New Study Highlights How Violence Against Female Politicians Disrupts Democracy
The majority of women and men in high political office are subjected to violence each year, and prominent female politicians are the most affected. The gender gap in vulnerability increases with the level of power: the higher in the political hierarchy, the greater the difference between women and men.
– Violence against politicians in general disrupts the functioning of democracy. Because the threat to women is particularly great, women’s political marginalization increases. In stark contrast to the democratic principle of political equality, female politicians operate under significantly worse conditions than their male counterparts and are hindered in the performance of their political representation, says Sandra Håkansson, PhD student in political science who is now submitting her thesis.
It is becoming increasingly common for politicians to suffer threats, harassment and intimidation techniques. Both psychological and physical violence directed at elected officials has direct implications for democracy. Prominent female politicians are harassed and silenced to a greater extent than their male colleagues.
– Modern democracy is based on political representatives working on behalf of those they are supposed to represent. Impeding representatives in that process undermines the democratic system. Attacks directed at female politicians can have particularly serious consequences in that it can reinforce inequality in politics, says Sandra Håkansson.
Dissertation in three parts
The first study shows that both women and men in higher political positions in municipal politics, such as the chairman of the municipal board and committee chairman, are often exposed to psychological violence within the scope of their assignments. About six out of ten municipal board chairmen and three out of ten board chairmen are exposed to some form of psychological violence every year, and prominent female politicians are the most exposed. The gender gap in vulnerability increases with the level of power: the higher in the political hierarchy, the more exposed women are relative to men. The study is made using econometric methods and is based on material from the Crime Prevention Council’s survey on politicians’ safety (PTU). It is the largest survey material in the world that is available on politicians’ exposure to both physical and psychological violence.
More likely to direct complaints against women
The second part of the study shows that citizens are more likely to direct complaints against female than male politicians, regardless of the formal position the politician holds. This increases the risk of threats and harassment against female politicians and probably forms part of the explanation for female politicians’ higher exposure to violence. The study is based on a survey to which 6,000 people have responded, half of them in Sweden and half in the USA.
Disfavors women
The third study focuses on the consequences of politicians’ exposure to violence for political representation. The study is based on a combination of surveys and interviews with politicians. The result shows that the consequences for women’s political representation are more extensive than for men’s.
– Both male and female politicians refrain from public debate and from getting involved in certain issues because of the violence, but women to a significantly greater extent than men. Another consequence of violence against politicians is that male-coded qualities such as strength, courage and non-sensitivity increase in importance for politicians. This can disadvantage women because they are often assumed to be the opposite, says Sandra Håkansson.