Politics is still a man’s world.
While B.C. has many strong, independent women in office, and running for office, politics, especially at the municipal level, is still dominated by men.
“We need to find a way for women to be good women in politics,” said Vision candidate Andrew Reimer.
At a Women in Politics discussion on Wednesday night six politicians, some incumbent, spoke about how they got into politics, and the trials and challenges they face as women.
Sandy Sharma, Elizabeth Ball, Sandra Garossino, Cherie Payne, Reimer, and Ellen Woodsworth were on the panel.
The audience was made up of female senior executives and CEOs, and women at the top of their profession, and yet the discussion quickly turned to the barriers women politicians face compared to men. With one of the biggest questions being ‘can you be a mother and a politician?’
“Children are never a barrier, for women or men,” said Reimer. She explained that in her opinion the way to overcome the potential problems is to have a team of people that work to support you.
Reimer spoke about the differences between asking a woman to run for office versus a man. Men ask questions about how much the job pays, while a woman will say she doesn’t know enough about the job to possibly fulfill that role. “Funnily I’ve never had a man say that to me,” she said, and the crowd laughed.
All the women agreed that politics is still very much a boy’s club; Payne remarked that she has noticed sometimes her mere presence in a room changes the tone.
Women politicians often take time to consider what they are wearing to various events, and believed men don’t agonize as much over those same decisions. Woodsworth spoke about how she often thinks about what kind of suit to wear, a power suit or a more feminine suit? The decision can make a difference.
“The reality is we do change ourselves when we get into these positions, and to get into these positions,” she said.
Ball countered that, saying “I don’t think most strong women actually change who they are when they get into politics.” She believes the policies are what’s important.
“I don’t think I have become somebody else,” she added.
“I think it’s the ultimate challenge,” admitted Woodsworth, but commented there are many good points to accepting that challenge.
There are so many changes politicians can make at the City level, and that is why this panel wants more women to get involved in municipal politics.
“I feel very very strongly that we have to start writing the future ourselves and we have to start doing it in our own way,” said Garossino.
The panel was made up of:
Sandy Sharma – NPA school board candidate
Elizabeth Ball – NPA council candidate
Sandra Garossino – Independent council candidate
Ellen Woodsworth – Cope council candidate
Andrea Reimer – Vision council candidate
Cherie Payne – Vision school board candidate
The Women in Politics forum was put on on by the Association of Women in Finance, the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, The Minerva Foundation, and The Professional Women’s Network.
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