By the end of 2023, a rising phenomena in social media started to be observed: hate speech against women, promoting methods of “manipulation” in daily life or relationships, and categorizing them as “worth it” or not to date, became a campaign promoted by several male digital influencers.
Internationally, those creators began to earn money offering classes and “courses” on how to deal with women, treating them as inferior beings while claiming men should reclaim their position in society, since they were “oppressed” by the progressive/feminist agenda.
The “advice” does not stop with the male audience: with a manipulative speech, those creators also try to mentor women on how to behave in relationships, in order to be seen as the “perfect” (submissive) girlfriend or wife.
ROOTS OF HATE
Though they are being exposed now, those ideologies are not new to the internet: far from the common platforms, in deeper places online, groups named “chans” have been online for more than a decade, places in which men gather to promote the RedPill and InCel ideologies. They are the roots of today’s misogynistic discourse: degrading terms, arguments implying the “natural” submission of women were all developed in discussions and pieces of thought within these forums.
At the beginning, activists for women’s rights were their main target: Lola Aronovich, professor at the Federal University of Ceará, is an example. She created a feminist blog in 2008 and has been, for several years, a victim of death threats by anonymous profiles. Unable to even create a Youtube channel, because every time she would do it, several reports were made and the platform would take it down.
Due to her fight and sensible situation, a law project named after her was protocoled in 2018: Lei Lola is supposed to help in cases of hate campaigns and death threats against women on the internet, but little progress has been made.
SOCIAL MEDIA: A TOOL FOR MISOGYNY?
Nowadays, the hate campaigns have spread all over the internet, along with the rising number of followers of misogynistic (self-declared or not) digital influencers. This speech has reached a variety of audiences: from boys still in school, to young adults and older men.
In 2024, a research by NetLab found 137 Youtube profiles sustained by misogynistic content – with millions of followers, their goal is to “teach” men about the type of women who do not deserve their respect and are not “qualified” for dating. Obviously, those qualifications consisted of patriarchal standards set for women.
Such standards consist of measuring a woman’s value by her behavior and dating history. In order to be “valuable”, a woman should be submissive, always try to fit beauty standards, take care of the family and house chores and most importantly, not have a “long” dating history. Basically, a valuable woman in their perspective does not actually choose for herself – she lives only for others.
One of those “worldwide” famous influencers is Andrew Tate. Known for being a self-declared misogynist, with an extremely similar speech to the new influencers who hide from the term, Tate has been facing rape and even human trafficking charges in different countries. The “idol” for many men and boys online has been arrested and taken to court several times.
In Brazil, a “coach” named Thiago Schutz, became known for his derogatory speech against women. Even though one of his most seen videos got mocked, a door was still opened for people to follow his ideologies. In 2025, Schutz’s girlfriend pressed charges for domestic violence.
Last month, the assassination of the military police member Gisele Alves by her husband (lieutenant) Geraldo Leite Rosa Neto shocked the country. During investigation, the police found multiple incriminating messages on Geraldo’s phone, in which he uses terms of redpill origin to impose his “superiority” over Gisele.
Across every sphere that the misogynistic discourse is presented, there is a common trace: recklessness. The hatred for women is so high, it gets to a point where they feel it is right to establish their position in a physically violent way.
FREEDOM FOR VIOLENCE
Due to the “explosion” of this type of speech online, feminist and human rights movements began pressuring politicians to develop better security measures for women online and in real life. So, the Brazilian government started developing a law against misogyny that would fit the same page as the anti-racism law, and those officially convicted would face the same consequences.
This law project was a problem around conservatives: many claimed it would be shutting “freedom of expression” – now, it has officially been buried and not taken further, even with the rising cases of violence against women.
It is important to highlight that criminalizing misogyny is not the only path to follow in order to end this type of hate crime. Arresting and bringing to court people who openly spread this type of hate against women is necessary, but also there is a need for education.
From a young age, girls should be taught to identify toxic-behaviored men and how to not fall in their traps, putting themselves first always. And also, it is even more important to teach boys how to behave – teach them that women and girls are human, worthy of respect and have the intelligence and ability to live as they wish to.
______________________________
The article above was edited by Isabela Raucci.
Liked this type of content? Check Her Campus Cásper Líbero for more!