Background of Project  

Founded by a team of current and former Middlebury Institute students, Diverting Hate LLC is a research consultancy group with a focus on understanding and countering misogynistic extremism. Diverting Hate has teamed up with Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC) to provide MIIS students opportunities to work on exciting new projects with technology clients, partnerships focused on community outreach and mental well-being, and deep dives into the ‘manosphere’ through memos, reports, and blog articles for divertinghate.org. Students working with Diverting Hate and CTEC will tap into the following skills: OSINT, reporting building, language translation, and network analysis.  

 

Our Mission 

Diverting Hate exists to create a world where all people can be safe from misogyny. 

 

The Problem  

The dehumanization of women results in many forms of violence against women from domestic violence to targeted attacks. One example of many is the Isla Vista mass shooting in 2014, where a self-identified incel killed 7 people and injured 14 others. Further, misogyny has long been linked to extremist ideologies and hateful groups. 

 

Amplifying violent misogyny are the social media algorithms that rely on explosive narratives for engagement. We developed Diverting Hate to intercept and combat the radicalization of gender-based based violence where it happens most: online. At our core, we exist to create a world where women live without fear.   

 

How it works  

We study the ways in which radicalization proliferates online and prevention methods to help individuals build resiliency.   

 

Diverting Hate uses strategic targeting, fueled by network analysis and a database of known misogynistic terms and profiles, to divert susceptible men away from dangerous paths and towards resilience-building tactics. We do this through digital advertising and meaningful partnerships. These ads work to disrupt algorithmic radicalization pathways in order to make misogynistic rabbit holes impossible to fall into. We believe different paths can be chosen and they should be easier to find.  

 

Job Description: Graduate Research Assistant  

The Diverting Hate (DH)research assistant will contribute to the expansion and maintenance of the DH manosphere/incel database in keeping it relevant, timely, accurate, and comprehensive as it relates to the manosphere, the proliferation of violent misogynistic hate speech, and incel ideology. Key tasks will include OSINT research and written policy reports. The DH research assistant will also contribute to network analyses of the manosphere and incel community online in support of strategic targeting.  

 

Under supervision of the Diverting Hate team, responsibilities and duties include: 

 

Key Responsibilities 

Work in conjunction with other research assistants to produce 3-5 policy memos to provide insight into the Incel/larger manosphere community for the larger CVE industry.   Bring the database up-to-date with relevant research of key profiles, key terms, key language, and any other pertinent information.   Support in conducting network analyses across key social media platforms.   Monitor current events and themes on social media regarding incels and the manosphere.  Read up to date research and report findings to the DH team. 

 

Knowledge, Abilities, Skills and Prior Experience 

Key Qualifications 

Fluency in language outside of English is a plus.  Knowledge about the manosphere and their communities online   Experience in collecting data.  Knowledge in SQL, R commander, network analysis, and/or other relevant data analytic tools.   Qualitative and Quantitative Analytic skills.  Fluent in English.  Experience in researching extremism and counterterrorism or gender/masculinity a bonus  

 

Outputs 

Improve the Diverting Hate database   Add value to diversion campaign strategies   Produce 1 comprehensive report of your findings by end of the semester