#AntifeminismonTwitter

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to understand and discuss the main discourses around antifeminism on Twitter. Thousands of tweets containing the word Feminazi, AntiFeminism and FeminismIsCancer have been downloaded from Twitter API for a period of six months. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used to analyse the main discourse around antifeminism on Twitter. The quantitative method was very useful in identifying which tweets could be further analysed for the qualitative part of this dissertation. As a matter of fact, two main events have been identified: the Gillette Advert and the Me Too Campaign. After reading all the available tweets related to the mentioned events, seven categories were identified. A ‘Qualitative Content Analysis’ was carried out, and from this qualitative method, it transpired that there are certain misconceptions and stereotypes around feminism. Moreover, antifeminists (which from the research carried out transpired that the vast majority are men) see feminism as a threat to their masculinity, thus to patriarchal power. Hence, anti-feminists through the use of misogynistic language, are trying to silence feminists, as well as hindering young women in identifying themselves as feminists.