How are gender and race deployed in disinformation? An exploratory study of women politicians

Gendered disinformation as violence entails (un)conscious content manipulation to prevent women and gender minorities from further political participation, particularly if these women challenge gender norms and stereotypes. In this exploratory study, I use Brazil’s political and social landscape to investigate this phenomenon empirically through quantitative content analysis coupled with framing analysis, applied to fact-checking texts related to six women politicians. Among the results, it was found that low-sophisticated strategies, such as recirculating authentic photos out of their original context, are one of the primary tactics employed to delegitimize these women. In addition, narratives related to crime and morality are among the most recurrent themes used in manipulation, while the frames suggest these political actors are incompetent, manipulative, and futile. The findings were analysed through the lens of critical disinformation studies and decolonial feminisms, suggesting that race, ethnicity, and other identity-based features are relevant markers to continuing to exclude people historically left behind.