Yorkregion.com - Columns - Females still have tougher time in politics
Females still have tougher time in politics
Debora Kelly
Columns
May 01, 2008 09:37 AM
By: Debora Kelly
Women in politics are held to a different standard than men.
It’s not an excuse, justification or victimization; it’s a reality — a reality that both annoys and distresses me, but a reality nonetheless.
The most apparent example of this enduring double standard is currently on display in the United States, where Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the Democratic presidential leadership has ignited a debate about the role of women in politics — a point that’s more important to many Americans than the issues and her qualifications.
Progressive Neanderthals think Senator Clinton should be grateful she even has a chance to make a grab for the brass ring.
Women are often the most diligent in upholding bias. During her bid for a Senate seat, polling showed Mrs. Clinton’s campaign team that “suburban women, in particular, detested her”.
“They saw her as cold and unfeminine and wanted to see a more human, vulnerable side,” states author Michael Tomasky in Hillary’s Turn. “Intelligence and strength became, as these women saw in Hillary, negative qualities.”
Words such as threatening, ruthless, controlling, cold and greedy for power are used to describe her. Those very traits get a positive spin for a man; strong, focused, determined, powerful, controlled, professional and ambitious.
A woman’s motives are questioned in a way a man’s are not.
Without comparing Senator Clinton’s high-profile battle to the current woes of York Region’s two first-term female mayors, I think gender is also a factor in their struggles.
Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson has lurched from crisis to crisis since taking her seat after a closely fought, vicious battle 18 months ago. She continues to face off against opponents in the courtroom and around the council table.
It’s easy to see why the mayor is taking it personally, beginning with her fellow councillors’ unprecedented endorsement of the former mayor.
Mayor Jackson admits attempts to heal the rifts have largely been ineffective: “I’ve taken them out three times for dinner to see what we can do to move this along … I think there (are) permanent scars and wounds that won’t heal.”
She told us, “I have been constantly harassed and harangued since I’ve been elected and I’m fed up and I’ve absolutely had enough of it.”
Aurora Mayor Phyllis Morris, too, now says she’ll put her foot down after 18 months of abuse, outbursts, accusations and bickering around the council table. Last week, one of her rookie councillors, Grace Marsh, walked away from the job because of it (which, unfortunately, doesn’t do much to help women’s reputation in politics).
Mayor Morris responds, “I’m fighting back: I’m not going to be polite anymore.”
If they were men, some issues would have been excused due to their inexperience as fledging mayors. If they were men, it’s likely they wouldn’t have been subjected to the personal comments and judgment about appearance and demeanour.
If they were men, it’s likely they wouldn’t have been dragged into a personality contest it has become for both of them.
York Region’s third female mayor, Margaret Black, is a political veteran of 14 years who runs a smooth operation in King. But she recalls divisive, abusive battles in her early years she links to her gender.
She doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge women in politics face issues men don’t.
“People are very free in making personal comments,” she says.
She learned not to take things personally by focusing on the issues, remaining firm in her belief it’s “extremely important” women are involved in politics.
As Senator Clinton said, with tears in her eyes prior to the New Hampshire primary, “It’s not easy and I couldn’t do it if I didn’t passionately believe it was the right thing to do.”
Women and men are different, in politics, in business, in life — people have to stop seeing that as a bad thing. If we are to move forward, we need strong, confident, capable and caring leaders (of which we aren’t exactly overwhelmed with at the moment) of both genders. That won’t happen if we can’t get past the gender issues.