The UK government plans to classify extreme misogyny as a form of terrorism under an upcoming Home Office review of its counter-extremism strategy.
The review will assess whether extreme misogyny should be included in the definition of ideologies based on violence, hatred, or intolerance.
It will also explore whether this new classification could improve the effectiveness of addressing the two predominant types of terrorism in the country: extreme far-right and Islamist.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who has criticized the current strategy as “badly hollowed out,” is pushing this change. Cooper stated, “For too long, governments have failed to address the rise in extremism, both online and on our streets, and we’ve seen the number of young people radicalized online grow.
Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”
Under the proposed new measures, teachers will be required by law to report students showing signs of extreme misogynistic views to the national counter-terrorism program Prevent.
The cases will then be assessed by local authorities and police to determine if deradicalization is necessary.
Currently, the Home Office includes “incel”—a term for individuals who harbour violent hatred towards women due to a perceived sense of entitlement—as part of its extremism categories.
However, officials believe this category does not fully address the spectrum of extreme misogyny.
Cooper described the review as a “rapid analytical sprint on extremism” aimed at “mapping and monitoring extremist trends” and understanding effective strategies for disrupting and diverting people from extremist views.
Misogyny, defined as a deep-seated dislike or hatred of women, has been highlighted due to recent high-profile incidents such as the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens.
Concerns have also been raised about the influence of online figures like Andrew Tate, who identifies as a misogynist, on young men. Maggie Blyth from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has called the influence of such figures “quite terrifying.”
An NPCC report has urged treating misogyny and violence against women and girls as a national emergency.
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are currently awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to exploit women, allegations they deny.
