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Parliaments & Representatives

PHOENIX -- South Dakota’s constitution refers to the governor as a “he.”

But for the past six years, the governor was a “she” — Kristi Noem, the first female to hold the position there. The conservative Republican pushed a constitutional amendment to change the gendered language. But voters rejected the measure in the 2024 general election that also would have been inclusive of nonbinary people.

Across the nation, state constitutions presume officeholders are male, and they increasingly are outdated. This year, a record of 13 women were serving as governor before Noem stepped down to serve in President Donald Trump's Cabinet. In state legislatures, 2,469 women are serving, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Most states haven't modernized their constitutions to reflect the rise of women in politics. Among those that have are New York's, which became gender-neutral in 2001, and Vermont's, where voters approved a change from “men” to “persons” in 1994.

Read here the full article published by ABC News on 9 February 2025.

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This article by  Fjola Zlatku was first published in Albanian by Portalb.mk and translated into English by Meta.mk. An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and Metamorphosis Foundation. 

Despite visible progress in the fight for women’s rights, increased representation of women in politics and greater attention to issues affecting women, the tendency to express contempt and insult women persists. More specifically, these attacks target women who are increasingly exposed to hate speech because of their profession, especially on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). In most cases, this kind of speech is used as a tool to undermine their dignity and social standing, according to Portalb.mk.

A study by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) revealed that in the first half of  2024, 3,380 comments with sexist language targeting women in politics were identified. These tend to peak during pre-election periods. The problem is further exacerbated by the inadequate regulation of social platforms, which often fail to effectively address ongoing violations against women in the public sector, as well as by the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators from the relevant authorities. This lack of accountability negatively affects both women who are targeted and broader efforts to promote respectful public discourse.

Read here the full article published by Global Voices on 20 December 2024.

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The old saying “all politics is local” has become increasingly outdated in a world of growing political polarization. In recent years, federal lawmakers have been motivated to focus more on national politics, WashU political scientist Jaclyn Kaslovsky said.

“Politics has become more competitive, and representatives from both parties feel incentives to coalesce around national brands,” said Kaslovsky, an assistant professor of political science in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

Still, some politicians continue to keep their home districts in mind. In a paper recently published in the American Journal of Political Science, Kaslovsky and co-author Pamela Ban, an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, found that women in the U.S. House of Representatives were especially likely to discuss their districts when speaking on the congressional floor. “Women are bringing their constituents into the conversation,” Kaslovsky said.

Read here the full article published by the Washington University in St. Louis on 23 January 2025.

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Newly appointed Minister of State Niamh Smyth has conceded the Government has a “big body of work” ahead of it in arresting a gender divide in politics after less than a quarter of ministerial posts were assigned to women.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD was one of six women to be appointed to minister of state roles by Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday with the remaining 17 positions going to their male counterparts.

That followed three out of 15 full cabinet positions which went to women less than a week earlier, figures which meant just 24pc of the 38 posts which were up for grabs went to females.

Ms Smyth had been widely touted for promotion following her eye-catching performances as chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee during various RTÉ payments controversies last year.

Read here the full article published by the Irish Independent on 31 January 2025.

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Among the most pressing issues we face today is the persistent harassment of women in politics and government — a problem that undermines both the integrity of public service and the diversity of leadership our communities desperately need. 

Across the nation, women in the political sphere face heightened scrutiny, verbal attacks, and even threats of violence simply for doing their jobs. Indiana is no exception. From social media vitriol aimed at female candidates to inappropriate behavior within government offices, harassment in its many forms continues to discourage talented women from entering and remaining in public service. If we want Indiana to thrive, we cannot afford to allow this environment to persist. 

The statistics are alarming. Studies show that women in politics are disproportionately targeted by online abuse compared to their male counterparts. Harassment often focuses on gender, appearance, or personal life, rather than policy or qualifications, creating an additional mental and emotional burden for female leaders. For many, these attacks don’t stop at words. A 2022 survey by the Center for American Women and Politics found that 25% of women in public office reported threats or acts of violence. 

Read here the full article published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle on 31 January 2025.

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British MP Jess Phillips describing the online attacks she has received from Elon Musk in recent days as “very, very, very tiring” will have struck a chord with many women. Powerful men trying to silence women happens so often that it rarely makes news.

But Musk’s comments calling Phillips, who currently serves as safeguarding minister, a “rape genocide apologist” and saying she should be in prison has brought the online abuse of women politicians, and the danger that it presents, back into sharp focus.

Never before has an overseas tech mogul (who happens to be the world’s richest man) targeted government ministers and MPs for personal abuse like this. The accusations have encouraged others to attack Phillips, posing a very real threat to her safety. Phillips has reportedly been assigned close protection officers and been told not to go out in public alone.

Read here the full article published by The Conversation on 10 January 2025.

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Newly appointed Minister of State Niamh Smyth has conceded the Government has a “big body of work” ahead of it in arresting a gender divide in politics after less than a quarter of ministerial posts were assigned to women.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD was one of six women to be appointed to minister of state roles by Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday with the remaining 17 positions going to their male counterparts.

That followed three out of 15 full cabinet positions which went to women less than a week earlier, figures which meant just 24pc of the 38 posts which were up for grabs went to females.

Ms Smyth had been widely touted for promotion following her eye-catching performances as chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee during various RTÉ payments controversies last year.

Read here the full article published by the Irish Independent on 31 January 2025.

Image by Irish Independent

 

The Transform Digital Threats and Public Participation Landscape Assessment Methodology reflects the collaboration and contribution of many people  and organizations engaged in preventing, responding to, and mitigating Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. All sources have been cited. Contributors of individuals remain unnamed here for their confidentiality and safety.

