Fear silences women politicians in public debate
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The two authors of the study, Sandra Håkansson, Doctor of Political Science at Uppsala University and Cecilia Johansson, Docent in Political Science at Uppsala University.
view moreCredit: Mikael Wallerstedt
Women politicians are significantly more likely than their male colleagues to refrain from speaking out in public for fear of threats or harassment – particularly on issues relating to migration and gender equality. Politicians with an immigrant background are also more likely to avoid making public statements. This is shown by a study based on 43,000 responses from Swedish politicians in both the Riksdag (the national parliament) and municipalities over a ten-year period.
The new study, carried out by two political science researchers at Uppsala University, is based on analyses of data from the Politicians’ Safety Survey (Politikernas trygghetsundersökning) conducted by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. This is a recurring survey sent out to politicians at both national and local level. In the surveys, politicians were asked whether they had ever refrained from making a public statement on a particular issue because they were worried about threats or harassment. Those who answered ‘yes’ were also asked to specify the type of questions they had chosen not to comment on.
“We can see that women are significantly more likely than men to avoid making public statements because of concerns about hate or threats,” says Sandra Håkansson, a doctor of political science and one of the study’s authors. “This is particularly true of members of parliament (MPs). We can also observe the same problem among MPs with an immigrant background, though the difference there is slightly smaller.”
Based on 43,000 responses
In the study, the researchers drew on six surveys sent out between 2012 and 2022. They analysed a total of 43,000 responses from Swedish politicians at both national and local level. The researchers were then able to see that:
- Among MPs, 36 per cent of the women avoided making public statements, compared with 20 per cent of the men.
- 36 per cent of MPs with immigrant backgrounds stated that they avoided speaking out in public, as against 26 per cent of those without immigrant backgrounds.
- Among local politicians, 18 per cent of the women stated that they avoided speaking out in public, compared with 13 per cent of the men.
- 18 per cent of the local politicians from immigrant backgrounds stated that they avoided speaking out in public, as against 14 per cent of those without immigrant backgrounds.
Avoid questions about migration and gender equality
In the free-text responses, the politicians could indicate which issues they had chosen not to debate in public. These ranged from local issues, such as the closure of a school or a health centre, to more general responses such as ‘migration’.
“The free-text responses show that women politicians and immigrant-background politicians avoid speaking out publicly on a wider range of issues than other politicians,” says Cecilia Josefsson, a docent in political science and one of the study’s authors. “Women are also disproportionately silenced in debates that challenge traditional male dominance – particularly on issues of gender equality and migration.”
In cases where a free-text response came up more than ten times, the researchers coded it as a separate category. By far the largest number of respondents said they had refrained from commenting publicly on an issue relating to migration.
“It is often claimed that there has been no serious debate on migration, or that discussion of the issue has been too one-sided. Our findings show that there are certain perspectives that may not come out in the debate because politicians want to avoid harassment and threats,” says Josefsson.
Although the issue of migration was a recurring theme among many who avoided making public statements, politicians with an immigrant background were no more likely than others to refrain from commenting on these particular issues.
One in three MPs refrained from debate during latest election year
When the researchers analysed the survey responses from the latest election campaign in 2022, they found that 38 per cent of all MPs had chosen to refrain from making public statements.
“It goes without saying that taking part in public debate and shaping public opinion is an integral part of being a member of parliament. It is therefore alarming that as many as 38 per cent choose not to speak out publicly on some issue for undemocratic reasons,” says Håkansson.
The fact that certain topics are not raised in the debate even though they concern matters that many voters consider important risks leading to distorted political decisions.
“The fact that so many people choose not to speak out leads to a narrower debate in which we do not get to hear all perspectives,” Josefsson comments. “Just thinking about the gender equality aspect, historically Sweden has of course had numerically equal representation in politics, particularly when compared with many other countries. However, it is not enough simply for women to be involved in politics; they must have the same opportunity as their male colleagues to shape the debate and put issues on the agenda. Our study raises questions about whose voices are actually being heard, which is particularly important now we are getting into a new election campaign.”
Journal
British Journal of Political Science
Method of Research
Survey
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Silenced Voices: How Violence Marginalizes Women and Immigrant Politicians in Policy Debates
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