ABSTRACT
In the introductory chapter we present a background by describing the problem of online anti-gender hate speech briefly and explain why it is urgent to look into. It is a global phenomenon impacting both individual everyday life, societies and democratic processes. Anti-gender hate speech concerns freedom of expression and gender equality as two cornerstones of democratic society. It impacts individuals’ ability to freely express themselves online and for the exposed it is a matter of discrimination and violence. In the chapter we will introduce the concept of anti-gender hate speech and expand on how it raises challenges in everyday life, in a legal context and in a democratic perspective. We will also point at some previous research and highlight how this book contributes to the field.
