Digital Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) is an evolving form of gender-based violence that manifests in online spaces through harassment, disinformation, and coordinated attacks targeting women leaders. This paper examines how digital platforms, while enabling political participation and public discourse, also reinforce existing power imbalances and patriarchal norms. Drawing on global and Philippine-specific data, the study highlights how women remain underrepresented in politics and disproportionately affected by online violence, which undermines their credibility, discourages participation, and weakens democratic processes.

Focusing especially on the Philippine context, the paper analyzes the structural nature of VAWP, arguing that such violence is not composed of isolated incidents but reflects systemic inequalities embedded in political and digital environments. It explores key manifestations, including gender-based disinformation and psychological manipulation, which weaponize stereotypes and target women’s identities rather than their policies. Case studies of prominent Filipina politicians illustrate how misogyny, trolling, and coordinated propaganda and smear campaigns are used to discredit and silence women in power.

The paper further situates VAWP within feminist and power-based theoretical frameworks, emphasizing how digital spaces reproduce offline inequalities. Despite existing legal protections, significant gaps remain in addressing technology-facilitated abuse against women in politics or in high-level positions.

The study concludes by proposing policy reforms, stronger platform accountability, and public awareness initiatives. It further highlights that addressing digital VAWP is not only essential for protecting women leaders but also for preserving inclusive democratic participation, ensuring fair and gender-balanced representation, and strengthening public trust in political institutions in an increasingly digital society.