Sexist attacks, stereotypes, and dismissals continue to push women out of politics, silence their voices, and discourage future leaders. Drawing on new research from recent elections, this article show how gendered abuse — especially online — takes a heavy professional and personal toll.
Image: Canva
Hilde Coffé, Clémence Deswert, Robin Devroe, Elise Storme, Bram Wauters, Emilie van Haute & Audrey Vandeleene
Sexism in politics restricts women’s participation and weakens democracy. A study by Hilde Coffé and colleagues on the 2024 legislative elections in Belgium reveals how sexist attacks, stereotypes, and dismissals are damaging the careers of women candidates, silencing their voices, and discouraging future leaders. Tackling these problems is crucial for building truly representative politics
Sexism in politics is not just about offensive remarks, gendered stereotypes, or casual dismissals — it has real and far-reaching consequences. Gendered online abuse has a pervasive effect on women politicians across different contexts, shaping their experiences and political engagement. Mona Lena Krook highlights how attacks on women in politics are not only personal but a broader democratic issue. Such attacks undermine women’s political participation, and reinforce gendered power structures.
Our recent study examines sexism during the June 2024 regional, federal, and European elections in Belgium. It analyses nearly 44,000 reactions to 2,922 posts on X, Facebook, and Instagram by 40 candidates throughout the campaign period. We also conducted interviews with 23 political candidates, male and female.
Belgium enjoys a well-established democratic framework and a strong commitment to gender equality, bolstered by gender quotas. Despite this, violence in politics remains persistent. Negative and sexist remarks, gendered stereotypes, and casual dismissals, particularly targeting women, still prevail.
Such discrimination has a significant impact on women candidates’ professional and personal lives. Its effects extend beyond individual careers to shape the broader political landscape. Gendered discrimination deters women’s participation, and silences voices essential for a truly representative democracy.
Professional consequences: an unseen career barrier
A striking finding from our study is how sexism erodes women’s confidence. Many women have a passion for public service, and a firm belief in its power for positive change. Despite this, women respondents told us of the challenges they faced to remain motivated in the face of sexist attacks. Some even admitted that sexist treatment might push them out of politics altogether. As one woman put it:
If I ever quit, it would be either because I do not get elected or because of this. Not because the work itself is difficult or because you have to work a lot — those are things I actually enjoy. But this, this just feels like something extra on top of it all
A major challenge women face is the persistent fear of being perceived as incompetent. This leads women candidates to over-prepare for debates and discussions. Women must feel they have mastered every possible detail to avoid being ridiculed. The pressure to perform at a high standard just to be taken seriously adds an exhausting layer of stress to an already demanding career. One woman candidate shared: ‘If I have a debate, I isolate myself for three days to study the content. To avoid sexist bias from others, to avoid my own internalised sexist bias — it takes a lot of energy’.
Personal consequences: the emotional and psychological toll
Beyond professional setbacks, sexism also takes a personal toll. Many women candidates reported that, despite becoming accustomed to sexist attacks, the emotional weight remained heavy. Some expressed frustration and exhaustion at having to constantly prove their worth. As one woman reflected: ‘I really feel like I belong here, that this is a sector I want to work in. So that’s the positive side of the story. But sometimes you start asking yourself: Why do I have to deal with all of this too? (…) All the garbage that comes with it — it’s just exhausting.’
Some even described persistent sexism as ‘traumatising’. The barrage of demeaning comments, dismissive attitudes, and outright harassment forces women to build emotional resilience, at a great personal cost. Even the most determined found that enduring such hostility wore them down.
Sexism also affects women’s private lives. Several shared how it affected their families, as loved ones witnessing the constant negativity struggled to offer support. One woman shared:
When you receive attacks on X for three days, it affects your mood and reflects in your daily life
This isolation, combined with the expectation to simply ‘push through’, prevents women from expressing vulnerability. The pressure to always appear strong reinforces the toxic narrative that women in leadership must be unshakable to be seen as capable.
Political consequences: silencing and discouraging women
Sexism in politics affects democracy itself. Many women reported censoring themselves when about to speak out on certain issues for fear of attack or not being taken seriously. As one candidate described:
I got a lot of looks that were somewhere between amusement and condescension. I felt like I wasn’t taken seriously… And that made me stay silent on certain topics
This is not just about reluctance to speak up — it is a systemic problem that limits women’s voices in decision-making. When women cannot fully engage in political discussions, critical perspectives on key issues remain neglected. This weakens policymaking and limits democratic representation.
A call for action
Our study reveals a clear and urgent reality: sexism in politics is not just an inconvenience — it is a fundamental barrier to politics. When women politicians face sexist scrutiny, harassment, and discrimination, fewer may choose to enter or remain in politics. The long-term consequences of this are profound, affecting not only individual careers but the policies and priorities that shape societies.
Addressing this requires a multi-faceted approach. Political parties, media outlets, and civil society must take concrete steps to combat sexism, including:
- Stricter policies against online harassment: Social media platforms should enforce stronger penalties for misogynistic abuse.
- Greater institutional support: Parties should implement mentorship programmes, create safe spaces for discussion, and address internal biases.
- A cultural shift in political discourse: Sexist rhetoric must be challenged at all levels. Media organisations should be held accountable for perpetuating gendered narratives that undermine women’s credibility.
- Encouraging men allies: Men politicians must challenge sexism, not remain bystanders to the discrimination their women colleagues face.
Despite significant progress in women’s representation, the fight for gender equality in politics remains unfinished. Challenging structural sexism is key to building a truly inclusive and representative political system — one where women’s voices are not just tolerated, but valued and heard.
This article was originally published at The Loop and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.