A brief but deeply unsettling encounter that lasted only a few seconds sparked outrage across Mexico and beyond. However, for those who have long monitored the treatment of women in politics, the incident—where a drunken man tried to kiss Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the neck and grope her—was shocking but not entirely unexpected.
“It’s definitely part of a pattern,” said Zeina Hilal of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organization of national parliaments. “It really illustrates what women in politics are facing.”
In 2016, the organization surveyed 55 female politicians from 39 countries about their experiences with sexism, harassment, and violence. The results were alarming: 82% reported psychological violence, including sexist remarks and persistent, intimidating behavior, while 44% had received death threats or threats of rape or beatings. One in five said they had been physically assaulted—slapped, pushed, struck, or hit with objects that could have injured them.
Since then, the organization has spoken with hundreds of female politicians worldwide. Though their roles and positions varied, their experiences were sadly similar.
“This violence targets women because they are women,” explained Hilal, who manages gender and youth programs for the Geneva-based group. “It targets their bodies and what society associates them with—like children or their physical characteristics.”
She described these attacks as attempts to question women’s roles in leadership, often linked to broader resistance against gender equality. “Some people do these things without it being their direct goal—they’re annoyed by women in power and how women present themselves,” she said. “But there are also organized, funded movements that coordinate online attacks using bots and paid individuals.”
The frequency of such violence varies among those surveyed, with younger women, minorities, and those advocating for gender equality or human rights facing disproportionately higher rates of abuse.
These findings align with the growing number of female politicians—from the UK to Canada and elsewhere—who are leaving politics due to the toll of increasing threats and harassment on themselves and their families.
Weeks before Sheinbaum was assaulted, Sweden’s Anna-Karin Hatt, leader of the Centre Party, announced she was stepping down from public life because of constant threats and harassment. Her predecessor, Annie Lööf, had made a similar decision three years earlier after facing neo-Nazi threats, stalkers, and online trolls.
Concerns are rising about the broader impact on democracies. In 2023, former Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag warned that online vitriol could reverse decades of progress in political participation by women, minorities, and people of color. UK Conservative MP Dehenna Davison called for an end to the “vile abuse,” stating on social media, “We need to do all we can to stop the brightest and best from being turned off entering politics, or as a society we will all suffer.”
While most research on political violence relies on self-reporting, a 2023 study in Italy analyzed over a decade of data to determine if female politicians are targeted more often. The records of online and offline attacks against local mayors in more than 7,500 municipalities revealed that…”There’s a striking difference,” said Gianmarco Daniele, an associate professor at the University of Milan and one of the study’s researchers. “The likelihood of being attacked is nearly three times higher, which is a huge gap.”
The team compared mayors who were identical in every aspect except gender, accounting for factors like policy choices, performance, and corruption. Once again, a clear trend appeared.
“We found that men are attacked more when they perform poorly, but women are attacked regardless of their performance,” he explained. “Whether they do very well or very badly, they face attacks. This suggests the hostility isn’t about their actions in office but seems to stem from discrimination.”
Those subjected to attacks were less inclined to seek re-election, a finding that may help explain why women remain significantly underrepresented in politics worldwide. “It’s critical because political careers often begin at the local level,” Daniele noted.
Adriana Marin, a lecturer in international relations at Coventry University, pointed out that this violence highlights how women’s participation in politics is still challenged, conditional, and sometimes unwelcome.
“It’s not random or accidental,” she wrote in an email. “It targets women specifically because they are entering spaces that have historically been controlled by men.”
She cited the assault on Sheinbaum as a public example of this dynamic. The incident on a Mexico City street wasn’t just an individual act of misconduct but an assertion of power over a woman whose role defies traditional gender expectations. “Threats, physical aggression, persistent undermining, sexual harassment, or efforts to discredit a woman’s authority—all these reinforce patriarchal boundaries,” she said.
This is perhaps most visible online. While male politicians face similar levels of online harassment, the nature of the attacks differs, according to Inessa De Angelis, a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information.
“Research shows that male politicians often receive comments focused on their policies, like backlash over budgets or economic stances,” she said. “For women, attacks tend to target personal traits and perceived abilities, making them more sexist and vitriolic, sometimes even mentioning their children.”
Researchers describe this as a double burden for female politicians, who must cope with excessive online toxicity while grappling with what these attacks imply about their place in politics.
“These comments make them question their role and hinder their ability to work effectively,” De Angelis added. “If we don’t address this both online and offline, it could jeopardize the goal of more equal and inclusive parliaments.”
Despite years of reports and warnings from departing politicians, some still dismiss the violence, noted Hilal. “There are those who say, ‘If you want to be a politician, you have to tough it out.'”
This attitude risks undermining democracy, making politics inaccessible to some and driving others away. “After all, political institutions are workplaces where both women and men work,” she said. “If it’s unacceptable in other workplaces, why should it be tolerated in politics?”We rely on firsthand information from knowledgeable sources. If you have details to share on this topic, you can reach out to us securely through the following channels.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about why female politicians face constant criticism with clear and direct answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What do you mean by female politicians facing constant criticism
It means that women in politics are often judged more harshly than their male counterparts not just on their policies but on their appearance tone of voice and personality in a way that is relentless and often unfair
2 Is this really a thing or are people just being too sensitive
Its a welldocumented phenomenon Numerous studies in political science and media analysis show that female politicians receive more negative coverage and different types of criticism compared to men in similar positions
3 What are some common criticisms that are uniquely aimed at women
They are often criticized for being either too emotional or too cold and robotic Their fashion choices hairstyles and voices are frequently commented on while the same is rarely done for male politicians
4 Can you give a recent example
A common example is the heavy focus on Hillary Clintons perceived lack of warmth or shouting during speeches while male politicians who yell are often described as passionate or forceful
5 Why does this happen
A primary reason is unconscious bias Society has longheld often unspoken expectations about how women should behave When a woman steps into a leadership role traditionally held by men she often violates these expectations and faces a backlash
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 Is there a specific term for this type of bias
Yes its often related to the double bind This is a nowin situation where a woman is criticized no matter what she does For instance if shes assertive shes aggressive but if shes collaborative shes weak
7 How does the media contribute to this problem
The media often uses different language and frames stories differently A man is firm a woman is stubborn They also give disproportionate airtime to a female politicians personal life and appearance compared to her male colleagues
8 Does this criticism come from all sides of the political spectrum
Unfortunately yes While intense criticism often comes from political opponents it can also come from their own party and even from voters who claim to support gender equality but are
