A warning for women considering a political career

Bullying, misogyny and vulgar language are what you can expect

The dreadful experiences of Joanne Bernard, former Community Services minister for Nova Scotia, are yet another example of misogyny at the political and legislative level.

But political misogyny is really just a reflection of the wider presence of misogyny throughout our society. In the midst of all places that witness anger towards women legislatures are in a position to stand up to it and take the lead against it.

Legislators should not have to tolerate criminal harassment because they are women or because their political views are controversial. There should be zero tolerance for the mistreatment of women in politics by their legislative colleagues, their constituents and the public. One expects all members of a legislative assembly to do their jobs free from bullying and intimidation.

In the realm of parliamentary debate, legislators are permitted to tear down their colleagues – male or female. And, the public is always permitted to react critically to the behaviour of politicians. Debate, sometimes heated, is part of our political culture. Indeed, words are weapons in the context of our parliaments. However, they can also be weapons of personal harm when aimed at female politicians or anyone because of their gender.

Joanne Bernard joins a growing list of female politicians who have endured vicious attacks from colleagues and the general public. Ontario’s premier Kathleen Wynne, Alberta’s premier Rachel Notley, former B.C. Premier Christy Clark and the female members of the federal cabinet were especially targeted because of their high political profiles.

Women in ascendancy in politics are especially vulnerable in male dominated assemblies. Because women are involved in law-making and rule-making many men are threatened by their views and their success.

In the world politics, language directed at women is often violent and derogatory. Their lives are often threatened in phonecalls, letters, e-mails and social media.

Women take abuse on issues involving motherhood, gender equality and female poverty. Men target women for their appearance, clothes and even the sound of their voices – reasons that have nothing to do with politics or social issues.

At what point do we take the threats and abuse seriously or dismiss them? Just because threats are made on-line doesn’t lessen the criminal character of the abuse: Remember British Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered after a predictable on-line campaign of abuse.

Joanne Bernard and other women victimized by threats call on us to reclaim the Internet and to regulate ‘anonymity’ on social media platforms. People who hide behind a technology to hurt others need to be outed and brought to justice. A legislature is an appropriate place to do that.

So where is the political will to confront the injustice when it impacts politicians? We tell students that bullying is unacceptable in our schools. We even have legislation that proscribes bullying in the workplace and in our homes.

But when it happens in a political institution we draw back as if politicians are better able to withstand the onslaught of abuse. Politicians are believed to be thick-skinned so they should have to take it.

A legislature is the perfect place to show leadership and take a strong public stand against abuse whether it occurs through traditional media or through social media.

Legislatures have the financial and legislative capability to challenge abuse unlike in other environments where it occurs outside of politics. They are in the public eye and they are the lawmakers.

From that perspective, a strong approach should be levelled at social media by using the latest technologies for scanning and blocking unacceptable language within these platforms. The deliberate strategy could be orchestrated through the Speaker’s Office, a place where the quality of debate is regularly monitored and where unparliamentary language is disciplined.

“People who hide behind a technology to hurt others need to be outed and brought to justice.”