New Report: Everytown Details Intersection Between Far-Right Extremism and Misogyny

Analysis Shows Misogynist Violence is Enabled by Easy Access to Firearms in the United States

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund today released a new report on the intersection of the far-right extremist movement and misogyny, and the growing public safety threat this presents in our country. The report is the culmination of more than a year of research on the far-right and misogynist extremism and violence motivated by those who express a hatred of women. 

The report finds that guns frequently play a role in misogynistic mass attacks. As long as guns are easily accessible to those willing to act violently on their grievances, these attacks will continue to terrorize individuals, survivors of gun violence and women. 

“Every country deals with misogyny and extremism, but America’s unique gun culture gives dangerous men easy access to arsenals and ammunition to carry out heinous acts of violence against women,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “The data and research showing the connections between misogyny and gun violence have never before been made so clear. In order to fully address this dangerous phenomenon – and gun violence as a whole – we must also address the roots of misogyny and extremism.”

“Misogyny has long been part of gun violence and extremist violence in the United States. This new research highlights the role of guns as both an organizing symbol and the weapon of choice for misogynists and extremists,” said Sarah Burd-Sharps, director of research for Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. “Our country must do more to prevent this type of violence.”

“My son Chris is dead—shot and killed—because of the easy access misogynists have to guns in this country,” said Richard Martinez, a program manager at Everytown for Gun Safety and a member of the Everytown Survivor Network whose son, Christopher, was shot and killed at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) by a misogynist. “Misogynistic violence sows fear and intimidation, certainly against women, but also among society as a whole. My son’s killer should never have had a gun. We must do more in our country to disarm hate and save lives.”

Key findings of the report: 

• For groups of radicalized men who see violence as a means of empowerment, firearms are easily accessible and impactful tools. Surveys of young men have found that perceived threats to masculinity and social status are associated with both attraction to firearms and fantasies about mass murder. 
• Online subcultures that hold misogynistic views have been fast-growing and violent, presenting an imminent public safety threat. While parts of these communities have histories dating back decades, the internet has helped accelerate and radicalize these views.
• Misogyny and white supremacy are cut from the same cloth. Members of the far-right take advantage of the naturally close relationship between misogyny and white supremacy to spread their own ideas, inundating these online spaces with both misogynistic and racist attitudes.

Learn more about extremism and misogyny here. To speak with a researcher, please don’t hesitate to reach out.