Online abuse pushes women out of politics
Sexist harassment on online platforms discourages young women from getting involved in politics, as shown by a new study by the University of Basel. The consequences are not only borne by those directly affected, with democracy also being harmed.
25 November 2025
Insults, threats and hate speech online affect many people in the public eye – including politicians. Political science researchers at the University of Basel investigated how often politically active young women and men in Switzerland are met with hostility on social media platforms and how these experiences affect their political ambitions. The study was published in the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy.
Hate comments become a career hurdle
The researchers surveyed members of the youth wings of all major Swiss parties – i.e. people at the start of a potential political career – about their experiences with online attacks. Although men and women report experiencing harassment at a similar frequency, its content differs significantly. As such, women are much more likely to be the target of sexist or sexualized comments. “For example, their competence is fundamentally questioned on the basis of their gender. This is not the case for men,” says Dr Daniel Höhmann, lead author of the study.
This has consequences: women report much more frequently that personal experiences of online attacks hinder their political work or even lead them to withdraw from politics. “They are discouraged by the hostility before they even have the chance to run for office,” says Höhmann.
Self-censorship with societal consequences
With their study, the researchers have provided new empirical evidence on a growing problem that can be observed in many democracies: online attacks against women in politics are not an exception, but an expression of structural inequality. They often take place where political careers first emerge – in the digital realm.
According to the researchers, young women in particular are especially vulnerable because they are still in a phase in which political ambitions and identity are being consolidated. If they experience hostility during this time, the risk of them permanently turning away from politics increases. “That entails a serious democratic deficit. Online abuse is therefore not just an individual problem, but a societal one,” points out Daniel Höhmann.
Aside from the direct consequences of this withdrawal, the researchers observed a subtle but serious adjustment in how young women behave: many say they are becoming more cautious on social media, weighing up posts for longer or avoiding political statements altogether.
“When young women’s experience of political engagement is associated with hostility and sexism, and they withdraw from it, democracies lose out on important voices and talent. The diversity of political discourse suffers,” says Höhmann.
Greater protection and a clear stance
In the survey, female party members in particular wanted more legal advice, training on digital security and an open exchange of experience in dealing with online abuse. The researchers see this as the parties’ responsibility and recommend establishing specific points of contact, legal support and a clear stance against online hostility.
“They need to learn not to leave their young politicians alone. They should provide better protection for young women and support them when they experience such attacks,” says Höhmann.
“This is an important requirement for equality in politics and equal representation,” emphasizes the political scientist. In other words, even the best women’s promotion programs run by the parties are of no use if young women feel discouraged by hate comments and withdraw from the field. The development of counterstrategies is therefore crucial to ensure political participation for all – including online.
Original publication
Daniel Höhmann, Tomoko Latteier und Stefanie Bailer
An Early Leak in the Pipeline – Online Abuse as a Barrier for Young Women’s Political Engagement
Journal of Women, Politics & Policy (2025), doi: 10.1080/1554477X.2025.2552573
Further information
Dr. Daniel Höhmann, University of Basel, Political Science, tel. +41 61 207 13 82; email: daniel.hoehmann@unibas.ch
