#Information: A Content Analysis of the Antifeminist Movement on X
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Margarita Rayzberg
College
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Discipline(s)
Sociology
ORCID Identifier(s)
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9883-0377
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
In response to each wave of the feminist movement, there have been waves of antifeminist backlash, with the contemporary waves largely taking place online. While prior research has examined specific aspects of the most recent wave of this countermovement, none have focused on how we can characterize the antifeminist movement as a whole. To contribute to a more complete understanding, this study sought to determine how the current wave of the antifeminist movement presents itself as a whole online. Using a content analysis of all Tweets posted in a three-month time period under top antifeminist hashtags, this research characterizes the antifeminist movement thematically. I created five categories based upon thematic commonalities among the Tweets, coding each Tweet as belonging to up to three of the categories. The data reveal that a disproportionate number of Tweets contained explicitly misogynistic language, critiqued equality gains for women, and, surprisingly, were majority informational in nature, with authors drawing on academic research and news articles to support the ideas they were promoting. This has important directions for future research, including implications for what the goals of the antifeminist movement are and how the movement chooses to mobilize itself.
Recommended Citation
Naylor, Katherine, "#Information: A Content Analysis of the Antifeminist Movement on X" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1363.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1363
Biographical Information about Author(s)
I am a senior Sociology and Psychology major. This research was completed as my senior capstone project: an interest-based research projects that sociology majors complete prior to graduation. Throughout my time at Valpo, I have developed an interest in studying both gender and social movements. So with the opportunity to research whatever I wanted, this is what made me the most curious. I hope to continue similar research after graduation.