From visibility to vulnerability: how women scientists face gendered hostility in science communication
For science communicators and policymakers, it reveals structural gender biases in public engagement that require institutional interventions.
This study investigates gendered hostility in science communication, finding that 56.9% of women scientists in Spain face negative incidents compared to 46.2% of men, with women more likely to encounter sexist remarks and challenges to their scientific capacity.
Public communication of science has become a central component in the relationship between science and society. However, the media exposure of research staff has given rise to new forms of hostility, especially in digital environments. The study Experiences of researchers who interact with the media and social networks in Spain [Science Media Centre Spain, 2024] investigates - via a survey (N=237) - the incidence and typology of these attacks in the Spanish context. More than half of the research staff (51.05%) reported experiencing negative incidents, with a higher prevalence among women (56.9%) than men (46.2%). The attacks differ by gender: women face more challenges regarding their scientific capacity and sexist remarks, whereas men are more frequently targeted over their professional integrity. These dynamics reveal structural gender biases that affect the wellbeing and legitimacy of female scientists, emphasising the need for institutional policies with a gender perspective.