The Global Backlash: Why Are Women Fleeing Politics When We Need Them Most?

Remember that time a few years back when everyone was super stoked about women in politics? Yeah, good times. Fast forward to now, and the vibe is… different. It’s like the world decided to hit rewind on progress, leaving many wondering, “Wait, didn’t we already fight for this?”

Democracy in Decline, Women Pushed Aside

The year is (checks notes) yup, still a pretty dystopian-feeling . The bad news? Autocracy is having a major moment, and not the good kind of “moment” like when your sourdough starter finally works. Think more like the “moment” when you realize you accidentally liked your ex’s post from five years ago—awkward and kinda scary. From India to Russia, strongman leaders are winning elections, often by exploiting anxieties and promising simple solutions to complex problems (spoiler alert: it never ends well).

According to the V-Dem Institute, a whopping 70% of the world’s population is now living under autocratic rule. And guess who’s disproportionately feeling the squeeze? You got it—women. It’s like someone hit the pause button, maybe even the rewind button, on women’s political representation. After decades of (admittedly slow) progress, the number of women in parliament has stalled, and the number of women leading countries has straight-up nosedived.

What’s going on here? Well, aside from the obvious—systemic sexism, anyone?—women in politics are facing a perfect storm of obstacles, and frankly, it’s exhausting to watch, let alone live through.

From Threats to Exhaustion: Why Women Are Saying “Peace Out” to Politics

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the trolls in our feeds. The online space, which was once touted as a great equalizer (lol, remember that?), has become a breeding ground for hate speech and harassment. And surprise, surprise, women are bearing the brunt of it. Imagine being bombarded with death threats, rape threats, and a constant stream of vile comments, just for daring to, you know, have opinions and participate in democracy.

It’s no wonder that many women are choosing to peace out of politics altogether. The constant barrage of attacks takes a toll, both personally and professionally. The numbers paint a stark picture: In just a year, the number of women serving as heads of state has plummeted from 38 in 2023 to a dismal 27 in 2024. We’ve seen high-profile resignations from women leaders like Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand, who cited the relentless pressure and abuse as major factors in her decision. And it’s not just those at the very top—women parliamentarians across the globe, including in the US, are leaving office at alarming rates.

The Rise of the Far-Right: A Global Phenomenon Fueled by Misogyny

Okay, buckle up, because things are about to get even more complicated. While the vast majority of power worldwide is still held by men—let’s not forget that crucial point—women aren’t a monolith, and they don’t all share the same political views (shocking, I know). In fact, we’re seeing a disturbing trend of women actively participating in and even leading far-right movements that are, let’s be honest, pretty terrible for women overall.

From Marine Le Pen in France to Giorgia Meloni in Italy, far-right women leaders are gaining traction with their anti-immigrant, neo-Nazi, and Euroskeptic views. These women often present themselves as protectors of “traditional family values,” which, let’s be real, is usually code for rolling back women’s rights and reinforcing patriarchal norms.

The Intersection of Sexism, Technology, and Politics

Let’s face it, the internet can be a cesspool of toxic masculinity, and unfortunately, that toxicity has seeped into the world of politics. We’ve gone from “locker room talk” being a flimsy excuse for blatant sexism to… well, it’s basically become normalized. Remember when Donald Trump bragged about grabbing women “by the p—y”? Yeah, that happened, and somehow, it barely caused a ripple in his political career.

And he’s not alone. From Jair Bolsonaro’s attacks on women journalists to the countless right-wing politicians who seem to think that “feminism” is a dirty word, misogyny has become deeply entrenched in mainstream politics. It’s like a bad case of the flu that just won’t quit—except instead of coughing, it’s spewing out sexist rhetoric and harmful policies.

Adding fuel to the fire is the rise of the “manosphere,” those lovely online communities dedicated to promoting male supremacy and, you guessed it, violence against women. It’s a toxic stew of resentment, misogyny, and conspiracy theories, and it’s finding a disturbingly receptive audience among young men.

The Persistence of Bias and the Need for Change

Here’s a sobering thought: younger generations of men are actually less supportive of feminism than older generations. Yep, you read that right. It seems that somewhere along the way, the message of equality got lost in translation. Maybe it’s the backlash against feminism, maybe it’s the influence of online echo chambers, or maybe it’s just plain old-fashioned sexism rearing its ugly head. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that we have a lot of work to do to dismantle the deeply ingrained biases that hold women back.

And let’s not forget about the structural barriers that women in politics face every single day. From a lack of affordable childcare to persistent wage gaps and the ever-present “boys’ club” mentality, the system is rigged against women from the get-go. It’s like trying to run a marathon with a 50-pound weight strapped to your back—sure, it’s technically possible, but it’s a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be.

The World Values Survey, a massive global research project, consistently shows that people still have a strong preference for men as leaders. It’s a bias that’s so deeply ingrained, we often don’t even realize it’s there. But it is, and it’s time to call it out for what it is: sexism, plain and simple. We need to challenge these outdated notions and recognize that women are just as capable—if not more so—of leading effectively and making a positive impact on the world.

Women Leading Democratic Progress: Examples and Lessons

Okay, enough with the doom and gloom. It’s not all bad news. In fact, there are some seriously badass women out there who are leading the charge for democracy and showing the world what true leadership looks like.

Take Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, who has stood up to Chinese aggression with grace and determination. Or Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, who has been a vocal advocate for European unity in the face of Russian aggression. And let’s not forget the women presidents of Georgia, Kosovo, and Moldova, all of whom are leading their countries through incredibly challenging times.

Then there are the women who are fighting for democracy from the frontlines, like Yulia Navalnaya in Russia and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Belarus. These women are risking their lives to speak truth to power and inspire others to fight for a better future.

These women, and countless others like them, are proving that women are not only capable of leading but that they often bring a unique set of skills and perspectives to the table. They are compassionate, collaborative, and deeply committed to making the world a better place. In other words, exactly the kind of leaders we need right now.