “Mapping the GerManosphere” will also be presented at this event. Prof. Dr. Gülay Çağlar (Principal Investigator SCRIPTS), Marina Hackenbroch (Deputy Federal Chairwoman of the Association of German Criminal Investigators) Peggy Staffa (Head of the Service Center and Legal Advisor of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation) will be present.
Am 12. November 2024 lud SCRIPTS gemeinsam mit der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung zum Auftakt einer dreiteiligen Veranstaltungsreihe ein, die zentrale Fragen zur Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, den Herausforderungen für den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt und Gewalt im Netz beleuchtete.
Obwohl die rechtliche Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern längst verankert ist, zeigt sich in der Praxis oft ein anderes Bild. Gesellschaftliche Geschlechterrollen und Identitäten haben sich zwar dynamisiert und finden breite Akzeptanz, doch zugleich treten in digitalen Räumen verstärkt Anfeindungen und gewaltvolle Diskurse auf. Anonymität im Internet begünstigt die Entstehung von Gemeinschaften, die frauenfeindliche und gewaltverherrlichende Inhalte teilen und zunehmend auch im öffentlichen Raum aktiv werden.
Am 12. November 2024 lud SCRIPTS gemeinsam mit der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung zum Auftakt einer dreiteiligen Veranstaltungsreihe ein, die zentrale Fragen zur Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, den Herausforderungen für den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt und Gewalt im Netz beleuchtete. Diese Veranstaltung ging der Frage nach, wie unsere Gesellschaft mit Themen wie Gleichheit, Gerechtigkeit und Machtverschiebungen umgeht.
Programm
- Eröffnung und Einführung: Prof. Dr. Verena Blechinger-Talcott, Vizepräsidentin der FU Berlin, Principal Investigator bei SCRIPTS und Stellvertretende Vorsitzende der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
- Impuls: Geschlechterfragen und Gewaltpotentiale: Prof. Dr. Gülay Çağlar, FU Berlin, Professorin für Gender und Diversity, SCRIPTS
- Diskussionsrunde: Dorothee Bär, MdB, im Gespräch mit Angélique Yumuşak, Bundesfrauenbeauftragte der Deutschen Polizeigewerkschaft
Time & Location
Nov 12, 2024 | 06:00 PM
Akademie der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Tiergartenstraße 35
10785 Berlin
Am 02. Dezember 2024 lud SCRIPTS gemeinsam mit der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung zum zweiten Teil der dreiteiligen Reihe „Geschlechterfragen?“ ein. Die Veranstaltungsreihe beleuchtete die zentrale Fragen zur Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, die Herausforderungen für den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt und Gewalt im Netz.
Die Gleichstellung von Frau und Mann ist zwar rechtlich garantiert, der Anspruch hinkt aber der Realität hinterher. Während sich gesellschaftliche Geschlechterrollen und -identitäten in den letzten Jahren stark dynamisiert haben und allgemein akzeptiert werden, lösen sie aber in der Anonymität des Internets heftige Auseinandersetzungen aus. Dort bilden sich Gemeinschaften aus enthemmter Gewalt und Frauenhass, die immer häufiger auch die Grenzen des Digitalen überschreiten. Die Reihe diskutiert Fragen von Gleichheit und Gerechtigkeit, Machtverlust und Akzeptanz und sehr unterschiedlichem Umgang mit Geschlechterrollen.
Programm
- Einführung: Prof. Dr. Marion Ackermann, Generaldirektorin der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden und Mitglied der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
- Statements und Diskussion: Online-Experte Dominik Hammer (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) und Pfarrerin und Influencerin Theresa Brückner
Time & Location
Dec 02, 2024 | 06:00 PM
Akademie der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Tiergartenstraße 35
10785 Berlin
Discussion | Violence against women — from online abuse to hatred in everyday life
Gewalt gegen Frauen: Von Beschimpfungen im Netz bis zu Hass im Alltag
Image Credit: Mika Baumeister / Unsplash
On February 26, 2025, SCRIPTS and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation are hosting the third part of the three-part series “Gender Issues?”. The series of events will shed light on the key issues of gender equality, the challenges to social cohesion and violence on the internet.
Free admission: Please register hereIn recent decades, a growing network of groups that propagate misogynistic ideologies and represent a radical rejection of feminism and the liberal social order has established itself in German online spaces. These movements, often summarized under terms such as “incels”, “pick-up artists” or “men's rights activists”, offer an ideological platform for the dissemination of masculinity crises and fantasies of violence.
In the pilot study “Mapping the GerManosphere”, SCRIPTS, in cooperation with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, mapped these groups and their networks, investigated their influence on digital society and documented the impact of their ideologies on those affected.
The results of the study will be presented at the event. Afterwards, Marina Hackenbroch (Deputy Federal Chairwoman of the Association of German Criminal Investigators) and Peggy Staffa (Head of the Service Center and Legal Advisor of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation) will discuss the consequences of violence against women and possible countermeasures. The discussion is the preliminary final event in the series “Gender Issues?”, which is being held in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Participants:
Presentation of the study:
Statements and discussion
- Marina Hackenbroch, Deputy Federal Chairwoman of the Association of German Criminal Investigators
- Peggy Staffa, Head of the Service Center and Legal Advisor of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
About the visit
- Free admission: Please register here
Time & Location
Feb 26, 2025 | 06:00 PM
Akademie der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Tiergartenstraße 35
10785 Berlin