Violence Against Women in Politics

Čičkarić, Lilijana (2019) Violence Against Women in Politics. In: Contemporary issues and perspectives on gender research. Series Edited volumes . Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade, pp. 100-116. ISBN 978-86-7093-226-5

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Abstract

This chapter addresses various aspects of this emerging research area, exploring concepts, theories, and data related to the study of violence against women in politics. It occurs within the political sphere but specifically targets women. It is used to reinforce traditional social and political structures by aiming women leaders who challenge patriarchy and the prevailing social expectations and norms. In many societies, such practices are marginalized, naturalized, depoloticized and remained invisible. When female politicians are attacked for their political views alone, therefore, this is not a case of violence against women in politics. Ambiguity emerges, however, due to the fact that the means for attacking female politicians often relies on gendered scripts, focusing on women’s bodies and their traditional social roles, primarily as mothers and wives, to deny or undercut women’s competence in the political sphere. Symbolic and semiotic violence in politics can be effective in sustaining women’s oppression because it is subtle, euphemized, invisible. Even if women recognize these acts as exercises of power, they still do not name it as violence, even in societies with greater levels of gender equality. The concept of semiotic violence refers to the use of language, images and symbols as a means in purpose to marginalize and disqualify women as political actors. Often normalized, these dynamics serve to maintain gender hierarchies, undermining democracy and eroding the possibilities for women’s political empowerment.

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