Women have made significant inroads into political life in recent years, but in many parts of the world, their increased engagement has spurred attacks, intimidation, and harassment. This book provides the first comprehensive account of this phenomenon, exploring how women came to give these experiences a name: violence against women in politics. Tracing its global emergence as a concept, Mona Lena Krook draws on insights from multiple disciplines--political science, sociology, history, gender studies, economics, linguistics, psychology, and forensic science--to develop a more robust version of this concept to support ongoing activism and inform future scholarly work. Krook argues that violence against women in politics is not simply a gendered extension of existing definitions of political violence privileging physical aggressions against rivals. Rather, it is a distinct phenomenon involving a broad range of harms to attack and undermine women as political actors, taking physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and semiotic forms. Incorporating a wide range of country examples, she illustrates what this violence looks like in practice, catalogues emerging solutions around the world, and considers how to document this phenomenon more effectively. Highlighting its implications for democracy, human rights, and gender equality, the book asserts that addressing this issue requires ongoing dialogue and collaboration to ensure women's equal rights to participate--freely and safely--in political life around the globe.

Winner, Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order

About the Author
Mona Lena Krook is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Women and Politics Ph.D. Program at Rutgers University. Since 2015, she has collaborated with the National Democratic Institute on its #NotTheCost campaign to stop violence against women in politics.

Reviews
In Mona Lena Krook's skillful bridging of theory and practice, all have been heard: academics, researchers, activists, and importantly, political women themselves. Enough chat. If we don't take Krook's cue to end the backlash that political women endure, then politics won't be inclusive, responsive, or accountable, and barely democratic. * Sandra Pepera, Senior Associate and Director for Gender, Women and Democracy, National Democratic Institute *
Now that women are finally arriving in politics they are confronting new problems. This landmark volume maps different forms of silencing and brings them together in a powerful new framework for analyzing the many-sided nature of violence against women in politics. Global in reach, it will be a boon for scholars, practitioners, and activists alike. * Marian Sawer, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University *


Awards
Winner of Winner, 2022 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order, University of Louisville.



Book Information
ISBN 9780190088477
Author Mona Lena Krook
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 488g
Dimensions(mm) 237mm * 167mm * 23mm