Women question political careers over death, rape and violence threats

Women question political careers over death, rape and violence threats In short: A new survey of female politicians shows growing concerns about online abuse and how it could affect female participation. Women said they were changing their behaviour online and questioning if they wanted to stay in public service. What's next? Experts say tech companies and political parties need to do more to protect women from online abuse. Women are questioning their role in politics as online abuse, including death, rape and violence threats, continue to escalate. A survey by not-for-profit Women For Election (WFE) found nine in 10 women experienced abuse or intimidation linked to their political participation, with more than three-quarters believing the abuse had increased in the past two years. It comes after Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn took steps last week to report to police an anonymous Facebook parody page that she said glorified bullying. The survey of 110 female politicians and candidates across the country and all levels of government was to gather Australian data on "tech-facilitated gender-based violence". WFE chief executive Licia Heath said the survey results were "startling", with 81 per cent of respondents saying they had changed their behaviour due to online abuse. "That behaviour change includes limiting their time on social media speaking to the electorate, or avoiding certain topics or even changing their physical behaviour,"she said. The respondents also reported having threats made against their children. "One now has an escort for their daughter when she walks to the bus stop," she said. Criticisms to 'silence' women Ms Heath said while male politicians were also likely to receive online abuse, the frequency was different and often focused on policy position. "But for women it's more about their appearance or receiving sexualised threats or threats against their family, and that's not happening for male politicians," she said. "What we're talking about in some of these instances is 600 rape threats in an hour to somebody's social media account." Ms Heath said the magnitude and coordination of the threats were different. "It's to silence women's voices when they step into leadership, and at the worst, also to destabilise our democracy," she said. Abuse has 'no boundaries' First-time Fraser Coast councillor Sara Souvlis said she had been criticised for who she was, what she wore and even what car her husband drove. "I'm here to do a job and serve the community and what I wear to my job and other personal details about me have no place in commentary," she said. "It's so easy for people when you disagree over something to just start attacking you personally, rather than it being OK to disagree and have different opinions." Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said she had experienced online abuse since she first ran for politics in 2010. "I can't believe that some people have no boundaries and they just think they can say whatever they want because you're a public figure," she said. Ms Landry said she had to take signage off her cars because staff were being harassed and tailgated. "It's not just online, it's actually people screaming at you at shopping centres and the rest of it, so it can be pretty bad," she said. Female participation in politics 'crucial' Ms Heath said the survey found that 50 per cent of respondents were unsure if they would run again or should have run at all, and 64 per cent said the online abuse had made them less likely to run for office again or encourage other women to do so. QUT professor Vicky Browning, who is part of the national network Pathway to Politics for Women, said there were still many barriers for women entering politics, but their participation was "crucial". "Democracy is about allowing everybody in your country to have a voice, and if we do not allow for women and gender diverse people to feel safe working in politics, and deal with these significant barriers they're facing, quite frankly, it's not really attractive for them to put their hand up to go for politics and then stay in office," Professor Browning said. Ms Heath said Australian democracy was at risk if capable women were choosing not to run, not to speak, or to leave public office because of relentless online abuse. Tech platform accountability needed Ms Heath said greater accountability was needed from social media and AI platforms, as well as a national action plan and political parties making sure they were protecting their candidates and elected women. The federal government's independent online safety regulator, eSafety, said it had long warned about online gender-based violence and its disproportionate impact on women serving their communities. "With the rapid uptake of generative AI, the risk landscape is evolving quickly and becoming more fraught for women and girls," it said. "This raises serious and troubling questions about women's safe and equal participation in public life. "We will continue to call on the technology industry to prevent the mass weaponisation of their platforms and services so that all Australians can participate safely and fully online."