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Character assassination is nothing new in politics. From ancient Rome to the modern-day social media flame wars, public figures—especially women—have faced attacks designed to undermine their credibility, question their authority, and weaponize gender norms against them. This year, George Mason University’s Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) is tackling the intersection of gender, power, and politics in its fifth international conference, set to take place March 20-22, 2025, at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia.
Bringing together scholars and practitioners from around the world, the event will feature a keynote address by Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, who has seen gender-based character assassination first-hand.
Panels will span a range of pressing topics, including media ethics, crisis management, and conflict resolution, offering a deep dive into how gender-based character attacks shape political discourse and decision-making.
“Whether an assertive female politician is accused of being too ‘manly’ or a male leader is derided as ‘wimpy,’ these kinds of gendered character assaults are everywhere,” says I. Sergei Samoilenko, CARP cofounder and assistant professor of communication at George Mason. “Understanding what drives these attacks—and how they differ across cultures, regions, and political systems—is crucial to combatting them.”
The three-day event will host more than 10 panel sessions, featuring experts from over 15 countries with backgrounds in history, political science, communication, and conflict resolution. Schar School of Policy and Government adjunct professor and CARP president Eric B. Shiraev will moderate a panel on international politics and participate on a panel called “Timeless Tropes, New Stories: The Evolving Character Attacks on Women in Leadership.”
The interdisciplinary approach aims to uncover the evolving tactics of political smear campaigns and the role that digital media plays in amplifying gendered attacks, Samoilenko said. With elections looming in the United States and abroad, the timing of this discussion couldn’t be more relevant. In an era where a viral tweet can shape public opinion overnight, political leaders and media professionals alike must understand the mechanisms behind character assassination—especially when it comes to gendered narratives.
“The field of character assassination and reputation management has changed since 2019 when the CARP lab held its last George Mason conference on the dangers of populism,” he said. “Since that time, scholars and practitioners have witnessed new reputational challenges as a result of AI-driven deepfake campaigns and cancel culture.
“Today, trickster characters and agents of disorder abound on modern media platforms, where trolls, pranksters, and other strategic actors frequently attack political leaders and corporate executives. Cause-driven campaigns and social movements now use disruptive and subverting techniques to push companies and change public opinion. They challenge corporate identities, take over organizing narratives, question conventions, and stir audiences. “
These reputational assaults, he said, “are particularly detrimental when hostile actors aim to create widespread reputational crises and destroy companies. Given that character assassination appears in struggles for power, it should not surprise us that character assassins grab any tools at their disposal to gain the upper hand over opponents. Gendered character attacks typically accuse a target of acting in a way that is inappropriate for their gendered identity.”
The conference is free for student observers, and general non-George Mason attendees can register online at the CARP Conference website at this page.