Female politicians as targets of cyberviolence : Exploring international discourse on response strategies

Balogh, Lídia (2026) Female politicians as targets of cyberviolence : Exploring international discourse on response strategies. In: Law, Linguistics and the Far Right : International Perspectives on Verbal Attacks on Vulnerable Groups. Routledge, London, pp. 97-116. ISBN 9781003717614

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Abstract

This chapter, while focusing on online violence against female politicians, approaches the subject at a meta-level by examining the international discourse surrounding the phenomenon. It is written in a more essay-like form rather than a traditional research paper, yet it seeks to relate to the core of the volume: the Brazilian case study and its conceptual framework. The thematic link is evident, as one of the central figures in the case study – a target of online verbal attacks – is an elected female politician. Regarding the relevant assumptions of the Brazilian case study, the following paragraphs offer reflections. Some assumptions are mentioned only briefly – those that I share but do not intend to substantiate, challenge, or explore in depth. At the same time, I have perspectives and questions about other assumptions of the case study, which I will examine in connection with my own topic, which is broader in scope. Concerning the case study of the female politician, the assumptions identified operate at different levels. At the deepest level, there is the assumption that women are capable of participating in political life, for instance as elected representatives. Second, such participation is desirable from the perspective of democracy: if women do not take part in politics, this is both a symptom and a cause of democratic deficit. Third, female politicians are subjected to a broad range and a significant amount of online violence. Fourth, such attacks come predominantly from the far right.

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