Calls to classify misogyny as a hate crime have been revived to address the increase in covert filming of women and girls in public spaces. Advocates and digital harm experts have joined forces with MP Wera Hobhouse to renew the push for misogynistic acts to be considered criminal offenses in England and Wales.
Proposed legislative changes would enable misogyny, defined as a hatred or disdain for women and girls or a belief in male superiority, to be recognized as a potential component of crimes like stalking or harassment. Incidents of women and girls being secretly recorded in public settings, whether during nights out, exercise routines, or simply while in public areas, are on the rise, with the footage often being shared online without consent.
These videos are frequently monetized online, with comments and shares focusing on sexual gratification, derogatory or misogynistic content, or for entertainment through humiliation. Mrs. Hobhouse presented her proposals at a roundtable discussion involving campaigners, scholars, and experts in online harm and violence against women and girls to address the issue of women being covertly filmed in public.
During the event, it was revealed that in 2024, Greater Manchester Police arrested an individual for repeatedly creating voyeuristic content of nightlife and selling it online. However, the case against him collapsed due to insufficient evidence to meet the legal criteria for a crime.
Mrs. Hobhouse, a Liberal Democrat MP representing Bath, believes that changing the law would facilitate the prosecution of covert filming for misogynistic purposes and has called for a review by the Law Commission on its 2022 recommendation against classifying gender-based prejudice as a crime. She emphasized that covert filming and voyeurism are manifestations of misogyny within society, intended to intimidate women and restrict their freedom in public spaces.
She pledged to continue advocating for the legal recognition of misogyny, highlighting that while not a cure-all solution, it would send a powerful message that could impact various other legislative measures beneficially. Olga Jurasz, Director of the Centre for Protecting Women Online, pointed out that technology is exacerbating the issue of misogyny and attributed it to the lack of investment in preventing violence against women and girls over the years.
Jurasz emphasized that these behaviors stem from sexism, misogyny, and discrimination against women, which have persisted due to the failure to invest in combating violence against women, gender stereotyping, and promoting societal values against discrimination and sexism. She warned that the convergence of these longstanding issues with technological advancements is amplifying societal challenges, necessitating urgent action.