Project – Research axis – Inequality and discrimination

Thesis on the gender perspective and hate speech towards ethnic minorities

“Integration of the gender perspective into the analysis of hate speech and incitement to hate against ethnic minorities, specific religions or vulnerable populations on digital platforms”.

Brief research overview

Girl suffering from cyber bullying feeling depressed

Groups and / or organizations publicizing racist, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic ideas have found in the Internet the best way to spread their hate speech. Since young people seem to be a relevant target for racist propaganda and incitement to hate, this thesis focuses on young users of the Internet and the electronic communication tools at their disposal.

We are therefore interested in further examining the potential differences and similarities in the involvement of girls and boys in cyberhate as victims, exposed perpetrators, the relationships that link them, but also in analysing the content of hate speech against ethnic minorities or specific religions circulating in the virtual world. The strength of this project lies in the inclusion of gender in the analysis through an intersectional approach highlighting the multiplicity of systems of power and domination which structure our society and that women are confronted with (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins 2000 ; Dorlin, 2005; Yuval-Davis, 2006).

Main objectives

The aim of this thesis is:

To understand the relevant othering processes based on criteria of gender, a real or supposed ethnic origin or religious affiliation, as well as the intersection or the aggregation of these different criteria;
To study, with an intersectional perspective, the gendered use of digital technology and the differences in involvement in cyberhate of girls and boys resulting from it.

This research uses a mixed approach for the collection and interpretation of data. We will work from a sub-sample from a quantitative research based on a nationally representative research sample (quota sample) collected in France by Catherine Blaya between May and June 2018 among young people aged 9 to 17 (n = 1000) within the context of the EU’s Kids Online project. We will complement this approach with semi-structured individual interviews conducted in France with young volunteers in order to better understand the processes and the emotional experiences involved.

Associated researchers

Présentée par Omara Sansegundo Moreno, HEP-VD omara.sansegundo-moreno@hepl.ch
Cotutelle de thèse dirigée Pr. Catherine Blaya (Université Nice Côte d’Azur) et par Pr. Delphine Gardey (Université de Genève)

Timeline

For more information

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