Several women spoke out in a video alongside Québec solidaire (QS) co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal to denounce misogyny and sexist hatred on social media.
“You’re a crazy b****. Go get some help.” This is an insult that author India Desjardins has received online, which she reads in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday.
Several Quebec personalities who have received such threats spoke out in this publication to alert the public on International Women’s Rights Day.
Ghazal has also been the target of such hateful messages posted online.
“Not long ago, I shared some of the insults and hateful comments I received online,” she explained Sunday in an interview with La Presse Canadienne.
“As a public figure, a woman who speaks out, it is unfortunately part of our lives today to receive this kind of hateful comments that would be unacceptable in real life,” she said.
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After speaking out about the insults she had been subjected to, Ghazal received numerous testimonials from women who speak out publicly, sometimes on polarizing issues, and who are afraid to continue doing so because of this wave of hatred.
“We must not trivialize this violence, even if it is received online, and we must say loud and clear, along with all the women who spoke out in this video, that no, we will not be silenced,” emphasized the co-spokesperson.
The hashtag #OnSeTientDebouttes, a theme promoted by the Fédération des femmes du Québec for March 8, was used in the video.
Ghazal is concerned about the growth of this hatred, which coincides with the rise of masculinist discourse, particularly in the United States. In her view, Quebec is not immune.
“Unfortunately, this masculinist discourse is reaching us. It has an impact on women. And we are also seeing a rise in misogynistic and masculinist discourse, even in schools,” she said.
“There is a lot of work to be done in terms of educating and raising awareness among the population,” she said.
QS has already committed to creating a front-line service to curb cyberviolence and help victims if it forms the next government.
“Right now, the only recourse available is to call 911 or go to the police station, and that can be intimidating. Sometimes people don’t want to take legal action; they just want the cyberbullying to stop,” explained Ghazal.
She therefore proposes creating a hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to respond to complaints, help victims, and even intervene with cyberbullies, going as far as seeking a court injunction if necessary.
Ghazal mentioned that this model has been in place in New Zealand since 2014 and appears to be proving successful, with 97 per cent of complaints resolved in less than 15 days.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
