www.silverguide.site –

Reading Stella Creasy’s piece about the online abuse she received after sharing an image of herself enjoying a silent disco in her constituency filled me with a mix of anger and weary understanding (When I get abused just for dancing, it shows how far hatred of politicians has gone, 7 April).

My own research in this area, which now spans almost a decade, has consistently shown that women working across the public sphere are targeted with misogynistic online abuse, and that what happens in digital spaces echoes other forms of gender‑based violence.

My work also demonstrates that the online abuse directed at women in high‑profile, public‑facing occupations typically comprises seven elements: defamation, emotional harm, harassment, threat, belittlement, silencing and criticism of appearance. At least one of these elements appears in every abusive encounter.

The detail of the abuse Creasy shared reinforces this pattern. Attacks on her appearance and competence sit alongside multiple violent threats. The accusation that she is a “traitor” is also a familiar trope within the defamatory abuse women receive.

In my book Gendered Online Abuse Against Women in Public Life: More Than Just Words, I show that one of the most common defamatory attacks recounted by women experiencing online abuse is precisely this charge of betrayal – an allegation that prompts many to question their occupational activity and public role. Creasy’s experience reflects this dynamic: whether framed as a direct accusation or an implied slur, the articulation of such allegations is frequent and often feels relentless.

The impact is wide‑ranging. While Creasy, along with other high‑profile female politicians such as Jess Phillips, Caroline Nokes and Hannah Spencer, appears to possess the fortitude and resilience required to withstand this misogynistic onslaught on a daily basis, many other women – often younger, and still deciding what kinds of careers they wish to pursue – conclude that this level of abuse is simply too great. Their subsequent withdrawal from the public sphere is a loss to us all.
Dr Susan Watson
Lecturer in criminal justice and social policy, University of York

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.