whisper networks

Whisper networks are informal communication channels, typically among women, used to share warnings about individuals who pose risks—especially sexual harassers or abusers in professional settings.

Before formal reporting mechanisms existed or when official channels failed, these networks allowed people to quietly alert others about dangerous colleagues or superiors.

The whisper network had long warned new hires about the department head's behavior.

The term gained prominence during the #MeToo movement, highlighting both their protective function and the systemic failures that make them necessary.