To combat gender mis/disinformation, ROUNDCHECK has partnered with Naija Feminist Media (NFM), a platform committed to amplifying women’s voices and countering false narratives against women.
Recall that ROUNDCHECK had recently launched a specialised desk to fact-check gender disinformation.
The new partnership is aimed at strengthening this effort, particularly to debunk narratives which are constructed to stereotypically misrepresent, harm, or mislead people about women.
NFM’s Partnerships and Projects Officer, Nkechi Igwebuike said the partners “will work to set these biases straight and continue to advocate for a better quality of life for women nationally and globally.”
Reacting to the partnership, ROUNDCHECK’s Executive Director, Caleb Ijioma, said it will enhance the fight against mis/disinformation, which “disproportionately affects women.”
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He added: “We are thrilled to move forward with this partnership with NFM, which will help amplify accurate information and counter misleading narratives about women.
“Gender disinformation is a critical issue that disproportionately affects women. Given NFM’s impactful activities, this partnership is timely and essential in achieving our goals.”
What is Gender Disinformation?
Gender disinformation is a growing concern globally, particularly as it impacts marginalised groups more severely. According to the U.S. Department of State, gender disinformation is often targeted toward women with themes that include the use of gendered stereotypes, hyper-sexualization, and political targeting of women to shame and discredit them.
Studies have shown that gendered disinformation can lead to real-world consequences such as online violence and harassment, especially for women in media, politics, and leadership roles. A UNESCO report revealed that over 73% of female journalists globally have faced online violence, often driven by gendered disinformation.
Thus, ROUNDCHECK’s newly established desk and the partnership will critically analyse misleading gender narratives, using fact-checking tools and media literacy principles to provide the public with accurate information and combat the harmful effects of gendered misinformation.
