Women Under Hindutva: Misogynist Memes, Mock-Auction and Doxing, Deepfake-Pornification and Rape Threats in Digital Space

Abstract

This paper intends to scrutinise the anti-feminist leanings and misogynist outlook of the Hindutva ideology prevalent in the current socio-political and religious scenario of India. Gendered and sexualised disinformation and virtual violence are used as a prominent tool to attack the autonomy of women’s bodies by labelling them as sexually and socially immoral and thus further disapproving the credibility of their political opinions. Through specific case analysis, the paper explores the ongoing procedure to mute women in the digital space by the Hindutva ideologues.