Invisible Armor: How Violence Affects Self-Censoring Behavior in Local Office in the United States

Scholars, officeholders, advocacy organizations, and the media have expressed concern that the growing violence against officeholders harms democracy by increasing politicians’ self-censorship in office. Self-censoring includes avoiding contact with constituents, avoiding addressing controversial issues, and depressed political ambition. This may be particularly true for women as they are more likely than men to experience violence and more of specific types of violence. Using a survey of all U.S. mayors in cities of 10,000+, we demonstrate that violent experiences do indeed result in meaningful self-censorship. We also find that self-censorship is more prevalent for women largely because women face more and more personalized violence such as sexualized violence. Thus, this research contributes to the literature by examining the relationship between violence—including levels and types—and self-censoring behaviors by officeholders. It adds a new layer of understanding of the consequences of violence aimed at those who hold public elective office.