USA (Washington Insider Magazine) – Kamala Harris, running for the Democrats against Donald Trump in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, is experiencing an unprecedented wave of racist and sexist disinformation. The barrage of false information has intensified since she announced her candidacy.
Harris has been falsely accused of working as a prostitute and being involved with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some viral posts even suggest that her lack of biological children indicates she is a trans woman. Additionally, the baseless claim that Harris was not born in the U.S. and thus cannot legally be president persists. Her identity as a Black woman is also questioned by some, who argue she is not “black” enough.
Social Media’s Role in Spreading Disinformation
According to D.W., rapid social network expansion and the development of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technology that can create and alter material have contributed to the spread of misinformation. The spread of fake news is also aided by the extremely divisive political environment in the United States and by foreign meddling from nations like China, Russia, and Iran.
Intersectional Identities Under Attack
A study by the Wilson Center in Washington examined disinformation targeting 13 female politicians, including Harris. It found that gender-specific disinformation is widespread, with 78% of the keywords in the study relating to Harris. Nina Jankowicz, co-author of the study, noted that women representing multiple identities, such as Harris, face compounded abuse and disinformation.
Sociologist Sarah Sobieraj identifies three strategies used to limit women’s influence online, they are intimidation, shaming, and discrediting. Jankowicz and her colleagues categorize disinformation as sexist, transphobic, and racist. Comparisons with male politicians like Joe Biden and Donald Trump highlight the disproportionate scrutiny and false claims directed at women in power.
Gender-specific and racist disinformation is not unique to Harris, for example, figures such as Michelle Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have faced similar attacks. For instance, Michelle Obama has been falsely claimed to be a trans woman, and Barack Obama faced the “birther” conspiracy theory questioning his U.S. citizenship. These examples illustrate the broader pattern of degrading women to sexual objects and judging people of color based on their backgrounds.
Beyond the explicit false claims, more subtle forms of disinformation, such as manipulated videos and out-of-context statements, further discredit Harris. These tactics undermine her as a woman, a person of color, and a politician, contributing to a broader trend of gender- and identity-specific disinformation.
