Written by Best-Case Scenario Staff
Getting more involved, not less, in politics gives men the chance to support women.
Everyone knows those extraordinary people in their community, workplace or family who are born to lead and whom we desperately want to succeed because they will make our world better. Picture that person for a second. Many of them are women, facing everyday experiences vastly different from their male counterparts. The politics and culture of sexism don’t exist only on the national stage. The instances we read about and see on TV are glimpses into a sadly normal state. In politics, women consistently rank negative cultural norms as some of the biggest barriers. Conversely, politics presents us with the biggest opportunity to change this norm for the better.
This year, fewer women are running for office — reversing a bipartisan trend of the past few cycles. Women currently make up less than a third of state and federal legislatures. Though the reasons are complex, we know the normalization of violence and the frequency of threats that women in elected office face are reaching new heights and discouraging participation. Women are more likely than men to be harassed and threatened with violence. Those threats are more personal, more likely to be sexual or racial in nature, and often target families and children.
And it isn’t just a decline in women running for office. Librarians, county clerks, fair housing advocates, environmental justice advocates, domestic worker advocates, and the 80% of election officials who are women are on the frontlines of heated conversations about issues we face as a country. If we want to address issues like the effect of our changing climate, housing, building a strong economy and middle class, and expanding opportunity across the country, we must support our best leaders regardless of gender.
We must make structural changes to encourage women’s participation in civic leadership. These include parties giving more support to women candidates and more comprehensive support for the caregiving duties that typically fall to women. However, we also need to strengthen cultural norms, including the fact that people who step into civic spaces may face criticism, but they won’t face threats and actual violence. As we noted earlier, women rank negative cultural norms as a major barrier to political leadership. We can imagine how these spaces can welcome women and we can make that a reality. But we have to MAKE IT.
One solution, ironically, is to have men get more involved in politics in the right way. Why men? How? First, men oversee many civic spaces in America, from mayors to county commissioners to business leaders who serve on commissions. Men are also more likely to make threats and commit violence. Therefore, men are essential for setting norms because people are more likely to listen to leaders who share markers of identity.
All you need to do is be willing to share your belief that something is not right. Here are guides for when.
- Know the difference between valid criticism and dehumanizing via sexual innuendos. When you are participating in civic spaces, like debates, hearings or public comment sessions, pay attention to rising tensions that may be moving from productive to threatening. When these involve women in political life, closely monitor whether you need to level set on racist or sexist framing or violence. Consider whether you are witnessing any of the following. Remember, it isn’t just the individual who is affected; the future leader, your family members and community all see what we do, or don’t do today.
- Innuendo and normalizing violence. We have already seen crass sexual innuendo and violent imagery used in this year’s political races and by leading commentators.
- Inappropriate focus on gender and race that is meant to dehumanize. This creates the conditions for amped-up violence. One of the key factors in dehumanization is othering. Darkening skin tones in photos, conversation about “authentic” races and places of origin or stereotypes, or overfocus on physical features are all telltale signs that the conversation is moving from legitimate discussion around issues into territory meant to distract and make people targets of threats and violence.
- Threats against groups that are disproportionately women. For example, women make up 80% of election workers, so threats against people responsible for administering our elections will disproportionately impact women.
- Know the difference between valid criticism and dehumanizing via sexual innuendos. When you are participating in civic spaces, like debates, hearings or public comment sessions, pay attention to rising tensions that may be moving from productive to threatening. When these involve women in political life, closely monitor whether you need to level set on racist or sexist framing or violence. Consider whether you are witnessing any of the following. Remember, it isn’t just the individual who is affected; the future leader, your family members and community all see what we do, or don’t do today.
- Role model discussing differences without engaging in denigrations that objectify women and make them targets of sexual threats or threats to their families. Many of us care about the issues and want to know that candidates and civic leaders are up to the task of addressing our concerns, but to have that conversation, we need to get past the distractions, the insults and the innuendos that make it harder to have robust debate.
- Use gender-neutral language when discussing leaders and candidates to set everyone on a level playing field. (Chairperson, congressperson, commissioner vs. Mrs., Ms.)
- Focus on the issues without assuming the motivation.
- When discussing qualifications, watch for and call out innuendo (gotten because of looks or acts) and minimization, including selectively downplaying a person’s achievements.
- Role model discussing differences without engaging in denigrations that objectify women and make them targets of sexual threats or threats to their families. Many of us care about the issues and want to know that candidates and civic leaders are up to the task of addressing our concerns, but to have that conversation, we need to get past the distractions, the insults and the innuendos that make it harder to have robust debate.
- Call on the media to do better when coverage falls into these patterns. Studies found that women politicians are more likely to be asked questions about appearance and qualifications and they are subject to much more frequent abuse, threats, and targeted fabrication and rumors, which are often spread in part through traditional media. Additionally, when leaders engage in dehumanizing and objectifying women and coverage does not call this out, the media normalizes this behavior.
- If you see headlines and images or segments repeating harmful, sexist or violent framing, reach out to standards editors and relevant beat editors. Emphasize that it is inaccurate or dangerous because it normalizes violence.
- If you see reporting that centers inflammatory statements made by others you can — and should — call on them to highlight the motivation, not just the statement. This puts the issue in context.
- Call on the media to do better when coverage falls into these patterns. Studies found that women politicians are more likely to be asked questions about appearance and qualifications and they are subject to much more frequent abuse, threats, and targeted fabrication and rumors, which are often spread in part through traditional media. Additionally, when leaders engage in dehumanizing and objectifying women and coverage does not call this out, the media normalizes this behavior.
This is how we can take control and set stronger norms that allow for anyone to participate in civic life. We are in the middle of an election that will influence major policy and cultural issues, and not just at the national level. The best-case scenario is that we can pick from the strongest possible candidates at every level, and that means we all have a stake in making civic spaces safer and more open to women who want to run.