We Should No Longer Be Taking Attacks Against Women In the Public Sphere for Granted

By A’shanti F. Gholar

Former Vermont State Representative was forced to step down from her seat in the legislature after she received a barrage of violent threats and harassment // Photo courtesy of Voice of America.

The story of women triumphing despite the odds being stacked against them is one that we’ve watched play out time and time again throughout history. This is especially true in American politics where, since our country’s founding, affluent, property-owning men have remained dominant. In recent years, women have shattered expectations and barriers, rising to the ranks of Vice President and elected office at every level. But in reaching new heights, they have paid a hefty price, succeeding in the face of intense and often violent backlash, harassment and attacks.

It should come as no surprise that in the public sphere, women continue to bear the brunt of harassment and violence. Multiple reports and news articles point to a dangerous increase in targeted and sexualized attacks on women, especially women of color who experience the additional layer of racism. The advent of social media and an explosion in online media such as blogs have made it easier for these types of attacks against women to flourish and go largely unchecked. However, in the wake of this unfortunate phenomenon, what has been most disappointing is our society’s general acceptance of it and what seems to be our collective view that it is “normal.” This points to a moral failure of epic proportions.

In recent weeks, women in office have shared their harrowing stories of being on the receiving end of harassment and violence. At an event in her district in early July, it was reported that Rep. Katie Porter and attendees were put into immediate danger after right-wing protestors and opponents caused a scuffle to break out. Rep. Cori Bush, who is the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress, has shared examples of white supremacist threats on her life.

At the state level, Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott shared that she feels like she needs to be prepared in case a shooter targeting Black members enters the state capitol. As the leader of a prominent Democratic women’s organization, I myself have been on the receiving end of vitriol from members of the public both during and after media appearances for simply speaking out about the realities of being a woman of color in this country.

And it’s not just in politics.

New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones has faced an onslaught of racist attacks, threats and harassment since the release of the 1619 Project, which examines the role of slavery in America’s trajectory. Her screenshots of emails containing repeated use of the n-word by detractors is telling of how widespread and relentless the problem has become. In various sectors from the business industry to the military, it is also apparent that women are under siege.

It is clear that the increasing attacks against women in power are part of a larger and more insidious plan: to silence us. The goal is to use violence and threats against women as a vessel to confuse us and distract us from the important work we are doing to change this country for the better. What we must remember is that this fight is not over and in many ways, it has only just begun.

We all have a responsibility to create a system of accountability where there are real consequences for those who abuse their power. It is certainly heartening to see that some of our nation’s institutions and organizations like social media companies are starting to take this issue more seriously, but much more work is needed. Recent movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have shown just how powerful we can be when we come together and use the strength of our collective stories to call attention to the problems that are ultimately a threat to our democracy and our futures. It has become much harder for our nation’s institutions to ignore us but it will take all of us pushing back and refusing to accept these conditions to truly change such deeply rooted and systemic issues.

At a time when our nation is undergoing a necessary and overdue reckoning on critical issues like race and gender, they won’t shut us up.