Elise Storme
@elisestorme.bsky.social
1.2K followers 630 following 45 posts
PhD researcher and TA in political science @GASPAR_UGent | Research on political communication, VAWIP and representation | she/her
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Reposted by Elise Storme
psrjournal.bsky.social
🚨New Online First Article!🚨

From Marginalized to Mainstream? An International Comparative Analysis of Gender Differences in Social Media Adoption and Activity by Politicians in Non-Election Times

By @elisestorme.bsky.social

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
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journals.sagepub.com
elisestorme.bsky.social
The broader goal: to map how gender shapes political communication on social media - from who posts, to what they post, to how citizens respond. Stay tuned! 🚀
elisestorme.bsky.social
This paper is only the first step. Next up:

🔎 A content analysis of 250,000+ social media posts → do women & men post differently?
🧪 A survey experiment with AI-generated images → how do voters react to different communication styles?
elisestorme.bsky.social
Taken together, our findings complicate sweeping claims that digital media either flatten or entrench power hierarchies. In routine times, Twitter/X does not widen gender gaps, but neither does it dramatically close them.
elisestorme.bsky.social
Results (unexpected!):

❌ No significant gender differences
❌ No systematic cross-country variation

Do two forces cancel each other out? Equalization (women gain access) vs. Normalization (established actors’ resources & algorithms) + hostile online environments may still deter women’s activity.
elisestorme.bsky.social
Hypotheses:

▶️Women politicians are more likely to adopt
▶️Women politicians are more active users
▶️Gender gaps are larger in countries where women hold less political power
elisestorme.bsky.social
📊 The data: 1,246 MPs in Finland, Belgium, Germany & Ireland → 4 countries with different levels of political power for women

I collected whether each MP had a Twitter/X account and measured their activity (Tweets, Quote Tweets and reactions) for the whole year of 2022.
elisestorme.bsky.social
Unlike most studies (which focus on campaigns), I looked at non-election times - the everyday politics that shape reputations & long-term visibility.
elisestorme.bsky.social
Why this matters:

Traditional media & party gatekeepers restrict women’s visibility. Social media has been hailed as a possible equalizer. But does it really level the playing field?
Reposted by Elise Storme
nefcapolcom.bsky.social
🚨 REMINDER 🚨

Register for the PolCom Classics kickoff with @rensvliegenthart.bsky.social on connections and frictions between political science and communication science - Thu, Sept 25, 12:00–13:00 CEST.

🔗 Joining link will be sent on Wednesday.
nefcapolcom.bsky.social
📢 Launching this fall: PolCom Classics!

A monthly online webinar where leading scholars revisit “classic” themes in political communication - mis/disinfo, framing, digitalization & more.

🗓 Every last Thu, 12–13 CET

First session: Sept 25 w/ @rensvliegenthart.bsky.social.

@nefca.bsky.social
elisestorme.bsky.social
🎉 New webinar series! 🎉

🗓️ Every last Thursday of the month. Join us for the first one on September 25th.

More information and (free) registration link below 👇
nefcapolcom.bsky.social
📢 Launching this fall: PolCom Classics!

A monthly online webinar where leading scholars revisit “classic” themes in political communication - mis/disinfo, framing, digitalization & more.

🗓 Every last Thu, 12–13 CET

First session: Sept 25 w/ @rensvliegenthart.bsky.social.

@nefca.bsky.social
Reposted by Elise Storme
nefcapolcom.bsky.social
🚀 We’re live!

The Political Communication Division of @nefca.bsky.social is now on BlueSky. Follow us for updates on research, events, and conversations in the PolCom community.
elisestorme.bsky.social
At #ecprgc25? Don’t miss “Threats to Democratic Institutions and Political Representatives” - featuring not one but two papers from the sexism project!

❓Why isn’t sexism as easy to detect as we think?
❓How does it shape candidates’ campaign experiences?

