Violence against women in politics, online and offline, has become an everyday phenomenon. Experiencing violence impacts politicians – this is relatively well-documented and studied. But what “side effects” does witnessing violence have on the ambition and motivation of young women to enter politics? In this new report, Zahra Runderkamp and Judith de Jong find that violence deters aspirants. Especially alarming is that the research shows that violence makes young women withdraw already in the stage of aspirant, so even before they are elected. When women withdraw from politics, not only is political talent lost, it also perpetuates underrepresentation of women in politics now and in the future.