[Reading Science] "Threatened with Sexual Violence for Advocating Climate Change"... Scientists Under Attack

International Nonprofit Organization Survey Results
40% of Climate Scientists Experienced Online Attacks

"Nevertheless, the Earth moves." This is a phrase attributed to Galileo Galilei, who was tried by the religious authorities in 1663 for advocating the heliocentric theory. A recent study shows that nowadays, climate scientists face similar challenges. They suffer from harassment, insults, and even threats of sexual violence while explaining climate change patterns and persuading responses through academic papers, media outlets, and social media.

On the 9th, the international academic journal Nature reported that the nonprofit organization Global Witness conducted a survey of climate change researchers worldwide at the end of last year. The results showed that 4 out of 10 respondents had experienced online attacks. Specifically, among the 468 researchers who responded to the survey, 183 (39%) reported experiencing harassment, insults, sexist slurs, or threats of sexual violence.

First, researchers who published many papers or had frequent exposure were more likely to be victims. Only 24% of researchers who published fewer than six papers reported experiencing online harassment or insults, whereas 49% of those who published ten or more papers did. Among researchers who appeared in the media at least once a month (13% of respondents), a staggering 73% had been insulted, and 29% of them said the insults were "very severe" or "considerable." Even among researchers who never appeared in the media (19% of respondents), 12% reported experiencing online insults. Most researchers who were insulted faced attacks on their credibility (81%) and research achievements (91%).

Protesters of the Red Brigade against the use of fossil fuels
(London AFP=Yonhap News) On April 1, 2022 (local time), activists of the 'Red Brigade' participating in the climate change prevention group 'Extinction Rebellion' protest in front of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, UK, are protesting against the use of fossil fuels, dressed in costumes wrapped entirely in red cloth. 2022.4.1
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In particular, female researchers suffered relatively more severe attacks compared to their male counterparts. Among female scientists who were insulted or harassed, 34% reported attacks related to their sexual identity, and 13% disclosed threats of sexual violence. For men, this was only 3%. Additionally, 17% of women experienced "very severe" or "considerable" harassment related to age, such as being told they were "too young," which is more than three times the rate of men (5%). The rates of threats of sexual harassment or physical violence were also higher among women at 13%. Nineteen percent of female scientists and 16% of male scientists reported threats of physical violence.

Helen Muri, a senior researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, shared, "It is common to receive abusive calls not only through social media, messengers, article comments, or emails but also to family members and workplaces." She added, "I hear things like 'go commit suicide,' threats of being hunted down, calls to my father to intimidate me, and sexist remarks such as 'this kind of (climate change) research should be done by men.'"

Climate change researchers who have experienced such violence suffer significant aftereffects. More than half of the victims reported anxiety (46% of men, 62% of women) and fear of damage to their professional reputation (48% of men, 58% of women). Many also experienced loss of productivity (43% of men, 58% of women), sleep disorders, fear of work, concerns for personal safety, depression, and social isolation. Some even suffered illnesses due to stress or physical injuries from attacks. Among the social media platforms where these attacks occurred, Twitter accounted for the largest share at 44%, followed by Facebook (31%), LinkedIn (7%), and Instagram (4%).

Regarding these conditions, Global Witness, which conducted the survey, emphasized the importance of self-regulation efforts by social media companies as the top priority countermeasure. The organization urged, "Do not create a harmful environment, take faster action against content that clearly violates policies, and conduct human rights impact assessments."