Online Linguistic Gender Stereotypes | IGF 2023 WS #237

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The analysis delves into the impact of the internet and society on gender norms and stereotypes, highlighting several key points. Firstly, it argues that the internet and society have the capacity to reproduce certain gender norms and stereotypes. These norms and stereotypes can be seen as power structures, with certain groups being placed in positions of power while others are exploited.

The assignment of roles based on gender at birth also imposes certain developmental expectations.

The influence of the market on young internet users is another important aspect discussed in the analysis. It is noted that children and teens are heavily affected by market influences online.

Specifically, the analysis highlights that young females are expected to act in a certain way to attract attention on the internet. This demonstrates how the market impacts the perspectives and behaviors of young internet users.

On a more positive note, the analysis stresses the need for a more participative and egalitarian development of the internet.

It argues that the internet reflects power, violence, and societal standards, and breaking gender expectations and rules often brings about resistance. This highlights the importance of inclusivity and equal participation in shaping the development and structure of the internet.

The analysis also expresses concern about the impact of gender stereotypes on the daily life of the LGBTQI community.

For instance, it notes that stereotypes of gender structures react to speech varieties associated with lower prestige groups, and negative characteristics are attributed to speakers based on these stereotypes.

Turning to the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the analysis acknowledges the potential of AI in bringing something new and different.

However, it also cautions that AI could potentially reproduce structures of power and impose certain standards. This raises important questions about the values and biases of the creators of AI and the need for further research.

The analysis also draws attention to the effects of colonialism and power imbalances in internet spaces.

It mentions the erasure of memories and lives that colonialism has brought about, imposing a dominant perspective. This highlights the importance of addressing colonialism and power imbalances in order to create more equitable internet spaces.

Furthermore, the absence of international legislation specifically addressing internet hate speech and gender stereotyping is highlighted.

This raises concerns about the current legal framework and the need for international laws to combat these issues effectively.

In terms of addressing hate speech and stereotypes, the analysis suggests that breaking stereotypes may be an effective way to tackle hate speech.

It points out that stereotypes are perceived as a root cause of hate speech, and challenging them could lead to positive change.

The analysis concludes by emphasizing the need for dialogue and innovation in challenging ingrained stereotypes. By fostering open and meaningful dialogue and promoting innovative ideas, it becomes possible to challenge and change deeply embedded stereotypes.

Overall, the analysis provides a comprehensive examination of the impact of the internet and society on gender norms and stereotypes.

It highlights the need for inclusive and participative development, the challenges faced by marginalized communities, the potential of AI, the effects of colonialism, the absence of international legislation, the importance of breaking stereotypes, and the significance of dialogue and innovation.

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The analysis of the given information reveals several key points and arguments related to language diversity, digital media, and societal issues. It is recognised that promoting language diversity in digital media is of great importance, especially for LGBTQIA plus communities, as it contributes to reducing inequalities (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities).

This recognition emphasizes the need to encourage debates on this topic, allowing for a more inclusive and diverse digital landscape.

In the context of digital content moderation, it is argued that the moderation process should consider the promotion of discourse.

The example of the word “bicha” in Brazil is cited to demonstrate how its usage can change depending on the context, being employed both in negative contexts and contexts that promote identity and affirmation. This highlights the need for moderators to have a nuanced understanding of language and cultural contexts to ensure fair and inclusive moderation practices.

Another point of concern raised in the analysis is the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to propagate stereotype thinking.

It is suggested that AI systems, if not properly designed and trained, may unintentionally perpetuate harmful stereotypes. This observation aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as it emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of technology on societal issues.

On the other hand, the analysis also highlights the potential benefits of AI in countering hate speech or violence.

It is argued that AI can be used to create positive narratives that stand against such harmful behaviours, thereby promoting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Furthermore, attention is drawn to the vulnerability of young girls on social media platforms.

