Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 09:40 pm
In what marks a first for the UK government, extreme misogyny is going to be treated as terrorism. According to the Telegraph, in a landmark move, the rising tide of violence against women and girls will see extreme misogyny treated like other forms of terrorism for the first time under the country’s counter-terrorism strategy.
Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered a comprehensive review into the country’s counter-terrorism strategy; the review will focus on the gaps in the existing laws, scrutiny of the emergent ideologies, including the rise of misogynistic discourses that have spread online. The goal is to make certain that violence against women is treated with a similar level of seriousness as far-right extremism.
Mandatory Reporting for Educators
The new law would require school teachers to report to the government’s counter-terror programme any student considered to hold extremist misogynistic views. That is a basically proactive approach in fighting the radicalization of youths, especially in the school environment.
Assessment and Deradicalization Process
Individuals referred to the program would thus be evaluated by local police who identify whether individuals are displaying signs of radicalization and need intervention deradicalization efforts. The procedure would be followed then as it is with other forms of extremism indicating that this government is serious about how it is dealing with hate crimes of all types.
The Influence of Misogynistic Figures
This review comes in the wake of reports that misogynistic influencers, such as Andrew Tate, have become notorious for radicalizing teenage boys online in much the same way that terrorists recruit followers. Last year, counter-extremism workers said there was an increase in cases referred by schools that were worried about the effects such influencers were having, including incidents of verbal harassment against female teachers and students.
Expanding the Definition of Extremism
The UK Home Ministry currently defines certain forms of extremism, including the “incel” ideology-shorthand for “involuntary celibate,” a misogynistic worldview that blames women for men’s lack of sexual opportunities. But officials now believe this category may not cover other forms of extreme misogyny.
National Emergency on Violence Against Women and Girls
Last month, the National Police Chiefs’ Council in the UK published a report declaring violence against women and girls a national emergency. The new stance of the UK government illustrates precisely how gravely urgent an intervention at the roots of misogynistic violence is before its escalation into terrorism.
