Women question political careers over death, rape and violence threats

A new survey conducted by Women For Election (WFE) has revealed that the overwhelming majority of female politicians are experiencing online abuse and intimidation, with more than three-quarters believing the abuse has increased in recent years. The survey found that 81% of the 110 female politicians and candidates surveyed have altered their online behavior due to harassment, which includes changing their social media usage, avoiding certain topics, and even modifying their physical appearance.

The threats are not limited to the politicians themselves but also extend to their children. Some women are even employing escorts to accompany their daughters to school. WFE CEO Licia Heath emphasized that these threats are not just about policy positions but often target the women's appearance or their families, which is not the case with male politicians.

The survey also found that 50% of the respondents are uncertain whether they would run for office again or should have run at all, and 64% believe the online abuse has made them less likely to run for office or encourage other women to do so. Experts warn that this online abuse is silencing women's voices and could potentially destabilize democracy.

They call for greater accountability from tech companies and political parties to protect women from online abuse. The Australian federal government's online safety regulator, eSafety, has long warned about the disproportionate impact of online gender-based violence on women serving their communities, especially with the rise of generative AI.