Written Submission for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women on the Subject Matter of Antifeminist Ideology
By: Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
Recommendation 1: That the government explicitly recognize antifeminist and misogyny as forms of hate within national strategies on extremism, online harm and gender-based violence. Federal policies and spending priorities should reflect this recognition, affirming that advancing gender equity is a central objective within Canada’s civil and legislative frameworks.
Recommendation 2: Ensure that major spending and policy commitments are explicitly aligned with gender equity goals rather than relying on broad or generic improvements focused on youth. Evidence consistently shows that general approaches to policy design tends to reinforce structural inequalities often dismissed by antifeminist rhetoric.
Recommendation 3: Counter antifeminist ideology by embedding accountability measures that advance women’s safety and economic independence. This approach entails investing in organizations dedicated to addressing both established and emerging forms of misogyny, particularly those targeting youth and amplified through online and social media platforms.
Recommendation 4: Strengthen youth’s, women’s, and especially marginalized women’s representation in governance at all levels. By leveraging federal mechanisms such as transfers and partnership agreements, the federal government can embed gender-equity and representation parity goals for councils, boards and agencies drawing on considerable evidence that target systems improve outcomes.
Introduction
The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is the national professional association for social workers, advancing social justice and promoting ethical, evidence informed practice across Canada. CASW and its partner organizations represent a profession grounded in respect for the inherent dignity and worth of all people, a commitment to human rights, and the pursuit of social justice.
Canada has witnessed a growing wave of antifeminist and anti-equity rhetoric that has moved from online spaces into mainstream discourse. Antifeminist narratives reinforce harmful gender norms, legitimize misogynistic hate, and contribute to increased risks of gender-based violence, discrimination and online radicalization. Youth are particularly vulnerable to these harms. This brief outlines the impacts of antifeminist ideology on Canadians and federal policy measures that can mitigate these harms.
CASW emphasizes that the layered experiences of misogyny, particularly for youth and women facing racial, economic, or other forms of marginalization, require that the government commit to meaningful engagement and a more nuanced approach to policy than in the past. Action must include prevention and interventions substantially supported by policy and financial investments.
Antifeminist ideology is both insidious and explicit in it’s detrimental affects on youth, communities and society. Interventions such as targeted policy, dedicated stable funding towards community-based programs, and gender-based accountability measures can advance equity across all sectors. Closing the gap between feminist rhetoric and lived reality requires sustained investment, accountability and representation. These measures can move Canada toward genuine gender parity, safer communities and a more equitable and inclusive society.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1: That the government explicitly recognize antifeminist and misogyny as forms of hate within national strategies on extremism, online harm and gender-based violence. Federal policies and spending priorities should reflect this recognition, affirming that advancing gender equity is a central objective within Canada’s civil and legislative frameworks.
Antifeminist ideology rejects gender inequality and delegitimizes feminist priorities by framing women’s rights as threats to social order. It frequently overlaps with misogynistic hate, anti‑ 2SLGBTQIA+ sentiment, and broader extremist and authoritarian currents. These narratives are online, in schools, workplaces; they fuel backlash and normalize gender-based violence. Recognizing antifeminist ideology as hate within national strategies on extremism, online harm and gender-based violence is essential to affirm gender equality, and protect the safety and well-being of youth, women and gender-diverse people.
Recommendation 2: Ensure that major spending and policy commitments are explicitly aligned with gender equity goals rather than relying on broad or generic improvements focused on youth. Evidence consistently shows that general approaches to policy design tends to reinforce structural inequalities often dismissed by antifeminist rhetoric.
General policy improvements often fail to dismantle structural inequality that are denied by antifeminist rhetoric. Gender inequality remains a significant determinant of health and well-being, affecting income, safety, security, and mental health. Antifeminist narratives intensify these harms by inciting fear, undermining equality programs and reinforcing rigid gender norms. Federal spending must reflect its stated commitments by applying gender-based analysis (GBA+) across all sectors and directing investments that advance gender equity objectives in youth health, housing, digital, safety, immigration and climate policy. Symbolic commitments must shift to real progress on the Calls for Justice for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Recommendation 3: Counter antifeminist ideology by embedding accountability measures that advance women’s safety and economic independence. This approach entails investing in organizations dedicated to addressing both established and emerging forms of misogyny, particularly those targeting youth and amplified through online and social media platforms.
A federal framework to counter gender-based disinformation and misogynistic hate coupled with targeted investments in community and front-line organizations would address the growing experiences of exclusion, exploitation, and violence. This strategy includes investing in youth gender-based violence prevention programs, trauma-informed services, and healthy masculinity initiatives. Supporting civic professionals such as social workers, librarians and teachers ensure that public spaces actively foster safety, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Without these interventions, antifeminist ideology persists as a structural threat to safety and equity.
Recommendation 4: Strengthen youth’s, women’s, and especially marginalized women’s representation in governance at all levels. By leveraging federal mechanisms such as transfers and partnership agreements, the federal government can embed gender-equity and representation parity goals for councils, boards and agencies drawing on considerable evidence that target systems improve outcomes.
Women, particularly those experiencing intersecting forms of marginalization, remain underrepresented in elected office and leadership roles, a gap perpetuated by structural bias, misogyny and institutional norms. Current federal underinvestment in equality measures such as violence prevention signals that women’s safety, economic security and civic engagement are negotiable priorities. Representation matters. Global research demonstrates that women’s civic participation leads to better outcomes in health, education and poverty reduction. Federal levers should embed gender-equity targets. Leadership pipelines should address barriers to women’s participation including the online hate that disproportionately targets women.