Resilient Voices | Continuing the Conversation on Women & Disinformation

becid

04.09.2026

How does gendered disinformation affect the people who participate in public life – and what can we do about it? These questions were at the heart of BECID’s “Resilient Voices: Women & Disinformation” conference, which brought together policymakers, journalists, researchers and civil society representatives to examine how gender and identity are increasingly used to manipulate public debate. The discussions showed that this is about more than individual attacks: gendered disinformation can silence voices, discourage participation and ultimately weaken democratic debate.

We continued that conversation with our speakers after the conference sessions. Estonian MP Hanah Lahe reflects on the role men can play in confronting gendered disinformation and on the need to create space for women’s voices and participation. Researcher Jānis Šabanovs looks at another part of the problem: the gender stereotypes circulating on social media and the way they help us organise information and perceptions. During the conference, both perspectives pointed to the same underlying challenge – stereotypes and gendered narratives do not remain confined to the online world; they can shape who feels able to participate in public debate and how that participation is perceived.

Building resilience also means looking at what can be done in practice. Augustina Zamuškevičiūtė stresses the importance of treating gendered disinformation as a wider societal issue, raising public awareness and looking for solutions across the Baltic countries rather than in isolation. Journalist Alina Lastovska, meanwhile, brings the perspective of those directly exposed to hostility and attacks in their professional lives. These experiences reinforce the need for stronger media literacy, independent journalism and support systems for people targeted by online harassment and disinformation.

There is no single response to gendered disinformation. Linda Curika highlights the importance of women supporting one another in hostile information environments and reflects on her own experience of gendered hostility online, while Hanah Lahe turns attention to the responsibilities of platforms, algorithms and legislation. Taken together, the interviews underline one of the central messages of Resilient Voices: creating a healthier information environment requires action from individuals, media, civil society, policymakers and technology platforms alike. Protecting people’s ability to speak and participate freely is ultimately part of protecting democracy itself.