Researcher and PhD candidate Karmvir K. Padda continues to draw attention from both academic and public audiences as her work reveals the often-overlooked role of misogyny in extremist attacks and movements. The idea is all too familiar for the University of Waterloo, which confronted an extremist attack of its own in the summer of 2023 when a male alumni carried out a violent assault on a gender studies class, wounding the professor and two students. After analyzing his 223-word manifesto, Padda's analysis revealed that incidents like this are not isolated or random, but instead form part of a broader pattern within an increasingly radicalized, embittered, and conspiratorial community.
Her research has caught the attention of a national online news outlet, The Conversation, which featured her work in a story highlighting the growing recognition of misogyny as a gateway for extremism. With strong public interest and readership, The Conversation France also republished the article in French, further extending the reach of her research to international audiences. The coverage has amplified her work beyond the university community, sparking important public conversations about the role of gender in radicalization. "Deep-seated misogyny," Padda writes, "disguised as grievance and moral outrage, can escalate ideological violence."
By spotlighting the connection between gendered hatred and very real acts of violence against the public, Padda is reframing how society understands radicalization--and underscoring the urgency of addressing misogyny in any effective response.
