We’re back with part 2 of our women in politics interview! I talked to three superstar political science students, Alexa, Ninu and Kayleigh, in part 1 about the Daughters of the Vote National Leadership forum and their experience with it. Here’s the rest of our interview, discussing why women in politics matter, role models, and developing a dependence on coffee!
HC: What first got you interested in politics?
Alexa: I actually got into Political Science basically to spite a teacher I had in highschool. I didn’t agree with his worldview and ideas and wanted to be able to prove him wrong, so that kind of was my motivation in starting a Political Science degree. But I always have been interested in politics, I just didn’t know that much about what it really was, I just knew I wanted to learn more.
Ninu: I originally took it as a path because I wanted to go to law school. Though now I’ve realized that I don’t really want to do law anymore; I’d like to continue doing politics.
Kayleigh: My grandparents! I grew up with my mom’s parents, who both studied Political Science and watched the news daily. They followed and watched every election and introduced me to local political candidates as a child, which piqued my interest early. My grandfather is also a dedicated volunteer within his community, and taught me the importance of helping others and giving back, which instilled in me a desire to create a better world for those around me.
HC: Though I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s important, I’m sure that lots of people might wonder why it’s so important to make sure women are participants in politics. Why do you care about getting women into politics?
Kayleigh: Historically, women have been and continue to be, in many cases, excluded from politics based strictly on their gender. Women are just as [capable as], if not more capable than, men, and it’s been proven that when more women are involved in politics, politics changes. Women are equal to men, so to deny us the right to be representatives is discriminatory, barbaric, and oppressive. We need to be de-constructing patriarchal values and views and recognizing the strength, the importance, and the power of women. It’s also vitally important that women are at the table for decisions that impact them, as we have seen numerous examples of men making decisions on women’s health without their consent or voice being heard—it’s absurd. Women have a right to participate.
Alexa: I think it’s just logical. It’s kind of a cop-out to just say that there are less women in politics because they don’t want that life. We aren’t supporting and encouraging women enough to engage in politics, and we shouldn’t feel like we have to choose between having a career and family when we’ve proven women can do both. Lots of women face barriers that it’s really important to take seriously, just in being a woman in the professional world
Ninu: Women being 50% of our population and having only 26% representation in House of Commons causes there to be a big gap between the need of women in Canada and their actually being addressed, when we are missing out on the voice of that big a part of the population, certain issues may get sidelined that are really important for women, like child care and education. I think it’s really important that for women in politics, everyone is there to support each other, as we all face similar struggles.
HC: What unique challenges do you see women facing in politics?
Alexa: Women face the unique challenge of… having to appear assertive while simultaneously seeming approachable. If she is too assertive, she is called “bitch.” If she is too relatable and nice, she is unsuitable for politics. Men are praised for their stoic values, but when these same values are represented by women, they are frowned upon. This double standard needs to be righted.
Ninu: Besides the obvious challenges of child care, winning party nominations, etc. discussed earlier, I also think the nature of women’s leadership is a challenge. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps pointed out to us that the qualities typically associated with female leaders are going to be in demand in the coming years, yet these characteristics, such as dialogue, listening, and compassion, are often seen as incompatible with the realm of politics.
Kayleigh: There are numerous challenges that continue to exist for women. To name just a few, we face patriarchal assumptions on women’s qualifications and their role in society, systemic discrimination, sexism and racism, the cost of running a campaign, the absence of gender quotas, and fitting women into a gender binary.
HC: What are some other issues that are important to you?
Kayleigh: I would push for the implementation of gender quotas, with mechanisms to encourage parties to participate in creating diverse, intersectional, and representative party lists. I think a lack of diversity stems from the type of voting system we currently have in place, and thus I believe it is imperative that we move away from First Past the Post and replace it with a Proportional Representation system — open list MMP would be my choice. I also want to see a new high school curriculum that is dedicated to educating youth on Canadian politics, having automatic registration for voting, and lowering the voting age to 16 years old. Alexa: I want to see more youth involved in politics. The policies decided today will change our lives, not our parents’. Youth need to be educated about politics earlier, and be encouraged to get involved sooner.
