Like the feeling of being fed up. On February 8, Marion Nadaud, communications director of the National Assembly’s environmental group, created the Instagram account @balancetonintimidation. The target? List the hate messages received daily by MPs on social networks. On the program: racist insults, sexist comments, death threats, rape (or both)… In short, a fascinating synthesis of violence, aimed at muzzling women who would have the misfortune to enter politics.
Report and discourage
” It’s a very small action, but it’s to show them that we won’t let him go “, explained Marion Nadaud alAFP extension. To date, the account has 19 posts, each more aggressive than the next. In the crosshairs of these cyberstalkers we find above all the elected environmentalists who arrived at the Assembly last year: Cyrielle Chatelain, Lisa Belluco, Marie-Charlotte Garin, Julie Laernoes and Sandrine Rousseau.
However, ” insults and threats against women are far from reserved for environmentalists. [Elles] involve all political parties “, specifies Marion Nadaud, who does not exclude that this” reporting tool be extended to all political parties. It is also a way for targeted women to no longer feel alone in the face of insults: ” Social networks do not protect women from violent messages. Until justice adapts, overtaken by the speed of the networks, we cannot wait for something to happen. »
“There’s a peak every time I talk about feminism”
Sandrine Rousseau, repeatedly targeted by violent cyberbullying campaigns in the past year, notes the sexual nature of the insults she receives, especially when she mentions feminism: “ What I find surprising is how sexualized the insults are […] We are deep into the domain. It also shows rape culture. As soon as a woman doesn’t satisfy them, she goes “I’ll fuck you” “, deplores the deputyAFP extension.
On November 15, 2022, 285 female politicians published in The world a platform that asks ” remove perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence of political life. Widely used, this forum has previously triggered a wave of testimonials on social networks, collected under the hashtag #MeTooPolitique. But there is still a long way to go, as demonstrated by the talks held last Thursday in the hemicycle.
Cover image: Frederic Köberl
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
