Misogyny, racism, and threats to our families : a qualitative study of harassment of female politicians
Watson, Rhiannon
Misogyny, racism, and threats to our families : a qualitative study of harassment of female politicians Rhiannon Watson, Lucy Hammons, Oliver Hansby, Justin Barry-Walsh and Susanna Every-Palmer - Taylor & Francis, 2025 - Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online .
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 2025, First published online, 8 April 2025
Politicians from around the world are increasingly subject to harassment, with women disproportionately targeted. Recent changes in the sociopolitical landscape have influenced the nature and intensity of this harassment, with New Zealand being no exception. This qualitative study explores the experiences and impacts of harassment among female Members of Parliament (MPs) in New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews with 11 female MPs were analysed, using thematic analysis, to identify key themes. Four major themes emerged. First, misogyny and racism were ubiquitous in the harassment of female MPs, their staff, and their families. Second, women found responding to abuse came at great personal cost, including increased mental and administrative workloads. Third, psychosocial impacts of harassment were considerable and, at worst, associated with some MPs experiencing flashbacks and suicidality. Last, there were shifting sands in the nature of harassment, influenced by political polarisation, social media, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to support included parliamentary culture, stoicism, and perceived ineffectuality and insensitivity of support services. Harassment profoundly impacts female parliamentarians. This challenges representation in politics and the fabric of democracy. A multi-faceted response to the harassment of female MPs is urgently needed. (Authors' abstract). Record #9193
KAITŌRANGAPŪ
HAUORA HINENGARO
MENTAL HEALTH
MISOGYNY
RACISM
ONLINE HARASSMENT
PAE PĀPĀHO PĀPORI
POLITICIANS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SOCIAL MEDIA
TĀITŌKAI
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WĀHINE
WHAKAHĀWEA IWI
WOMEN
NEW ZEALAND
Misogyny, racism, and threats to our families : a qualitative study of harassment of female politicians Rhiannon Watson, Lucy Hammons, Oliver Hansby, Justin Barry-Walsh and Susanna Every-Palmer - Taylor & Francis, 2025 - Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online .
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 2025, First published online, 8 April 2025
Politicians from around the world are increasingly subject to harassment, with women disproportionately targeted. Recent changes in the sociopolitical landscape have influenced the nature and intensity of this harassment, with New Zealand being no exception. This qualitative study explores the experiences and impacts of harassment among female Members of Parliament (MPs) in New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews with 11 female MPs were analysed, using thematic analysis, to identify key themes. Four major themes emerged. First, misogyny and racism were ubiquitous in the harassment of female MPs, their staff, and their families. Second, women found responding to abuse came at great personal cost, including increased mental and administrative workloads. Third, psychosocial impacts of harassment were considerable and, at worst, associated with some MPs experiencing flashbacks and suicidality. Last, there were shifting sands in the nature of harassment, influenced by political polarisation, social media, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to support included parliamentary culture, stoicism, and perceived ineffectuality and insensitivity of support services. Harassment profoundly impacts female parliamentarians. This challenges representation in politics and the fabric of democracy. A multi-faceted response to the harassment of female MPs is urgently needed. (Authors' abstract). Record #9193
KAITŌRANGAPŪ
HAUORA HINENGARO
MENTAL HEALTH
MISOGYNY
RACISM
ONLINE HARASSMENT
PAE PĀPĀHO PĀPORI
POLITICIANS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SOCIAL MEDIA
TĀITŌKAI
TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED ABUSE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WĀHINE
WHAKAHĀWEA IWI
WOMEN
NEW ZEALAND