Women in politics continue to face patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes, which in contemporary society increasingly take on new forms through digital violence and misogynistic discourse directed at female politicians. This represents a growing barrier, particularly for younger women considering entering politics.
Although significant legislative progress has been made in recent years toward increasing women’s representation in politics, gender equality should not be viewed solely through formal representation. Rather, it must primarily be understood as a matter of real influence, decision-making power, and opportunities for political advancement. In this regard, the findings of our research on women’s participation in local politics in Montenegro, conducted in November 2025, are concerning. They indicate that female politicians often perceive that women are present within party structures, but not always in the circles where key political decisions are made. Such findings point to a gap between formal mechanisms for gender equality and the actual power dynamics within political parties, while new obstacles to women’s political engagement are emerging in the public sphere.
Digital violence against women in politics is becoming an increasingly visible form of political pressure and an attempt to discredit them. Patriarchal narratives that once pushed women out of public life are now being reproduced in the digital sphere through misogynistic comments, disparagement, and the public targeting of female politicians.
Of particular concern is the fact that, based on requests for free access to information submitted to courts, the prosecution, and the Police Directorate to obtain data on reports and proceedings related to hate speech against women in politics—namely criminal offenses committed out of hatred or discrimination based on sex, gender, or women’s political activity—these institutions stated that they do not maintain records of such cases. This indicates that attacks visible in the public sphere are clearly not being recorded as a distinct category of gender-based violence against female politicians. Instead, in practice, they are often classified as misdemeanors or other offenses of a lower degree of responsibility, which contributes to their institutional invisibility.
Increasing quotas to 40% in the Government, on electoral lists, and on the boards of state-owned enterprises represents an important step toward formal equality. However, quotas alone cannot change political culture nor ensure substantive equality. Gender equality is not measured solely by the number of women in politics, but by their real influence, opportunities for advancement, and safety in the public sphere. Participation in political life is a fundamental democratic right to take part in public affairs, which is why no woman should be discouraged from political engagement due to stereotypes, digital violence, or the lack of institutional protection.
