By Hajar Karam. This article examines the rise of online gender-based violence (OGBV) against women in politics, focusing on the case of Sudan, where female leaders faced a barrage of online abuse that hindered their participation and undermined their vital role in the country’s transition.
Introduction:
After enduring 30 years of oppressive rule under Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese people celebrated his ousting and the formation of a transitional government in 2019. This period ignited hopes for justice, expanded civic freedoms, and a brighter future. Tragically, these hopes were shattered by the military coup of October 25, 2021. Civic spaces shrunk, activism was suppressed, and the eventual eruption of war extinguished the hard-won optimism of the Sudanese people.
While women were the driving force behind the 2019 Sudanese revolution, comprising 70% of the protesters, their representation in the subsequent transitional government was woefully inadequate. Only four women were appointed as ministers, and a mere two held positions in the Sovereign Council, highlighting the deep-seated gender inequality that persists in Sudanese politics. Furthermore, the women who did join the transitional government, along with other female activists, faced a hail of online gender-based violence(OGBV). This article explores the types of online abuse they faced and assesses its impact on their political participation and ongoing activism.
The Digital Evolution of Gender-Based Violence:
The concept of online gender-based violence (OGBV), though recently named, represents a continuation of gender-based violence in a new arena: the digital world. The same harmful behaviors and power dynamics that exist offline are simply migrating to online spaces. According to Policy and Internet Journal, “This term includes the use of telecommunications systems to control current or former intimate partners; stalking and harassment through telecommunications tools and on social media platforms; and exposing personal information (doxxing) or abusive content (e.g., the non-consensual sharing of sexualized images or videos of women and girls) through content hosts and social media platforms.” Some researchers use different terms to refer to OGBV, such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), which defined by the International Centre for Research on Women as “the action by one or more people that harms others based on their sexual or gender identity or by enforcing harmful gender norms. This action is carried out using the internet and/or mobile technology and includes stalking, bullying, sexual harassment, defamation, hate speech and exploitation”.
The rise of violence against women in politics, particularly online, is a global concern. Attacks often focus on their gender rather than political views, creating a hostile environment that deters women from political participation. According to the European Parliamentary Research Service, women in politics face a unique and disturbing form of violence that intersects gender and politics. This violence, aimed at discouraging their participation, often manifests as psychological abuse. A prime example is the sexualized hashtag #heelsupharris, which appeared nearly 35,500 times on X (formerly Twitter), targeting the nomination of the first female vice president of the United States. These attacks sought to undermine her position by sexualizing and degrading her. This is also clearly illustrated in Uganda, where online gender-based violence against female political actors is prevalent.
Globally, such attacks on women in politics often go unaddressed, and perpetrators rarely face consequences. This impunity is mirrored in situations like Sudan, where victims of OGBV refrain from reporting their cases legally. According to previous research, social stigma, lack of awareness about digital rights, and distrust in the legal system create significant barriers to justice.
Sudanese Women in Politics Confronting Online Backlash:
During the December 2018 Sudanese revolution, social media became a crucial tool for mobilizing people and raising awareness of the violations committed by the Al-Bashir government. This surge in social media activism is reflected in World Bank data on internet use in Sudan. In 2017, only 19% of the population had internet access. However, this figure jumped to 25% in 2018, coinciding with the revolution. This initial increase was followed by a steady rise, reaching 26% in 2019 and 2020 and 29% in 2022. While the internet and social media facilitated communication and information dissemination, they also contributed to the spread of misinformation and the potential for government surveillance. Overall, the Sudanese revolution highlighted technology’s complex and multifaceted impact on social and political change.
The Hopes and Actions Foundation’s OGBV monitoring project exposed a stark gender bias in online harassment, with women disproportionately targeted by attacks, focused not only on their competence and qualifications but also, more disturbingly, on their bodies. While men also faced criticism, it was less frequent and often focused on their performance rather than their appearance or suitability for the role. Men were generally given the benefit of the doubt and judged based on their actions. On the contrary, women faced inherent skepticism and were often assumed to have obtained their positions through quotas rather than merit, even though the 40% quota for women in the 2019 Sudanese Constitutional Declaration was never achieved, despite advocacy efforts. For instance, Campaign 50 pushed for increased female representation (50% instead of the constitutionally mandated 40%) across all levels of government; however, true gender parity remains elusive in Sudan. This struggle is further reflected in the online sphere, where women face persistent attacks on their capabilities, with many comments questioning their right to hold public office and suggesting they prioritize domestic roles. These online attacks underscore the deeply ingrained societal biases that continue to hinder women’s full participation in Sudanese politics.
