This week, I pointed out that an all-male panel at a political event was inadequate and called for at least one woman to be a voice. In response, I was called sexist and a fraud, sworn at, accused of being a BBC plant to disrupt the campaign, and labelled anti-independence by a online cohort made up overwhelmingly of white, older men. Apparently, being an elected representative of the SNP and dedicated campaigner for Scottish independence doesn’t meet the bar set to be a Yes voter.

The Twitter spat started over a controversial anti-BBC protest, in which no women were confirmed to speak. During the independence referendum, I was a freelance TV researcher working periodically out of Pacific Quay. During one of the BBC bias protests I was welcoming contributors into the building when I was shouted at by a man in a mask and told I was a traitor. It knocked me for six.

While there are legitimate concerns about coverage of political debates on the BBC, and compelling research-based evidence showing bias on the question of independence, the response should not be to intimidate workers who themselves have their own political opinions.

Almost four years have passed since the independence referendum. The dust has settled and new voices have emerged. While many are invigorating, inspiring and full of fresh ideas in line with my own experience of the independence movement, others are reflective of a more worrying trend. Amid this fresh wave of voices rests a mass of self-styled prophetic men online who believe that they are profound “thinkers” and the source of truth.

These men amass a dedicated following online who will defend their every word, which is a real issue when you’re trying to have a civil conversation on the topic of female representation in the hope that someone might actually change their mind.

The response is often such that legitimate arguments and concerns are lost in a sea of abuse and accusations. In my case this week, the reaction was overtly sexist. My intellect, professionalism and ability to do my job was publicly brought into question, simply because I dared to ask about female representation.

I am exasperated that I even have to explain why female representation must be an integral part of any rally, but I will.

First, if we are going to win the next independence referendum, we need to win the hearts and minds of women and convince them to get out on the day and cast their vote.

Learning from 2014, we know women were more likely to vote No than men. And in the current political climate, hearing from women is a necessity. Women are disproportionately affected by austerity. We live in a systemically sexist society that values men over women. That fact has been exacerbated further by the Tories’ austerity agenda, with women bearing 86 per cent of the austerity burden.

Time and time again, we hear that unqualified or mediocre women will be chosen to speak, stand for election, or sit on a board if there are gender quotas. Indeed, when I asked about female representation at the rally, I was told that it matters more what speakers have to say than their gender.

This is an assumption that we don’t have enough women of sufficient talent to fill these roles, which is categorically untrue. And if you don’t think our inherently systemically sexist society doesn’t make space for incompetent men, I have two words for you: Donald Trump.

To think that politics is a male-dominated sphere because men are there on merit is to think that women – literally half of the world – are less qualified and capable, which we know to be a ridiculous, outdated falsehood.

The benefits of ensuring women are represented for me are twofold. First, it sends a message to all women that you are valued, that your input is not only wanted but it is essential to the shaping of this debate. It lets women know that we are on the agenda and we have the right to be heard.

Second, it increases the visibility of women. I am a huge believer that you have to see it to be it.

In Scotland, we have incredible female role models. With the majority of our major political parties led by

women, now we just need to make sure there is space for them. Here is where the problem rests, because men have been content with an unrestricted platform in politics. When equality is introduced, too many men feel like they are the victims, the oppressed.

And indeed it is mediocre men who have the most to worry about. Returning to their “I care more about what someone has to say than their gender” adage begs the question “why are you so worried about women speaking?” In any social or political movement, the responsibility for promoting inclusion must not rest simply with event organisers and women. It is time for men – all men – to fully appreciate the importance of this goal and play their full part in achieving it.

With global movements such as MeToo and Time's Up, women are having their voice heard. I have shared my story in these pages before. Women are more empowered and ready to challenge a legacy of inequality preserved by the current systems of power.

The view that we can address these societal problems after independence has never been viable. As for the loud and proud mass of self-styled prophetic men online, they need to get with the times, or risk losing us essential votes in the next independence referendum.

Rhiannon Spear is SNP councillor for Greater Pollok in Glasgow, an independence activist and founder of Generation Yes. She is currently studying law at Glasgow University