The analysis notes that platforms like TikTok and Instagram are commonly used by young girls to promote themselves, which unfortunately makes them more susceptible to online predators. This highlights the need for content regulation, such as moderating comments and monitoring language used on digital platforms, to protect youth (SDGs 4: Quality Education and 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

In conclusion, the analysis underscores the complex nature of digital media and its implications for various societal issues.

It underscores the importance of promoting language diversity, promoting discourse, safeguarding against harmful stereotypes, countering hate speech and violence, and protecting vulnerable young girls on digital platforms. Civil society is also seen as playing a vital role in defending youth, particularly young girls, in digital spaces.

The provided insights shed light on the intricate interplay between digital media, language, technology, and societal goals as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

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The extended analysis examines the gender digital divide and its connection to hate speech and AI tools. Research suggests that hate speech, violent language, and misinformation disproportionately affect women, leading to the gender digital divide. This highlights the importance of addressing these harmful practices and creating a more inclusive online environment.

Furthermore, the role of large language models like ChatGPT is discussed.

These models heavily rely on English data predominantly authored by men, limiting their effectiveness in supporting non-English languages and perpetuating gender biases. Evaluating the impact of AI tools such as natural language processing and large language models is crucial to avoid reinforcing gender disparities.

Taking an intersectional approach is emphasized for understanding the severity of hate speech and misinformation.

Women of color, particularly political candidates, are more likely to be targeted with online abuse and misinformation. Considering multiple dimensions of identity is essential in addressing the gender digital divide and developing inclusive solutions.

The analysis also highlights the gender gap in AI training data, with only 26.5% of CHAT-GPT’s training data authored by women.

This disparity poses a significant problem, particularly in the education system and the industry, where gender-biased AI models are being incorporated. Addressing this gap is crucial in preventing the perpetuation of gender disparities.

Social media platforms play a vital role in shaping online experiences.

The analysis suggests that these platforms should improve their design strategies to combat harmful content. Giving users more control over the content they receive can help them manage and mitigate the impact of negative content.

Additionally, greater privacy protections can reduce algorithmic amplification and content targeting.

By implementing stronger privacy measures, the influence of algorithms in promoting harmful content can be diminished, benefiting the gender digital divide.

Data transparency is emphasized as another key aspect. The lack of insight into social media platforms’ operations hampers the ability of researchers, governments, and civil society activists to understand the issues and propose effective solutions.

Platforms should provide more data and information to facilitate better understanding and the creation of impactful solutions.

The analysis also points out the influence of hate speech and gender stereotypes, particularly through online communities like the ‘manosphere’, which affects younger boys.

Addressing this influence and educating young men and boys to promote healthier perspectives and behaviors is crucial in bridging the gender digital divide.

Lastly, self-reflection for men, especially cisgendered individuals, regarding their online behavior is crucial. Raising awareness about the impact of hate speech and the spread of false information is essential in creating a more inclusive and respectful digital space.

In conclusion, the analysis highlights various factors contributing to the gender digital divide and underscores the impact of hate speech and AI tools.

It emphasizes the need for inclusive approaches, bridging the gender gap in AI training data, enhancing social media design, strengthening privacy protections, promoting data transparency, and mitigating the influence of hate speech and gender stereotypes. Addressing these issues will help create a more equitable and inclusive digital landscape.

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Language plays a significant role in shaping individuals’ perception of themselves and others. The grammatical structure and vocabulary of a language can influence thinking, imagination, and reality. For instance, language can affect how people perceive gender and power dynamics. In certain languages like French and Spanish, a mixed gender subject defaults to the masculine form, reinforcing the perception of male superiority.

Moreover, language can be a powerful tool for online bullying, particularly targeting women, girls, and the LGBT+ community.

Pejorative language and slurs are frequently used to harass and intimidate these groups, creating an unsafe online environment that discourages their active participation.

Machine translation, although useful, often defaults to gender stereotypes by assigning traditional gender roles to professions.

This perpetuates gender inequalities and hinders progress towards equality.