Analysis of online posts and comments targeting women in leadership positions further exposes alarming patterns of OGBV directed at Sudanese women ministers. This analysis of social media comments from 2019 to the present uncovers the patterns and nature of OGBV. Some of these comments included inquiries about their phone numbers and marital status, ageist attacks such as “senile old woman,” and body shaming like “What’s your underwear size, cow?”. This analysis of social media reveals a pattern of harassment, where women in government roles are ridiculed for their age and appearance and subjected to slut-shaming and sexual harassment.
This analysis aligns with interview insights with Sulima Khalifa, the head of the country’s Combating Violence against Women and Children unit, who confirms that “Women in leadership positions are frequently attacked on their professional integrity and abilities. Furthermore, she highlighted the double standard women face regarding their appearance: men may criticize their looks or, conversely, overlook their shortcomings based solely on their perceived attractiveness.”
While less prevalent than other forms of OGBV, doxxing, and online stalking were also observed. Doxxing, the act of publicly revealing private information, was less common in public comments, suggesting that blackmail attempts might be occurring through private channels like direct messaging. Although this monitoring project didn’t delve into private messages, clear evidence of online stalking was found in public comments. This highlights the insidious nature of OGBV, which can extend beyond public forums to more private and potentially dangerous forms of harassment.
The Detrimental Effects of Online Gender-Based Violence on Women’s Political Participation
The transitional period saw a surge in online hate and gender-based violence against women leaders, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased internet usage. Despite the transitional government’s vocal support for women, their actions fell short. Women were sidelined and offered little protection, exemplified by the tragic case of Samah, a young woman murdered by her father. Instead of addressing the crime, the Head of Police blamed women and called for reinstating the oppressive public order law imposed by the former regime. This disturbing response aligned with a rampant social media campaign inciting violence against women, even promoting femicide. This campaign, utilizing platforms like Facebook, urges men to flog and discipline women publicly, demonstrating how social media is weaponized to normalize violence against women and erode their rights.
Sulaima Elkhalifa, a government official since 2019, highlights “the hypocrisy of the transitional government’s supposed support for women. Despite advocating for freedom and justice, supporters of the government, including media outlets, actively mocked and ridiculed female ministers based on their appearance. This contradictory behavior, emanating from within the government’s own ranks, reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s incompetence and discourages their participation in the public sector.” This, coupled with the previously mentioned surge in online violence and lack of protection for women, reveals a deeply concerning environment for women in Sudanese politics.
In 2019, a women’s rights activist launched the “Out a harasser” hashtag to expose sexual predators and encourage survivors to share their stories. When she reported a young politician to his party, they refused to act without a court ruling, highlighting the systemic barriers women face in accessing justice. This lack of accountability for perpetrators, even within supposedly progressive political circles, further contributes to the hostile environment faced by women in Sudan.
Disturbingly, this pattern of intra-party harassment is not unique to Sudan. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has recognized a global trend where women politicians are frequently targeted by men from within their own political parties. This demonstrates a deeply concerning failure of political parties to protect and support their female members, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and hindering their full participation in political life. Taking this, according to the Policy & Internet Journal Research, “The normalization of misogyny and abuse online both reflects and reinforces systemic inequalities. Addressing gender-based violence online will require the intervention of the technology companies that govern the commercial Internet to prevent and combat abuse across networks and services. Addressing GBV and other forms of abuse will require platforms to recognize systemic inequality and entrenched power differentials and design their policies and reporting and enforcement processes accordingly. This will be difficult to accomplish without diversification of the tech workforce.
This hostile online environment impacted women politicians’ online behavior, with some reducing their online participation while others persisted despite the threats. Notably, those who faced high levels of online violence and less public support were more likely to withdraw from participating on social media, highlighting the importance of vocal public support for female government officials. Publicly supporting women facing online abuse can significantly empower them to withstand harassment, persevere through challenges, and maintain their online presence.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, online gender-based violence (OGBV) poses a significant threat to women and girls in Sudan, particularly those in the public sphere. This abuse not only impacts their political engagement and mental health but also discourages their participation in public life. However, public support can make a difference. Countering negative narratives and directly supporting women online can help mitigate the impact of OGBV. Additionally, holding government and political parties accountable for women’s safety and encouraging them to adopt digital engagement policies are crucial steps towards creating safer online spaces. Addressing OGBV requires a multi-pronged approach that includes collective action, advocacy for stronger online protection policies at both national and global levels, and efforts to promote social and behavioral change.