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a global threat to health, safety, and political and economic wellbeing—not just to those who experience it, but to society as a whole. Indeed, the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (2023) highlighted the deep impact of technological change on the empowerment of all women and girls and the ability to achieve gender equality. Nearly 40% of women globally have experienced TFGBV, with research highlighting certain groups of women that are at higher risk of attack, including women in politics, women journalists, women human rights defenders, and women in other public facing roles. This assessment centers women in politics and public life,  and the nuanced ways TFGBV threatens and impacts them. TFGBV is an increasingly prominent form of violence against women in politics and public life (VAWPP), which is defined as an “act, or threat, of physical, sexual or psychological violence that prevents women from exercising and realizing their political rights and a range of human rights.”  Much like other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), there is clear data to indicate that TFGBV is a universal problem that affects women in all their diversity regardless of socioeconomic class, educational status, religious affiliation, or other social identities. TFGBV reinforces gendered stereotypes and rigid patriarchal social norms and harms the well-being of those who experience as well as witness it. TFGBV also exacerbates other forms of harm directed at women, girls and LGBTQIA+ persons based on racialized ethnicities, caste, [dis]ability and other intersecting identities. However, TFGBV is uniquely able to amplify and persist in perpetrating harm against women and gender diverse individuals with highly visible online presence due to their occupation or activism, resulting in the systematic silencing of women in public spaces such as politics, journalism, and civic activism—a phenomena known informally as the “chilling effect.” 

Read here the full report published by the USAID funded Transform Program on September 2024.

 

Women are voluntarily leaving politics not because of sexism, double standards or work-life balance, but because they feel under-utilised, according to a new study.

Historian Alexandre Dumas was commissioned to conduct the study titled “Why do women leave politics?” by the women's committee of the Cercle des ex-parlementaires de l'Assemblée Nationale after a wave of departures in 2022.

According to his interviews with 21 former elected women, they had the impression of playing the “office plant”, he explained in parliament, borrowing the famous expression of former CAQ MNA turned Conservative Claire Samson.

At her last press briefing in June 2022, Samson shocked many by declaring that MNAs were treated "like plants" in the Salon bleu and that she had personally toiled harder as a 17-year-old at Da Giovanni.

According to Dumas, Samson — who was outraged at having to ask pre-scripted questions in parliamentary committee — “perfectly illustrates the frustration provoked by the feeling of playing a ceremonial role.”

“Women who leave politics ... feel that their skills are not recognised and that they have no other use than to be present in the House to ensure a quorum, ... in other words, to play the role of 'office plant'”, Dumas wrote.

Read here the full article published by CTV News on 11 October 2024.

Image credits: CTV News

 

Abstract:

The media significantly influences the formation of public opinion as well as the development and maintenance of gendered stereotypes of men and women. Given this impact, understanding gender representation is crucial for evaluating news credibility and addressing gender stereotypes. In addition, media plays a key factor in the development of democratic societies. Apparently, women are underrepresented in the news, which suggests that although they make up about half of the world's population, they are not equally represented in the reality that the news generates. Thus, this study aims to investigate factors that might influence news reporting, especially about female politicians. Adopting a qualitative approach, 11 Malaysian journalists were interviewed on their journalism practices.

Read here the full article published by the Taylor's University on 6 September 2024.

Image credits: Taylor's University

 

In Ghana, the recent push for a gender equality bill is a crucial step toward enhancing women’s political representation. However, its effectiveness hinges on overcoming entrenched gender biases and ensuring robust implementation to truly transform the political landscape. 

On 30 July, Ghana’s parliament passed the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, ending a process that began in 1998. Despite women constituting the majority of Ghana’s population, they hold less than 15 percent of parliamentary seats and remain underrepresented in managerial roles, even though they represent a majority in the service sector. The passage of the bill represents remarkable progress towards enhancing gender equality and inclusivity in the country and thus rightfully deserves all the attention it has garnered.

Additionally, this legislative milestone is especially significant for a country that has consistently ranked low on the Global Gender Gap Index in recent times. For example, in 2021, Ghana ranked 117 out of 156 countries; in 2022, 108 out of 146 countries; and in 2023, 100 out of 146 countries. What are the potential challenges that could impede the successful implementation of the bill (when it becomes law), and what are the prospects for this legislation in advancing gender equality and inclusivity in Ghana?

Read here the full article published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs on 20 August 2024.

Image by Australian Institute of International Affairs

 

How Instagram is failing women and public officials

New research by CCDH shows that Instagram failed to act on 93% of the abusive comments targeting high-profile US women politicians we reported, including death and rape threats.

Meta’s Instagram is becoming a weapon in this assault, failing to step up to make its platform safer as the US election approaches.

CCDH reported 1,000 abusive comments targeting women politicians running for office in 2024 including:

Democrat: VP Kamala Harris, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, Nancy Pelosi and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Republican: Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Maria Elvira Salazar, Anna Paulina Luna, Lauren Boebert and Senator Marsha Blackburn.

A week later, Instagram had taken no action against 926 of these hateful comments, which contained sexist and racist abuse, and death and rape threats.

An intro from CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed

Online spaces are now the primary places where societal norms and values are negotiated and normalized, and where we learn about and discuss current events, social issues, and politics. In 2024, with democracy hanging in the balance, social media platforms are under heightened scrutiny for their role in rising polarization, stoking division, and our increasingly toxic political environment. So how are they doing? In the case of Instagram, this report finds that they may as well not be trying at all. Abuse is endemic, and there is evidence they fail to act in over 9 in 10 instances even when alerted...

Read here the full report published by the Center for Countering Digital Hate on 14 August 2024.

Image by Center for Countering Digital Hate