<
https://theconversation.com/golriz-ghahramans-exit-from-politics-shows-the-toll-of-online-bullying-on-female-mps-221400>
"The high-stress nature of working in politics is increasingly taking a toll on
staff and politicians. But an additional threat to the personal wellbeing and
safety of politicians resides outside Parliament, and the threat is ubiquitous:
online violence against women MPs.
Since her election in 2017, Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman has been subject to
persistent online violence.
Ghahraman’s resignation following allegations of shoplifting exposes the toll
sustained online violence can have on a person’s mental health. In an interview
with
Vice in 2018, Ghahraman expressed how the online abuse was overwhelming
and questioned how long she would continue in Parliament.
Resigning in 2024, Ghahraman said in a statement
it is clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the
stresses relating to my work
and
the best thing for my mental health is to resign as a Member of Parliament.
Ghahraman is not alone in receiving torrents of online abuse. Many other women
MPs have also been targeted, including former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, National MP Nicola Willis and Te Pāti
Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Words can not only hurt, but they can seriously endanger a person’s wellbeing.
Online violence against women MPs, particularly against women of colour, is a
concerning global trend. In an Australian study, women MPs were found to be
disproportionately targeted by public threats, particularly facing higher rates
of online threats involving sexual violence and racist remarks.
Similar online threats face women MPs in the United Kingdom. Studies show that
women of colour receive more intense abuse.
Male politicians are also subject to online violence. But when directed at
women the violence frequently exhibits a misogynistic character, encompassing
derogatory gender-specific language and menacing sexualised threats,
constituting gender-based violence."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