Friday at 15:45, Law Building - Room: 312
emilievh.bsky.social
Our new paper on the normalisation of sexism in politics is presented at the #ecprgc25 by our brilliant co-author @clemencedeswert.bsky.social 🎤

📊Drawing on nearly 44,000 social media reactions and interviews with 21 women candidates in the 2024 Belgian elections, we explore how sexism persists -
elisestorme.bsky.social
✈️ Arrived in Madrid for #EPSA to talk about gendered online communication strategies and how we used AI-generated pictures to measure their effect on voter evaluations.

📍 You’ll find me in the panel “Gender and Political Communication” on Thursday at 16.50 in Room 0A.06.

Come and say hi! #EPSA2025
Reposted by Elise Storme
plc-journal.bsky.social
📝Check out this article by @elisestorme.bsky.social @gasparugent.bsky.social "Hard Worker versus Pretty Eyes"
🔗Available in #OpenAccess in Politics of the Low Countries (Vol. 5 No. 3) at: plc-journal.eu/article/view...

#OpenPublishing #PoliticalScience
elisestorme.bsky.social
This was a great course, Amélie! Really learned a lot 😊
elisestorme.bsky.social
📣 GASPAR is looking for two new colleagues!

Interested in research on socio-demographic cues to estimate politicians' ideological positions or losers' consent in the context of salient policy decisions?

More information below 👇
bramwauters.bsky.social
🚨 We have two vacancies for PhD fellows:

- on ideological stereotypes supervised by me and
@robindevroe.bsky.social www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...

- on losers' consent supervised by @annakern.bsky.social
www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...

Join research group @gasparugent.bsky.social in beautiful Ghent
Reposted by Elise Storme
gasparugent.bsky.social
➡️Save the date!⬅️

Interested in political violence, party dynamics and democratic norms? 👀 On 11 June, research group Gaspar has the pleasure to welcome prof. dr. @alessandronai.bsky.social for our Gaspar lecture series!

All are welcome! Registration link 👇
Reposted by Elise Storme
gasparugent.bsky.social
🌎 Five of our researchers are taking their research across borders in 2025. Some have already started their stays abroad, while others will be heading out later this year.

👇 Want to know more?
elisestorme.bsky.social
📢 1 Week left! Call for Abstracts📢

Deadline for #PolEtmaal2025 is fast approaching!

Are you working on gender, representation, or democratic processes? Join us in Groningen for the upcoming PolEtmaal, work-in-progress welcome!

Submit your abstract here: politicologenetmaal.eu/call-for-pap...
elisestorme.bsky.social
Very happy that we were able to contribute to the Gendering Democracy Series for International Women's Day by showcasing part of our study on online and offline sexism during the 2024 elections.

Results on the consequences and a call for action 👇
ecprtheloop.bsky.social
🌈 #GenderingDemocracy No.26
♀️ #IWD25
🗳️ A study by @hildecoffe.bsky.social & colleagues on the 2024 legislative elections in Belgium reveals how sexist attacks, stereotypes & dismissals are damaging careers of women candidates, silencing their voices & discouraging future leaders.
👉 bit.ly/41J1inT
🌈 Sexism in politics: a barrier to women’s representation
Sexism in politics restricts women’s participation and weakens democracy. A study by Hilde Coffé and colleagues on the 2024 legislative elections in Belgium reveals the impact of sexist attacks, stere...
bit.ly
elisestorme.bsky.social
🚨 Reminder! 🚨

With International Women’s Day approaching, there’s no better time to submit your abstract for the Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps workshop at the PolEtmaal 2025!

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025

#PolEtmaal2025
elisestorme.bsky.social
📢 Call for Papers 📢

Working on gender, representation and democratic processes?

Join us in Groningen for the next PolEtmaal (12-13 June) and the second “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps” workshop!

📅 Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025

👉 politicologenetmaal.eu/call-for-pap...
Reposted by Elise Storme