In the aftermath of the 2024 US presidential election, a disturbing surge in misogynistic rhetoric has emerged online, fuelled by elements of the “manosphere” — a loosely connected group of far-right influencers and online communities. The election of Republican Donald Trump has been seized upon by many in these circles as an opportunity to amplify derogatory language and threats directed at women, particularly regarding reproductive rights and autonomy. As a result, several women, including college students like Sadie Perez, have been left feeling increasingly unsafe and exposed.
Perez, a 19-year-old political science student at a university in Wisconsin, shared how the post-election climate has forced her to carry pepper spray, a precaution her mother deemed necessary for both Perez and her sister. This fear is a response to the rapidly spreading rhetoric used by online personalities, who have taken a misogynistic stance by invoking the slogan “Your body, my choice.” Initially associated with abortion rights movements, this phrase has been repurposed to target women with threats and messages of male control over female bodies.
The phrase gained prominence after a post by Nick Fuentes, a far-right, Holocaust-denying figure known for his inflammatory views. Fuentes’ message, which quickly went viral on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), has been linked to violent misogynistic ideologies, including calls for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, which grants women the right to vote. According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), Fuentes’ post garnered 35 million views within 24 hours, with the phrase spreading to other platforms like TikTok, where women began reporting the slogan in comment sections and on their college campuses.
This new wave of anti-women language has manifested in both digital and physical spaces. In middle schools, boys have been heard chanting “Your body, my choice,” while on college campuses, men have used the phrase to harass female students. The situation escalated to the point where schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota issued warnings to parents, and online platforms such as Amazon removed t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan. Women like Perez have felt personally affronted by these developments, with Perez describing the experience as “disgusting” and akin to a reversal of progress.
Misogynistic rhetoric is not new to the digital landscape, but experts have noted an alarming uptick in violent and hostile language since the election. Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at ISD, stated that the post-election period has seen a substantial increase in posts glorifying violence against women and the stripping away of their rights. On X, declarations like “Get back in the kitchen” and “Repeal the 19th” were highly visible, with some gaining millions of views. Frances-Wright’s research also tracked anonymous rape threats targeted at women who voiced their opposition to the election results, and reports on forums like 4chan show calls for the adoption of policies similar to those depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale — a dystopian narrative about the oppression of women.
The rapid spread of such rhetoric underscores the extent to which online discourse can affect real-world behaviour. In Texas, a man was escorted off a university campus after holding a sign reading “Women Are Property,” and other online threats have led to increased concerns about the safety of women in public spaces. Furthermore, previous cases of violent rhetoric on sites like 4chan, which have been linked to racially motivated and antisemitic attacks, illustrate the dangerous potential for this kind of language to incite real-world violence.
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Frances-Wright emphasised the link between Trump’s rise and the escalation of such rhetoric, noting how his campaign targeted disaffected young men by appealing to notions of masculinity and traditional gender roles. Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently denigrated Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, using gendered and racial insults. Experts argue that for some men, Trump’s victory was seen as a form of vindication — a reclaiming of traditional male roles that they perceive to be under threat.
While Trump himself has not directly amplified the misogynistic rhetoric, his actions and the broader culture surrounding his political base have contributed to the current climate. The rise in misogynistic threats and language represents a broader societal issue that reflects increasing polarisation and division, with profound implications for women’s rights and safety in the US.
The 2024 election has proven to be a flashpoint in the battle over women’s autonomy, and for many women, it signals a new and troubling era of online misogyny that has tangible consequences both online and offline. As misogynistic rhetoric intensifies, the fight for gender equality faces new challenges in a rapidly changing political landscape.
