Internet Online hate drives young women out of politics
According to a study, young female and male politicians in Switzerland are affected by online hate with similar frequency. However, the content of the hostility differs significantly depending on whether it is directed at a woman or a man.
25.11.2025, 09:41
SDA
Women are much more likely to experience attacks that relate directly to their gender, as the University of Basel reported on Monday. These include sexist and sexualized comments, derogatory remarks about the appearance or political competence of young women.
This form of violence has a particularly strong impact on their political motivation, as the University of Basel's survey of members of Swiss youth parties shows. The young women surveyed stated significantly more often than men that personal experiences with online hate were an obstacle to their political work or even led them to withdraw from politics.
Discouraged before running for office
"They are discouraged by the hostility before they even have the chance to run for office," explained Daniel Höhmann, first author of the study, in the press release from the University of Basel.
The study has been published in the "Journal of Women, Politics & Policy". The study surveyed 175 young members of Swiss youth parties. The researchers point out that although the participation rate was rather low, representatives of all major political camps were included. The sample is therefore considered representative of the ideological composition of Swiss youth parties - but not necessarily of their gender ratio or of all politically interested young people in Switzerland.
