A crucial contribution of the study is its longitudinal design over eleven months. By linking weekly exposure to misogynistic attacks with subsequent changes in the candidates’ own activity, the analysis demonstrates that weeks with higher exposure levels of misogynistic abuse were followed by a measurable reduction in the targeted candidates’ tweeting behaviour. This deterring effect suggests that online misogyny not only harms individuals but also undermines women’s political engagement at decisive moments of democratic debate.

The article also adds evidence from a largely under-researched context: While most existing studies on online abuse against politically active women focus on Western democracies, this research provides systematic insights from Brazil - one of the world’s largest democracies, marked by both vibrant digital political discourse and stark inequalities. By documenting how online misogyny silences female candidates, the research highlights the urgent need for social media platforms, political institutions, and electoral authorities to address online harassment in order to safeguard women’s equal participation in politics.

The publication is part of the research project “Understanding, Detecting, and Mitigating Online Misogyny against Politically Active Women” funded by the Bavarian Research Institute for the Digital Transformation (bidt).
You can read the full article on the publishers website.