CARP V: Gender, Power, and Politics
5th CARP Conference: Gender, Power, and Politics in Character Assassination
March 20–22, 2025 · Mason Square Campus, Arlington, Virginia
Conference Overview
Examining how gender, power, and politics intersect in character assassination attacks, featuring insights
from U.S. and international scholars studying gendered character attacks and reputation management.
In struggles for power, savvy character assassins use all the tools at their disposal to gain the upper hand
over their opponents. Gendered character attacks typically accuse a target of acting in a way that is
inappropriate for their gendered identity. This may involve accusing a male politician of being “wimpy”
or suggesting that a female politician is acting in a masculine or aggressive manner when she takes decisive action.
The 2025 CARP conference is organized and hosted by the Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Politics
(CARP) at the Department of Communication, George Mason University. This conference will feature insights from
numerous U.S. and international scholars and practitioners studying different aspects of character assassination
and reputation management.
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Address: Friday, March 21 • 1:00–2:00 p.m. • Multipurpose Room 126
Conference Details
Dates & Location
- March 20–22, 2025
- Mason Square Campus – George Mason University, Arlington, VA
- Metro Access – Virginia Square–GMU station
Venues by Day
- Thursday, March 20 – Pilot Space, Vernon Smith Hall
- Friday, March 21 – Multipurpose Rooms 125 and 126, Van Metre Hall
- Saturday, March 22 – Rooms 111 and 113, Van Metre Hall
Conference Features
- Live Broadcast – Friday, March 21 sessions
- International Speakers – Scholars from U.S., Europe, and beyond
- Networking Events – Welcome reception and dinner socials
- Catered Meals – Breakfast and lunch provided
Evening Events
- Thursday Evening – The Liberty Tavern dinner social
- Friday Evening – Green Pig Bistro dinner social
- Saturday Evening – Medium Rare Restaurant dinner social
Conference Themes
Gender and Power Dynamics
- Gendered character attacks on women in power
- Masculinity and “wimpy” accusations against male politicians
- Female politicians accused of being too aggressive
- Gender-based attacks in global politics
Media and Journalism
- Character assassination of female journalists
- Gender representation in political media
- Communicating gender and power in journalism
- Digital environment attacks and methods
Political Communication
- Gendered meme attacks and social media
- Inoculation theory and gender
- Cancel culture and political discourse
- Attack politics transformation in digital age
Historical and International Perspectives
- Character assassination in ancient and modern history
- International politics and gender framing
- Cross-cultural studies of reputation attacks
- Corporate social responsibility and reputation
Conference Schedule
Thursday, March 20 – Vernon Smith Hall
Friday, March 21 – Van Metre Hall (Live Broadcast)
Saturday, March 22 – Van Metre Hall
Registration & Participation
Event Registration
Official Registration Portal
Register for the CARP V 2025 Conference through George Mason University
Live Broadcast
Conference Related Videos
Explore video content that connects to the key themes discussed at the CARP 2025 Conference on Gender, Power, and Politics in Character Assassination.
An overview of character assassination research methodologies and key concepts explored by the CARP Lab.
Analysis of contemporary political discourse and the role of gender in modern conflicts.
Exploring how institutional trust crisis affects democratic discourse and character assassination dynamics.
Related Research Content
Explore additional CARP Lab research on gender, power, and character assassination that connects to
the themes discussed at the 2025 conference.
Gender and Character Assassination Research
A comprehensive overview of the CARP Lab’s research program and methodological approaches to studying
gender dynamics in character assassination and political discourse.
The CARP Lab’s research program directly addresses the challenges explored at the 2025 conference,
providing evidence-based insights into how gender intersects with character assassination in political
contexts and its effects on democratic discourse and representation.
Learn more about ongoing research into gendered political attacks, reputation management strategies,
and the strategic use of character assassination in undermining women’s political participation and leadership.