Advice for women in politics

By the end of this week, Nova Scotia could be making provincial history if two women become leaders of major parties. Congratulations to Claudia Chender, who won the NDP party leadership by acclamation less than two weeks ago, and perhaps to political rookie, Angela Simmonds, who could be elected on Saturday to lead the Liberals.

Women who put themselves forward as candidates in elections are very brave people. They have to be prepared to be on the receiving end of a lot of ugly and over-the-top criticism. All politicians do, and yet, women are subjected to more personal attacks on things that have nothing to do with ability. To say that both Claudia and Angela will have to have a thick skin is an understatement.

TAKE THREATS SERIOUSLY

A recent example of what women politicians experience came to light last week when Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Amanda MacDougall disclosed difficulties with a person’s comments on social media that she should “watch her back," and that she “may be in for a big surprise."

Women take remarks like this seriously. We have to. Men have no idea what it is like to walk around in a woman’s body. In the majority of cases it is a biological fact that we are smaller and weaker than men. We can’t walk across a dark parking lot after late-night grocery shopping without having our senses heightened and being in constant awareness of where other people are. We are not physically afraid, necessarily, but we are on constant guard.

In Cape Breton, CBRM deputy mayor Earlene MacMullin and high-profile NDP candidate and LGTBQ2S+ activist, Madonna Doucette, have also talked about threats sent their way both recently and in the past.

Having seen the not-toopretty inside of a party caucus room, allow me to give women who may jump into the political fray in the future a bit of unsolicited advice:

1. Stay true to yourself and your values and priorities. It’s really easy to be changed by a system that values power over honesty and compassion.

2. Surround yourself with good friends — especially those who knew you pre-politics. Ask them to be in your “posse” and have your back through everything. I think fondly of Halifax Fairview MLA, Eileen O’Connell, who travelled to meetings with a gang of close friends. They made sure she would never be attacked verbally or had to stand alone.

3. Always keep your cool. The epitome of grace could always be found in Cape Breton-The Lakes MLA Helen MacDonald. As NDP caucus chair, she provided a voice of reason and a great foil to the foolishness that bounced off the walls during caucus meetings. She had her party leader’s respect and his ear. Still, she had the guts to rebuke him when he once told a female MLA that she was “nothing without the NDP.”

4. When your male colleague tells you politics is a hockey game and “we’re” playing offense or defense — bring him back to reality. The people of Nova Scotia who elected you to represent them are much more than an aging sport jock’s fantasy hockey pool.

5. And speaking of hockey, don’t condone MLA colleagues' visits to the upper box of a Moosehead’s game as the guest of a major utility in Nova Scotia. If that isn’t bad enough, he might return to caucus afterwards with pages and pages of suggested “policy” concerning your party’s approach to said utility and its operation. That’s never a good look!

6. Don’t read social media yourself. Have a trusted friend read it and block all the stupid stuff, while weeding out the concerns of people that need to be addressed. 7. Fill out your expense sheets honestly and judiciously — no matter what the party whip asks you to do so you don’t embarrass the rest of them. Ground yourself in your own ethics at all times.

8. Stick up for fellow female colleagues — even if they aren’t members of your party. My heart broke one night when the amazing and long-time Bedford MLA, Francene Cosman, missed an important meeting. Her absence was the fodder of vicious things said about her lack of commitment to the people in her riding. Attendees at the meeting were told that she was away on a personal matter but that didn’t matter. Shouts of “she’s golfing in Florida” came from the floor. Even entreaties from all other politicians in the room to allow her this one absence were rudely rebuffed. As it turned out, Francene was sitting by the bedside of her dying partner. Women who enter politics should know that your personal life is of no consequence to some people who just want you around for their own benefit.

9. Remember that you may not have been elected by all the people in your riding. In fact, you probably got just over a third of their votes. But you DO represent each one of them. You may have differences, but they deserve your respect and your time.

10. As for leadership, listen to respected people in your party but trust your gut. And when all hell breaks loose when you make a decision (and it will!) know that you arrived at the place you are because of your intellect, life experiences, kindness and willingness to accept renewal and diversity and see it as a strength.

WOMEN MUST BE HEARD

We need more women in politics. Women have voices, ideas and concerns that need to be heard and have been pushed aside for too long.

Until very recently, Canada was ranked 50th in the world for women’s participation in politics. That’s unacceptable, embarrassing and kind of scary in relation to our future policies and laws. Yes, women “do” politics differently than the traditional ways. Maybe, given our times, that’s a really good thing.