Silenced Voices: The Discrimination Women MPs in Politics Face

By Kanika Phillip

For years, women MPs have been battling through Parliament, facing off against racism, discrimination, and downright sexism! Though women’s presence in power-packed rooms has sparked some serious policy changes in recent years, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room: women MPs are still fighting an uphill battle.

And that battle is abundantly clear in candidates in the 2024 snap General Election - only 30% of those standing are women, and only 39 of 1,345 women are Black.

What we also know is that having more diversity in power matters in and of itself. But it also creates better outcomes for society.

The Challenges

Black and minoritised women, disabled women, and those dealing with long-term health issues are often the most affected! Can you believe that over two-thirds of women MPs have had to witness sexist behaviour right in the heart of Parliament? The wake-up call came loud and clear in March 2024, during the Commonwealth MPs' demand to end the abuse towards their women counterparts at the 72nd Westminster Seminar. Let's have a deeper look into some of these challenges.

Dianne Abbott, the first Black woman MP, Target of Racism

MP Dianne Abbott recently found herself at the centre of yet another worrying incident - this time involving Frank Hester, a Conservative donor, who directed racist remarks her way. Despite British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's condemnation of the comments as "wrong" and "racist," no tangible action was taken to address the issue from within the party.

The sluggish response from some parliamentary colleagues and the delayed acknowledgement of the racist and gendered nature of the comments by the prime minister is sadly not unusual. Abbott has said, "Reading his remarks, I was upset but not surprised. This is partly because I am hardened to racist abuse. I receive hundreds of abusive emails, phone calls and letters monthly, and the numbers shoot up whenever I am in the media…"

Ethnic minority women face exceptional dangers in public life. According to recent data from the representative audit of Britain, 63% of ethnic minority women candidates reported experiencing abuse compared with 38% of ethnic minority men, 34% of white men and 45% of white women. No doubt there is an urgent need for systemic change to address the disproportionate abuse faced by ethnic minority women MPs and a call for a serious examination of political institutions.

Disabled Women in Politics

Despite recent changes to better support disabled women in politics, the Fawcett Society's ‘A House for Everyone’ report emphasises that there is still much work to be done in fostering inclusive and flexible workplace practices, to support MPs with caring responsibilities and disabled MPs.

It's not surprising that those with caring responsibilities express greater dissatisfaction with the timing and unpredictability of the Parliamentary schedule, with 47% reporting negative impacts compared to 37% of those without such responsibilities. The report underscores the need for redesigning parliamentary procedures and practices, including parental leave policies, online voting systems, and the expenses scheme, to ensure that caregiving responsibilities do not act as barriers to either entering Parliament or advancing into senior leadership roles.

Online Abuse

MP Fay Jones recently spoke out about the disturbing online abuse and bullying women politicians face. She highlighted the negative impact of social media intimidation, and how it often stops women from entering politics. Jones has been a target of this abuse, which resulted in her reporting a death threat to the police.

The Jo Cox Foundation's recent report on tackling abuse in politics echoes this sentiment, emphasising that political intimidation poses a significant threat to democracy. MP Mike Freer's decision to step down due to the abuse he faced further underscores the severity of the problem. No place in politics: tackling abuse and intimidation advocates urgent action to prevent more politicians from resigning. Suggestions include social media platforms offering additional support to politicians during elections.

Jones has shared anecdotes of female county councillors struggling with online abuse, citing it as a major deterrent for aspiring women in politics. While acknowledging the importance of a social media presence, Jones recognises the necessity of finding innovative ways to safeguard against online and offline harassment.

Positive Action

Across the board, we are seeing concrete action from civic organisations and women to improve the status quo but there is so much to do.

72nd Westminster Seminar

In March 2024, 27 Parliamentarians from 12 Commonwealth Nations called for the end of abuse towards female politicians, highlighting this as a global issue and as a form of gender-based violence.

Bearing signs which read “threatening, intimidating, harassing or bullying an MP due to their gender are all forms of gender-based violence”, parliamentarians gathered in Parliament’s New Palace Yard to raise awareness of the disproportionate levels of violence directed toward female members of parliament. This concern was brought to light due to a cross-party call championed by MPs Harriet Harman and Dame Maria Miller as they were calling for a “zero-tolerance approach to misogyny” for the May election. The parliamentarians decided to take a stand against gender-based violence after attending a session on online abuse and equal rights to political participation.

They further explored the impacts of online attacks against MPs, observing the extent of abuse targeting female MPs, noting the frequently sexually explicit and gender-specific nature of such abuse. Delegates deliberated on the threat this poses to parliamentary representation and gender equity worldwide.

Kick Sexism Out

The impact of toxic behaviours, including sexism, racism, and online abuse, is disproportionately felt by women MPs, according to findings from various studies. The Fawcett Society ‘House for Everyone’ report highlights the urgent need for change, emphasising that such behaviours have no place in society and damage democracy. Their findings showed that women MPs and 49% of all MPs they surveyed have witnessed sexist behaviour in Parliament in the last five years.

On International Women’s Day, the Treasury Committee released a report urging an end to the culture of impunity prevalent in the workplace. This came after MPs found a ‘shocking’ prevalence of sexual harassment and bullying, and a culture which is ‘holding back women’ in the City.

How Elect Her Can Help

At Elect Her, they champion conversations and discussions on sexism. Elect Her believes the world will be a better place when more women are in power. They are committed to building a world where no women are left behind regardless of age, race or sexual orientation.

Elect Her equips women in politics through various training including learning how to campaign safely on social media. They are creating space for women to access free resources, advice and community. Women who are standing in both local elections and the General Election are welcome to join these sessions. The sessions are being delivered as part of their bespoke skills-based training sessions. Their LEARN sessions are designed to provide women with a holistic understanding of delivering their campaign and improving their leadership skills, ensuring women in our community are prepared for a life in elected office.

Women will also receive a bespoke Digital Self-Defence and Self-Care toolkit, designed in partnership with the amazing team at Glitch, to help you tackle online abuse. Don’t get angry, get politically active. Elect Her offers certain spaces and resources for all women who are hard of hearing or d/Deaf, have a disability, are neurodivergent, or have a long-term/chronic illness. In partnership with Centenary Action Group and the Disability Policy Centre, they run an informal cross-party community space every other month for women to come together, and share experiences, resources and opportunities. To join the network, please email the Disability Policy Centre which will email you the upcoming dates to attend the sessions: contact@dispolcentre.org.

Change Needs to Happen

As we navigate the complex terrain of sexism, racism, and discrimination in politics, it's evident that women MPs continue to face formidable challenges. The call to action is clear: we must confront these toxic behaviours head-on and demand accountability from those in power. Initiatives like the 72nd Westminster Seminar and the advocacy of organisations like Elect Her highlight the importance of creating inclusive and equitable political spaces. Find out more about the work Elect Her does here or by joining their community.

Would you like to contribute to this blog series? We’d love to hear from you. Send us your ideas and let’s chat: community@elect-her.org.uk.