Ninu: I’m currently interested in the future of the labour market and the way in which the state redistributes funds across the country. Increased automation is affecting jobs at an incredibly quick rate, and I’m curious about the best way is to transition workers into a new economy and, in particular, how the welfare architecture of Canada can aid in this process. For example, I’ve been following guaranteed income pilot projects because of their cross-party support. I’ve also been looking at issues for my honours essay, studying how the “innovation agenda” of the 21st century has tended to sideline smaller communities and intensified the urban-rural divide in our country.
HC: What’s your dream job?
Ninu: I would love to be a political staffer in Ottawa. I’ve been managing people, events, and communications for many years in my volunteer roles, and I’ve come to realize it is what I’d like to do for a career. Ideally, after some time staffing, I would eventually like to become a public affairs professional, advising clients on government relations.
Alexa: I would like to be a professor, teaching constitutionalism and ethics. Kayleigh: I’m currently on the path of becoming a human rights lawyer, and my dream would be to work towards reforming our justice system to see survivor centered legislation and approaches advanced, as our current system fails survivors of sexualized violence.
HC: Who are some of your biggest female role models (political and general)?
Ninu: As clichéd as this is, I’m a really big fan of Hillary Clinton as a person and a politician. I watched the PBS Frontline documentary chronicling her life, and I identified with many of her struggles as a woman in leadership. She has always been deemed unsuitable in the eyes of the media and many voters, but nevertheless, she persisted. Alexa: I look up to J.K. Rowling. She has been unapologetically open about her struggles and stands up to those who promote hate, and I strive to inspire a generation like she has inspired mine. Kayleigh: Oh my goodness, there are so many women that inspire me! My mom is one of my main role models: she’s independent, intelligent, kind hearted, and has taught me most of what I know. She’s been my rock for the past 23 years. I can’t imagine my life without her. In terms of politics, Niki Ashton (a contender in the federal NDP leadership race) is one of my role models, she’s courageous, tenacious, a social justice advocate, and a progressive superstar. I’m also inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg ( a Supreme Court Justice in the United States). She’s a defender of women’s rights and recognizes that the constitution is a living document that must be updated and amended as society evolves. And, of course, Malala Yousafzai, who just became a Canadian citizen! Her advocacy to ensure that women receive and have access to education is inspiring, especially [in] her defiance of the Taliban even after it led to an attempt on her life.
HC: What’s something that inspires you or motivates you (a quote, a song, coffee… etc.)?
Alexa: I really love political science, so it’s not hard to be motivated when you love what you’re doing. I’m really curious about the way the world works, and I think that’s what drives me.
Ninu: I can’t start my day without coffee. I’ve also done dance classes since I was three years old, so an evening dance class is one of my favourite ways to both take a break from a stressful day and get motivated to work harder on assignments in the evening. One of the quotes that I try to keep in mind when things get hectic is by John Steinbeck. He wrote, “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” Though I strive for excellence in my endeavours, I’ve found that if I focus too much on every detail of an assignment or event being perfect, it can sometimes be paralyzing. So instead I focus on being good rather than being perfect, and I’ve found the balance is much more rewarding. Kayleigh: Coffee is basically my lifeblood at this point in my degree… but besides that, there are three quotes that keep me going: Michelle Obama said “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish;” Audre Lorde’s quote “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own;” and the quote referencing Senator Elizabeth Warren’s refusal to be silenced by Senator McConnell, “nevertheless, she persisted.” These quotes fuel my desire to continue advocating for change, as not only are women resilient, powerful, and brilliant, but when we work together, we are unstoppable, as Michelle Obama reminds me. Like Audre Lorde’s quote reminds us, it’s also important to recognize that the feminist movement has historically been very white, and thus we need to be cognisant and inclusive going forward, and to push not only for issues that impact us, but also for the struggles of women everywhere, as oppression comes in many forms. Lastly, just like Senator Warren, we should refuse to be silent, and know that our voice is powerful and deserves to be heard and to be respected.
Keep an eye on these ladies! We’re excited to see how they’ll make changes in politics and in the world!
Photo credits: 1/Ninu Forrest/Alexa Lewis