How to Spot Propaganda—Especially When It’s Aimed at Women
Understand the times
We’re bombarded with messages—on the news, in entertainment, through social media—and there seems to be a common thread: we women must get angry or outraged. We must follow a particular line of thinking—or else ‘we’re on the wrong side’. And this messaging can sadly come from the political right as well as the left.
The truth is: That pressure to act emotionally--to adopt one viewpoint, to see things through a single lens—these are the tactics of propaganda. “Propaganda is the management of collective attitudes by manipulation of significant symbols.” In short: propaganda treats you less like a person and more like a target. And it’s being honed in ways that specifically aim at women.
Women generally possess a God‑given gift of compassion—but those who want power will weaponize our compassion against us. We just have to recognize their tactics and traps before they snare us. We have to admit we tend to lean too far into emotionalism—and we must apply rational thinking before taking a stand on cultural or political issues. We must decide not to be played!
Why Women Are Being Targeted
Here are some important, research‑based realities:
Since 1980, there has been a consistent “gender gap” in U.S. presidential elections: a greater proportion of women than men have preferred Democratic candidates.
For women aged 18‑29, a recent analysis by Gallup found that the percentage identifying as politically liberal rose significantly—from about 28% in 2001‑07 to about 40% in 2017‑24.
Research from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) shows American women are more likely than men to hold liberal views on a range of policy issues—but that women are not a political monolith, and there is significant variation by race, age, and region.
What this tells us: Women are not just passively targeted—they are a key audience in cultural and political messaging. And much of that messaging appeals to values we hold—care for our families, protection of children, and community. That makes vigilance especially important.
Know the Landscape
If you want to understand current culture, you need to know history. Here are two books that are timely and worth your attention:
Propaganda by Edward Bernays. Reveals how Bernays, as a nephew of Sigmund Freud, along with others, "pioneered the scientific technique of shaping and manipulating public opinion, which he called, 'engineering of consent'". He was known as the "father of public relations", and his deceptive, controlling techniques have been used powerfully on nations and individuals to shift culture and make people into political and marketing targets.
Live Not By Lies by Rod Dreher. Warns of “therapeutic totalitarianism”—a soft control of people by lies that sound caring and appeal to our hunger for a just society, it masquerades as 'kindness' to bring about a brand of 'social justice' controlled by the political elite. This re-packaged totalitarian communism is gaining popularity. The only way to resist is to uncompromisingly embrace Truth. "Freedom is a responsibility; it is a means to live within the truth.” Live Not By Lies is a wake-up call to how and why Western culture has become so manipulated. But it's also a guide to the methods and sources of resistance to soft totalitarianism's lies, (i.e. propaganda).
Patterns of Propaganda Towards Women
Emotion over reason. Messages aimed at you may appeal to fear, guilt, outrage—or the feeling that if you don’t act you are failing someone.
Single‑line thinking. You’re told, “There is only one correct response,” or “Everyone who disagrees is against you/against your children.”
Borrowed values, hidden agenda. Because you care about your children, your community, your family—the message uses that posture of care to push you toward policies or views that might not have your best interests or your children’s best interests at heart.
Suppression of questions. Doubt or inquiry is discouraged. “If you need to ask, you’re not really with us.” Propaganda doesn’t welcome curiosity—it fears it.
Overwhelming volume. Because we live in a digital‑media era, the sheer number of messages—news, entertainment, influencers, social posts—creates a pressure to align quickly. That rush often bypasses reflection.
Four Actions You Can Take to Recognize Half‑Truths
Here are practical steps to help you feel wiser, more empowered, and more discerning:
Ask: Who is speaking—and who benefits?
Before you let your emotion carry you into action, pause. Who’s behind this message? What do they want? What will you do if you follow their suggestion? What happens if you don’t? Understanding motive is critical.Find the evidence and the caveats.
If a message makes a sweeping claim—especially one that tugs at your heart—look for the data behind it. Are there counterarguments? Are other voices invited? Is the message presented as the only truth? If so, that’s a red flag.Give yourself time to think—not just feel.
Because you care, you may feel an urgent pull to act. But propaganda counts on that urgency. Allow a moment of reflection: talk it through, look up the sources, weigh what you already know. Your role is not just responder—it’s thinker.Anchor in your values and community.
You care about your children, your family, your faith, your community. Let God and your values anchor you—but don’t let someone else define what “care” means for you. Engage in conversation with other thoughtful women, share concerns, and question together. When you anchor in community rather than isolation, you safeguard your discernment.
Question the Messages
We’re living in an age of message overload. But as women who care about families, children, communities and truth—we don’t have to be manipulated. Today’s women can decide not to be played.
The Slovakian Christians bravely resisted in the 1940s when the totalitarian regime changed language and thinking to slowly nudge people to accept half‑truths and untruths.
How do we resist today? Dreyer observes and asks: "Why is religion and the hope it gives at the core of effective resistance? What does the willingness to suffer have to do with living in truth? Why is the family the most important cell of opposition? How does faithful fellowship provide resilience in the face of persecution? How can we learn to recognize totalitarianism's false messaging and fight its deceit?"
These are the questions I’m asking my fellow Women of Action. Much of the current cultural realities of division, confusion and anger are attributed to women--women who have been targeted by methodical marketing and propaganda. But we can help our sisters break free when we gather women to be grounded in truth--who are informed, engaged, (and voting!) --to shift culture for good.