The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership secures major funding to advance research on gendered online abuse

The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at The Australian National University (GIWL ANU) has received a transformative $2.5 million grant from the Minderoo Foundation to expand its research on gendered online abuse and develop evidence-based solutions to make digital spaces safer and more inclusive for everyone.

The funding will support urgently needed research into the escalating harms of gendered online abuse, and the growing influence digital spaces are having on public discourse, relationships, leadership, and political participation.

Online spaces have become a new frontier for gendered violence, often spilling into real-world harm and disproportionately impacting women and gender diverse people.

Researchers at GIWL ANU are examining how gendered online abuse is experienced across workplaces, politics, media, and public life, as well as the risks that come with visibility for women and gender diverse people in leadership and public-facing roles.

The Institute’s work also explores the wider social impacts of online subcultures, including the rise of the “manosphere”, and how these environments are shaping attitudes towards relationships, power, and equality.

GIWL ANU Director, Professor Michelle Ryan, said the grant comes at a critical moment.

“We are seeing an alarming escalation of gendered online violence, and digital abuse does not always remain confined to digital spaces. What happens on our screens has profound consequences for people’s safety and wellbeing in everyday life,” Professor Ryan said.

“This funding will allow us to deepen our research and accelerate evidence-based solutions that can help make online spaces safer, more respectful, and more inclusive for everyone.

“Like so much of what we do, this work is only possible because of partners who believe in its importance. We are deeply grateful to the Minderoo Foundation for their leadership and commitment in this space.”

Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said the issue had worsened significantly over the past decade.

“Online spaces have become the new frontier for gendered violence. This was already the case when I was Prime Minister, and in the almost 13 years since I left politics, the situation has seriously deteriorated,” Ms Gillard said.

“Too often, online environments are unsafe and filled with abuse, particularly for women. This vile content is not intended as a rational critique of a person’s work, position, or views. Instead, it aims to wound and intimidate by being violent, hateful and extreme.

“I regularly speak with talented young women who are passionate about creating change through public leadership, but who have real concerns about the toxicity of online spaces and what it could mean for their safety, and the safety of their families.

“It should not be like this. We must see change.

“My sincere thanks to the Minderoo Foundation for their leadership and commitment to this important work.”

Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman recognised the urgency of addressing this issue, with the scale and sophistication of online abuse and misogyny accelerating faster than protections can keep pace. 

"Tech-based gender violence extends far beyond a single tool or platform - it can happen across every digital medium we use," Mr Hartman said.

"Add the prevalence of AI-generated content, including deepfake imagery and disinformation and it only reinforces the need to act now.   

"This issue is too great for any one group to tackle alone. We must all work together if we want real change. Minderoo will continue to invest in research and build the evidence base around intergenerational impacts of online harm on both women and children, to drive advocacy for strong safeguards."  

The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the Australian National University is internationally recognised for its research advancing gender equality and inclusive leadership across politics, workplaces and public life. You can find out more at https://giwl.anu.edu.au/.