Understanding Sexism and Sexual Harassment in Politics: A Comparison of Westminster Parliaments in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada

The widespread problem of sexual harassment has made headlines around the world, including in political legislatures. Using public accounts of sexism and sexual harassment, we highlight the longstanding pervasiveness of these problems in three countries: Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Although sexual harassment is a global issue, our aim is to show how the shared rules, practices, and norms of these Westminster institutions perpetuate sexist cultures that produce unequal and unsafe work conditions for female politicians. The findings highlight some of the unique challenges female politicians face in their representational and policy-making roles across legislative settings.