Elected Women Representatives: Online Abuse

Black and Asian female MPs received 35% more abusive tweets than white women during the 2017 election. The online harms Bill must prioritise gender-based abuse. Labour Women's Network supports resilience training for ethnic minority MPs and councillors.

Ms Lockhart praised the debate's focus on combating online abuse directed at women in public life. She emphasized the existence of 'online lynch mobs' and called for verified accounts to combat anonymity, stressing the need to identify trolls before taking legal action.

Ms Nokes expressed concern about the online abuse of female parliamentarians, noting that black female MPs receive more abuse than any other group. She called for effective legislation to combat this issue and highlighted the need to address anonymity in online interactions.

Discussed the impact of online abuse on women's participation in democracy, citing statistics from various reports about the prevalence and severity of such abuse. Highlighted that social media platforms need to take responsibility for hate content and urged the Government to introduce the Online Safety Bill without delay.

Ms Webbe highlighted the challenges faced by women MPs, including herself, who have experienced horrific online abuse and threats of violence. She cited a study that found 82% of female politicians had encountered psychological violence and half of all online hate against female MPs was directed at her colleague, Ms Diane Abbott. The analysis showed that women MPs from African, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds received more abusive tweets than white women MPs during the run-up to the 2017 election.

Social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Twitter, are intimidating elected representatives. The number of women unlikely to stand as an MP has risen to 74% from 59%, with abuse or harassment cited by 69% as a reason for not pursuing a career in politics. Online harms Bill needs recognition that online abuse is workplace harassment.

Jamie Stone highlighted the online abuse faced by elected women representatives like Gail Ross and Molly Nolan. He described how Gail Ross was subjected to extreme forms of abuse, including having her identity stolen on social media, which affected her relationship with constituents in small communities. Stone also noted that misogyny from earlier times has evolved into today's digital environment, making it more pervasive. Concerned about the impact of online abuse on children, Jamie Stone questioned whether such experiences would deter another generation from engaging in politics.

Ms Stevenson highlighted the severe online abuse faced by female politicians, including threats of sexual violence and insults about physical appearance. She cited a study showing that 96% of female politicians in Ireland had experienced such abuse, with 40% reporting being threatened with sexual violence. This abuse discourages community-minded individuals from entering politics and distances politicians from their constituents.

Ms Kate Osborne highlighted the under-representation of women in politics, noting only 34% of MPs and 35% of councillors are women. She discussed the increased risk of abuse for women of colour, citing Amnesty International data that showed ethnic minority female MPs received 35% more abusive tweets than white women MPs prior to the 2017 election. She also noted the disproportionate impact of online abuse on BAME communities and the rise in women's reluctance to stand as candidates due to increased abuse over the past year, citing Equal Power data.

Ms Oswald discussed the challenges women face in politics due to online abuse and harassment, highlighting statistics from Women 5050. She stressed that while she loves her job, it is important to acknowledge the difficulties faced by women in public life. The abuse can be especially challenging because of its anonymous nature, and Ms Oswald noted an increase in such behaviour since 2014.

Ms Cameron discussed the intersectionality of online abuse with religious discrimination. She shared personal experiences of receiving death threats both online and in person. Ms Cameron noted that online abuse often escalates to direct harm and highlighted the need for better protection and training for journalists on diversity and religious inclusion.

Ms Duffield echoed Jo Cox's message of unity, stressing the futility of online abuse as a waste of energy. She mentioned hesitating before accepting invitations to speak about women in politics due to concerns over online abuse and sexism. Ms Duffield urged platforms and political parties to support women in political life by cleaning up their platforms and membership lists.

Selaine Saxby emphasized the increasing level of abuse faced by female politicians online, citing statistics showing a significant rise in reported incidents. She shared personal experiences and anecdotes about how this abuse impacts both current MPs and aspiring women candidates who are deterred from entering politics due to fear of harassment.

Ms Baillie highlighted the severe online abuse women face when running for office, citing examples of threats and derogatory comments. She emphasized that such abuse discourages women from participating in politics or seeking public roles due to fear of backlash and violence. Ms Baillie suggested measures like identity verification on social media platforms to combat anonymity, which often shields abusers.