Bella Abzug became the first Jewish woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1970 on the slogan “This woman’s place is in the House…the House of Representatives.” A staunch feminist, peace activist and all-round Liberal, she never backed down from a fight. To commemorate International Women’s Day, celebrated each March 8th, it’s appropriate to consider her words on this occasion.
Abzug said, “They used to give us a day--it was called International Women's Day. In 1975 they gave us a year, the Year of the Woman. Then from 1975 to 1985 they gave us a decade, the Decade of the Woman. I said at the time, who knows, if we behave they may let us into the whole thing. Well, we didn't behave and here we are.”
So where are women then, for misbehaving? In the political arena for instance, examples abound of how men and women are treated differently.
For instance, in May of 2005, when Belinda Stronach crossed the floor in the House of Commons and saved the hide of former Prime Minister Paul Martin. When she left the Conservatives to join the Liberals, the vote of non-confidence went in favour of the Liberals, giving Mr. Martin 6 more months of governing. The next day’s National Post headline read, “Blonde Bombshell” over a picture of Ms. Stronach as a new Cabinet Minister.
Let’s say we give the headline writer some credit for doing a good job of selling more newspapers. For example, Ms. Stronach is blonde and it was a bombshell (made history), so I think we can give the newspaper some latitude and not automatically assume it was sexist.
But if we look at how other defections were headlined, we might start to get suspicious. For example, when Keith Martin, from Vancouver Island, left the Conservatives and became a Liberal Member of Parliament, there were no “Brunette Bombshell” headlines. And when David Emerson shocked the country with his defection from the Liberals to the Conservatives, we didn’t read about the “Grey Bombshell.”
A double standard? You bet. But look at some of the comments made by prominent Conservatives about Ms. Stronach, but missing from the dialogue for Mr. Emerson.
When Belinda Stronach crossed the floor, her former colleague, Maurice Vellacott, MP for Saskatoon – Wanuskewin said, "Some people prostitute themselves for different costs and different prizes. She sold out for a cabinet position.” And Bob Runciman, Progressive Conservative MPP for Leeds-Grenville in Ontario and the province’s Official Opposition House Leader said, "She sort of defined herself as something of a dipstick, an attractive one, but still a dipstick.“ Then there’s Reverend Tony Abbott, MLA for Drayton Valley-Calmar in Alberta, who said, "She whored herself out for power."
We decided to contact the offices of these men to see what they had to say when David Emerson crossed the floor. Mr. Vellacott’s office sent us a press release from May in response to his comments about Ms. Stronach. He said, “I regret that it offended a number of people.” They also pointed us to a comment he made, reported in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. "I have to say very straightforward that I am uncomfortable with what he (Emerson) did but I am also prepared to work with the man. It's not a personal thing."
So for Belinda Stronach it’s “prostitute” and for David Emerson it’s “uncomfortable.” I see.
It seems we were the only ones who asked Ontario’s Bob Runciman about his response to David Emerson, so they sent us a quote. "I don't agree with anyone crossing the floor but at least in this case it wasn't for the purchase of a vote to prop up a corrupt government."
So for Belinda Stronach, it’s “attractive dipstick” and for David Emerson it’s “wasn’t for a purchase of a vote.” Ok.
Tony Abbott’s office wanted us to know that Rev. Abbott hadn’t commented on David Emerson’s defection because he realized he had made a mistake, apologized to Ms. Stronach and learned his lesson.
So for Belinda Stronach, she had “whored herself out” and for David Emerson, nothing (because he learned his lesson). Shame the lesson didn’t come sooner.
When people in political office do what Belinda Stronach and David Emerson did, they deserve a lot of flack and they should expect to get it. However, the personal and sexist comments that Ms. Stronach and other women have to endure, is completely uncalled for. This is a double standard that needs addressing.
Of course, even more vicious was the comments about Colleen Klein, wife of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. As reported in the Western Standard magazine, an unnamed Progressive Conservative person said that when Ralph Klein retires as Alberta Premier, his wife, Colleen Klein will be “just another Indian.” Mrs. Klein is Métis and the rationale given by publisher Ezra Levant is that many conservatives are frustrated with Mr. Klein not stepping down sooner.
I’m sure Mrs. Klein has put up with racist comments in her life and she is probably tough enough to withstand the words of someone who doesn’t have the guts to say them openly. However, what’s going on that people are frustrated with Ralph Klein and therefore they make racist comments about his wife? Where’s that logic?!?
We don’t have to wait for International Women’s Day to take on the double standards that face women. If men and women hear similar comments at work, or elsewhere, my advice is to speak up – even if it means getting attention you don’t like. Real progress will come when men and women:
· Call people on sexual jokes that are insulting or degrading to women
· Call people on stereotypes about women not being able to do male-dominated jobs
· Stop setting up women for failure by not giving them the real chance to succeed
· Recognize our stereotypes about women, but say, “I’m not going to let a
stereotype get in the way of judging this woman fairly and honestly”
These are just some examples to address the harassment and discrimination women and all kinds of people face every day. Too many of us are concerned about behaving so that no one thinks badly of us. Just like Bella Abzug said, let’s stop worrying about behaving and spend more time speaking up when we hear comments that are truly harmful to women. That’s not good for men or women.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Stephen
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Stephen Hammond, B.A, LL.B, CSP, is a speaker, trainer and author working in the field of workplace human rights. Articles, tips and his books Managing Human Rights At Work: 101 Practical Tips to Prevent Human Rights Disasters and Steps in the Rights Direction: 365 human rights celebrations and tragedies that inspired Canada and the world are available on his website www.stephenhammond.ca. Contact Stephen at 866-685-8338 or stephen@stephenhammond.ca