To tackle these issues, promoting gender-neutral and inclusive language is crucial. This involves ongoing efforts and discussions within communities. By doing so, language can become more inclusive and fair, fostering an online world where everyone feels represented and valued.

Another effective approach is incorporating women’s perspectives in online content.

Initiatives like “Wikigap” have successfully increased the presence and representation of women on the internet, enriching the overall content.

Moreover, addressing online hate speech requires empathy and community regulations. It is important to acknowledge the impact of hate speech and take appropriate actions to address it.

Community regulations and a focus on empathy can help create a safer and more inclusive online environment.

In conclusion, language has a profound influence on perceptions, and it is important to address biases and stereotypes embedded within it.

By promoting gender-neutral and inclusive language, incorporating women’s perspectives in online content, and fostering empathy and community regulations, we can create a more equitable digital world.

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The analysis of the data presents several important findings relating to gender stereotypes, hate speech, and recruitment by radical groups. One significant observation is the use of linguistic gender stereotypes to mobilise specific demographics. This tactic involves the exploitation of language to reinforce societal norms and expectations associated with gender.

By perpetuating these stereotypes, certain groups are able to manipulate individuals and garner support for their cause. This has been particularly evident in the Americas, with a specific focus on Brazil, where jokes and memes have been used to gamify hate and recruit for radical organizations.

Another noteworthy point is the targeted recruitment efforts made by radical groups, particularly targeting young males.

Research conducted in Germany regarding in-service teacher awareness and a study conducted by a cyber psychologist in India both highlight the attempts made by extremist organizations to attract and radicalize young males. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing the strategies employed by these groups to prevent the recruitment and radicalization of vulnerable individuals.

The analysis also brings attention to the classification of hate speech and the significance of combating its impact.

A task group established by the Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights is actively working towards developing a framework to classify hate speech. This highlights a positive step towards reducing the prevalence and harm caused by hate speech, as it enables a targeted approach to addressing this issue.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights the rising reactionary demographic in Brazil, posing a threat to human rights, particularly targeting female youth leaders and expressing anti-feminist sentiment.

The increase in this demographic underscores the need for continued efforts to counter hate speech and discrimination, especially towards women and gender diverse individuals.

The analysis also brings attention to the manifestation of hate speech and extremism through linguistic ridicule and mimicry of local dialects or speech patterns.

Extremist groups in Brazil target various dialects, including popular, queer, and formally recognized dialects. This serves as a tool to mobilize youth while ridiculing the validity of these speech forms, often reducing them to derogatory terms such as ‘gay speech’.

This highlights the multi-dimensional nature of hate speech, as it can manifest through linguistic mockery and the undermining of certain speech forms.

Online spaces, including social media platforms, study and game communities, can be particularly hostile towards women and gender diverse individuals due to linguistic gender stereotypes.

Negative experiences and discrimination resulting from the perpetuation of these stereotypes can drive women and diverse genders away from participating in these online spaces. In cases where individuals decide to remain, they may face increasingly hateful and violent experiences. Addressing and combating online gender stereotypes is crucial to ensure inclusion and equality for all.

The impact of linguistic gender stereotypes extends beyond online spaces.

Discrimination arising from these stereotypes can distort self-image and self-worth, potentially leading to various mental health issues. Moreover, these experiences perpetuate the notion that online spaces are hostile and exclusive, particularly for those who do not conform to specific gender expectations.

This further underscores the importance of addressing online gender stereotypes to create a more inclusive and welcoming digital environment.

Education emerges as a pivotal factor in tackling hate speech and gender stereotypes. It is crucial for schools to address the main problems within their communities, which may include addressing physiological needs, providing comprehensive sexual education, or challenging societal roles of diverse genders.

By investing in the next generation and prioritizing education, efforts can be made to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Although the issue of gender-based hate speech may not be obvious to everyone, there is a need for increased participation from individuals beyond those who are openly opposed.

