Policies of miscommunication during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: Manipulation strategies to blame the 8M demonstrations

Abstract

This article reflects on the speech of March 8, 2020. This speech has become evidence of an alleged belated reaction of the Spanish government to the pandemic. We analyze the criticisms levelled against the government to establish whether the disapproval contributed to the enhancement of the debate on the management of the pandemic or, on the contrary, contributed to the generation of a hate speech against women and feminism. We analyze the discursive and communicative strategies used by the PP, Ciudadanos and VOX parties. Also, the strategies used in the Twitter accounts of women spokespersons for these parties. The work argues that the criticisms made by the government's opponents mask the articulation of strategies aiming at distorting the feminist movement.