The Discursive Function of Gendered Online Hate Speech in Kosovo

• In May 2026, a research project was launched to analyze the role and function of sexist hate speech within Kosovo’s digital public sphere using AI-assisted tools.
• Analysis of 625 comments from 22 major Kosovar media pages revealed a systemic effort to delegitimize women's participation in public life.

Key Research Findings

• Systematic Delegitimization: Two-thirds of sexist comments aimed to undermine women involved in politics, media, or public debate.
• Dehumanizing Language: Comments frequently employed animal metaphors (e.g., cow, crow, magpie) and sexualized slurs to strip women of credibility.
• Narrative of Contamination: Women are often portrayed through a lens of moral or physical impurity.
• Victim-Blaming: Misogynistic discourse extended to victims of domestic violence and missing women, where commenters justified abuse or mocked those in danger.

Characteristics of Online Misogyny

• Targeted Scope: Hostility is not limited to public figures; any woman or girl with visibility in the online sphere becomes a target for the same degrading stereotypes.
• Reinforcement of Traditional Roles: Misogynistic narratives normalize male authority and the view that women are responsible for their own mistreatment.

Implications and Recommendations

• Failure of Moderation: Most monitored media platforms showed little to no effort in moderating abusive comments or threats.
• Need for Responsibility: Media organizations must adopt stronger moderation practices to ensure public discussions are not hijacked by hate speech.
• Importance of Counter-Speech: While anti-sexist comments were rare, they played a significant role by invoking dignity, fairness, and human rights, highlighting the importance of systematic monitoring to make these diverse voices heard.