It is essential to engage individuals who may not be actively involved or vocal about their opposition. Generating empathy and bringing these individuals closer to movements focused on creating a better world is crucial to make progress and foster a society free from hate speech and discrimination.

In conclusion, the analysis provides valuable insights into the use of linguistic gender stereotypes, recruitment by radical groups, the classification of hate speech, the rising reactionary demographic, the targeting of local dialects, and the impact of linguistic gender stereotypes in online spaces.

It highlights the importance of addressing these issues through education, increased participation, and efforts to combat hate speech and discrimination. By working towards these goals, a more inclusive and equitable society can be achieved.

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The analysis reveals several important points about linguistic gender stereotypes in online advertising and social media platforms, which perpetuate gender inequalities and reinforce traditional gender roles. Men are often associated with adjectives like strong, brave, competent, or bold, promoting stereotypes of dominance and logic, while women are associated with adjectives like emotional, understanding, sweet, and submissive, reflecting biased views of women as emotional and submissive.

These stereotypes shape societal attitudes and contribute to gender inequalities.

Online advertisements are now personalised and tailored to specific audiences, including gender-based targeting. This means that linguistic gender stereotypes are used in targeted marketing and product positioning. The language used on social media platforms like Instagram also reflects gender biases.

A study on Instagram captions found that certain adjectives were exclusively associated with women, while others were divided between genders. These biases impact how individuals are perceived and treated both online and offline.

Despite these issues, some brands are being more careful with gender characterisations, showing mixed gender associations with certain adjectives.

This indicates progress in avoiding gender stereotypes in advertising and promoting gender equality. However, the gender divide in the digital world has been increasing since 2019, disproportionately affecting marginalised women such as the elderly and those in rural areas. This divide limits their access to and use of digital technologies, exacerbating gender inequalities.

Research on women and young girls below 18 in relation to the gender digital divide is lacking.

Most data focuses on women above 18, leaving a gap in understanding the experiences and challenges faced by younger women and girls. More research is needed to address this gap and ensure their needs are met.

Furthermore, linguistic gender stereotypes online strongly influence women’s career choices.

With the majority of jobs worldwide having a digital component, biased language on online platforms shapes women’s perceptions of career paths, limiting their potential and opportunities. This hinders progress towards gender equality in the workforce.

In conclusion, linguistic gender stereotypes in online advertising and social media perpetuate gender inequalities and reinforce traditional gender roles.

Efforts are being made to address these stereotypes, but further progress is needed. The gender divide in the digital world is widening, particularly impacting marginalised women. Research on younger women and girls in relation to the gender digital divide is lacking, which must be addressed.

Linguistic gender stereotypes influence career choices and opportunities for women, hindering progress towards gender equality in the workforce.

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Discrimination towards the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysian advertisements is a pressing issue that demands attention. The online environment exacerbates these discriminatory practices, and steps need to be taken to address and improve the situation. Inclusive language can play a significant role in mitigating online discrimination, creating a more welcoming online space for everyone.

Promoting diversity through language is seen as a positive approach to combat discrimination by challenging stereotypes and biases.

Guidelines should be put in place to promote non-biasness and equality in language usage, while also avoiding gendered assumptions. These guidelines can help individuals and organizations navigate the complexities of language in a sensitive, fair, and inclusive way.

Education plays a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting sensitivity towards language diversity.

Starting from an early age, it is important to educate individuals about the power of language and how it can impact others. By fostering an understanding of the importance of inclusive language, future generations can grow up with a greater appreciation for diversity.

Unfortunately, the issue of linguistic bias and stereotypes is not adequately addressed in education in Malaysia.

There is a clear need for proper training of educators to ensure they are equipped to promote diversity and equality in language. Without attention to this issue, discriminatory practices persist, limiting progress towards an inclusive society.

Concrete rules and regulations from the government regarding language usage to represent different groups are needed.

