Recent research indicates that media coverage of violence directed towards women and girls, as well as misogynistic harassment, remains alarmingly low, despite the emergence of numerous high-profile incidents of male violence against women and children, alongside an increase in AI-assisted forms of abuse.
An analysis of 1.14 billion online articles published globally from 2017 to 2025 revealed that the percentage of articles addressing misogynistic abuse fell to a troubling 1.3% by 2025, marking the lowest point during this time frame. In contrast, coverage peaked at 2.2% in 2018, coinciding with the height of the #MeToo movement. In Africa, where various conflicts have escalated sexual violence, coverage dipped to a nine-year low of 1.18% in 2024.
Prof. Julie Posetti, who leads the Centre for Journalism and Democracy at City St George’s, University of London, expressed her shock at these findings, especially given the pervasive nature of the issue and how violence against women has been weaponized by authoritarian regimes as part of a broader erosion of rights. She stated, “This indicates a significant shortcoming in media coverage and highlights how much further we have to go.”
The report, which is the first of its kind on a global scale, was shared exclusively with the Guardian prior to its release on April 18. It examined media coverage related to Jeffery Epstein from 2017 through February 2026. Out of nearly one million articles referencing Epstein, only 0.1% included the phrase “violence against women,” while 25% mentioned “victims” and 26% referenced terms like “power,” “money,” “elites,” or “corruption.”
The study also pointed out a lack of attention to the systemic nature of misogyny, which perpetuates abuse through entrenched prejudices and power disparities. Luba Kassova, the lead author, remarked, “Our analysis suggests that coverage of the Epstein case largely ignores the gender-inequality perspective, thus failing to address the underlying causes of the issue.”
Despite the high rates of sexual violence in many regions, news coverage has not increased correspondingly, leaving a significant gap in addressing the urgent needs of audiences, as highlighted in the report. Globally, one in nine women has experienced male violence in the past year, and one in three has faced physical or sexual violence over their lifetime. Given the stigma associated with disclosing sexual abuse, the actual figures are likely much higher.
As society becomes more digital, the avenues for committing gender-based violence are expanding rapidly. Research indicates that millions of women and girls are affected by online violence annually, with studies suggesting that up to 60% of women worldwide have encountered this form of gendered abuse.
When stories related to misogyny are reported, they tend to amplify male voices. The research found that for every woman quoted in articles about misogyny, there are approximately 1.5 male sources, indicating a widening disparity. Sarah Macharia from the Global Media Monitoring Project, which conducts the most extensive longitudinal study on gender representation in global media, noted that male perspectives dominate these narratives. She stated, “Such stories are infrequent, and when they do appear, it is typically male voices that are featured. Our findings show that only 24% of experts quoted in gender-based violence stories are men, compared to 17% who are women.”
Macharia further elaborated, “The situation is dire in many respects, both in terms of who is given a platform in these stories and the narratives that continue to objectify and sexualize women and girls who have survived these atrocities.”
To assess the extent of misogyny-related coverage in online news, researchers analyzed twelve key terms associated with misogyny, such as sexual violence, femicide, and rape. While overall coverage mentioning these terms has decreased, references to “gender ideology”—a contentious term associated with the global anti-gender equality movement—have surged by 42 times between 2020 and 2025, largely driven by media in the United States.
Macharia noted that she first encountered the term “gender ideology” in Latin America around 2010, where it was employed to normalize and disseminate misogyny. “We’ve observed political rhetoric that undermines and trivializes women, which seems to propagate from certain leadership positions, spreading like a contagion,” she remarked.
The report also suggested several measures to enhance coverage of violence against women and girls. These included advocating for female journalists and editors to lead the narrative and placing victims and survivors at the center of the stories. When reporting on notorious cases of men who have committed serial abuse, the media should aim to uncover the underlying issues, highlighting gender inequality, patriarchal standards, and the cultural aspects of misogyny that facilitate power abuses.
Posetti, who conducted a study for UN Women on the rising threat of online violence against women in public life, acknowledged that while there are some commendable initiatives within the media addressing violence against women, substantial change remains essential. “It continues to perplex and concern me that we have not made more significant strides in altering the discourse and societal norms,” she stated. “Without a complete willingness and capability from mainstream media to transform these norms, meaningful change will remain elusive.”
