The Gender Gap Report Issue 4: Why Young Men and Women in Montenegro Disagree on Free Speech

The Gender Gap Report Part 4: Same Online Hate, Different Take — Why Young Men and Women in Montenegro Disagree on Free Speech

In Montenegro, young men and women share the same digital spaces, face similar levels of online hostility, yet draw sharply different conclusions about what should be done about it. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s 2024 Montenegro Youth Study reveals a striking paradox: 41.5% of young women and 39.9% of young men report experiencing hate speech — nearly identical rates — but their attitudes toward freedom of expression diverge strongly.

While exposure to hate speech is evenly distributed across gender, the disagreement lies in interpretation. When asked whether freedom of speech should allow expressions of animosity toward certain groups, 38% of young men support unlimited expression compared to only 28% of young women. Meanwhile, a clear majority of women (56%) reject the idea that hate speech counts as free speech, versus 46% of men. The divide reflects deeper philosophical differences about the balance between individual freedom and collective protection.

This gender gap extends beyond online speech. Women are consistently more likely to say that marginalized groups — including women, LGBTQ+ people, and ethnic minorities — need more rights. The gaps are substantial, ranging from 10 to over 20 percentage points. These patterns suggest that young women approach equality and free expression through a broader rights-conscious lens, while men tend to emphasize unrestricted individual freedom.

Interestingly, the data show that men and women experience similar levels of hate speech regardless of political orientation, religiosity, or geography. Urban and rural youth report nearly identical exposure, and the gender divide in speech attitudes persists even among highly religious groups. This consistency underscores that gender operates independently of these traditional cleavages in shaping how young people interpret online discourse.

The findings challenge common assumptions about victimization and speech. Montenegro’s youth face similar risks of online hostility, but they differ in what those experiences mean. For many men, hate speech is viewed as an unfortunate side effect of open debate; for women, it represents a threat to participation and equality.

This fourth installment of the Gender Gap Report, authored by Semir Dzebo and based on survey data from 501 young Montenegrins aged 14–29, highlights how gender shapes not exposure to hate, but its meaning. The challenge ahead lies in fostering democratic spaces where freedom and dignity are not competing ideals — but shared foundations for an inclusive digital culture.