Having clear guidelines and acts in place will provide a framework for promoting inclusivity and reducing discrimination. Presently, the absence of such rules hinders efforts to address linguistic bias and ensure fair representation.

In the workplace, training and awareness regarding language biasness are essential.

By providing education and facilitating discussions on biasness and representation, companies can foster an inclusive and respectful environment. It is important that the expression of marginalized groups in the workplace is not dominated by one group, ensuring that all employees feel seen and valued.

Addressing discrimination towards the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysian advertisements requires a multi-faceted approach encompassing inclusive language, diversity promotion, educational initiatives, governmental regulations, and workplace training.

By implementing these measures, society can move towards a more inclusive, equal, and respectful future.

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The meeting consisted of two rounds: speaker introductions and an open roundtable discussion. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, which were collected and addressed later. Stella, associated with NetMission.Asia, Malaysia Youth IGF, ISOC Malaysia, and Kyushu University, served as the moderator.

The main focus was on linguistic gender stereotypes and their impact.

These stereotypes are generalizations based on someone’s gender that are reflected in language. They can be observed in gendered pronouns, job titles, descriptive language, and conversational roles.

Linguistic gender stereotypes have negative effects. They shape societal attitudes, reinforce gender inequalities, and create expectations and limitations based on gender.

They are observed in online advertisements, perpetuating traditional gender roles.

The discussion also addressed challenges faced by marginalized and LGBTQI communities. Gender is seen as a module of power, affecting different groups. Inclusive language, gender-neutral terms, and diversity in language are important for creating an inclusive society.

Educating young people about diversity and the impact of linguistic stereotypes is crucial.

The meeting also highlighted the gender gap in AI training data and its implications. Online linguistic gender stereotypes affect self-identity, sense of belonging, and contribute to online bullying.

Promoting gender-neutral languages and creating content from a woman’s perspective is encouraged.

The need for algorithmic control on social media platforms to reduce negative content amplification was stressed. Transparency and data sharing by platforms are important for research and finding better solutions.

Overall, the meeting emphasized addressing linguistic gender stereotypes, promoting diversity in language, and combating discrimination and inequality.

Legislative action, breaking stereotypes, and changing narratives are necessary for an inclusive society.

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The analysis examines the issue of gender diverse content suppression on social media platforms, focusing on TikTok. The study found that gender diverse individuals in Latin America felt compelled to alter their identities and content on TikTok to avoid being targeted by the algorithm.

The platform’s algorithm demonstrated a bias against LGBTQI+ inclusive language and hashtags, resulting in the removal or shadow banning of their content. This raises questions about identity ownership in algorithmic systems.

Additionally, the study revealed that gender diverse users felt less accepted on TikTok due to limitations and self-censorship.

LGBTQI+ and gender diversity-themed content was only deemed acceptable or visible on the platform when it aligned with established mainstream trends or had the support of influential figures. This exclusionary dynamic on TikTok creates an environment that further marginalizes gender diverse individuals.

In response, the analysis emphasizes the need for social media platforms, including TikTok, to establish clearer community standards regarding gender diverse content.

Platforms should strive to create inclusive spaces that respect and protect the digital rights of traditionally underrepresented communities. Participants in the study called for a shift in these systems to protect historically marginalized communities and ensure consistency of standards regardless of identity or content alignment.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights the detrimental impact of online linguistic gender stereotypes on self-identity.

Users often struggle to identify with the platform’s gender norms, leading to anxiety and discomfort. Some individuals stop using the platform altogether because they feel unable to express themselves authentically. This lack of acceptance and its impact on mental health and social interactions is a significant concern.

Overall, the analysis reveals the troubling suppression of gender diverse content on social media platforms, particularly on TikTok.

It underscores the need for platforms to address biased algorithms, establish clearer community standards, and create inclusive spaces. Additionally, the detrimental effects of online linguistic gender stereotypes on self-identity and mental health are highlighted. The analysis calls for a more inclusive and diverse digital landscape that respects the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender identity.