EMMELO’s new policy brief - Gateway Ideology: Why Europe Must Treat Misogyny and Anti-LGBTQIA+ Hate as Extremism

EMMELO’s new policy brief, Gateway Ideology: Why Europe Must Treat Misogyny and Anti-LGBTQIA+ Hate as Extremism, examines how anti-gender narratives and rigid ideals of masculinity can contribute to extremist recruitment and mobilisation. Drawing on qualitative country profiles from France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia and Sweden, it shows that misogyny and anti-LGBTQIA+ hate are not merely warning signs: they can act as entry points into extremist ecosystems. The brief also identifies how online recommender systems and apparently benign lifestyle content may create gradual pathways towards more extreme material.

The brief sets out practical actions for EU institutions, Member States, platforms and funders using existing policy tools: recognise gendered hate in threat assessment and prevention; enforce the Digital Services Act’s systemic-risk, transparency and data-access provisions; support comparative research; and provide civil-society organisations with sustained funding and protection. Its central message is clear: gender equality, online safety and the prevention of violent extremism must be addressed together.