Who's the stronger woman?

Stacey May Fowles, Can Lit author, The Walrus Circulation Director and my girl crush wrote a blog post over on her magazine’s website about why Lady Gaga is so popular. Fowles writes about how Gaga is a hero and a safe zone for the nerds and the outcasts, for teenage girls whose self-esteem is “circling the drain.” This, I cannot argue with, it’s absolutely true.

I personally love Lady Gaga because she is a strong and opinionated woman who isn’t afraid to get political. I love Lady Gaga because she is the only entertainer who speaks out routinely, loudly and aggressively against homophobia and in support of gay rights. I love Lady Gaga because she actively confronts and messes with traditional conceptions of female beauty. Yes, she has a ripped, Caucasian body – but she gave an interview with Kermit the Frog on her head. You would never see Beyonce or Taylor Swift do that.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the lack of strong, political women in our society – like Lady Gaga. Women who aren’t afraid to speak out, get “shrill” and get angry. There aren’t too many women out there who are speaking their minds and getting politically engaged in the same way as, well, men.

Take a look at our politicians, a prime example. Women still significantly lag behind men in seats in the House of Commons and in cabinet positions. In Calgary’s mayoral election, there is not a single woman in a field of 11 candidates and I believe there are only 3 women running for alderman. That’s atrocious and embarrassing. Where the ladies at?

Like most problems in life, there’s blame to be had all around. It’s sad that in 2010, women are still not regarded as being power players and influencers in the realm of politics. They are still the wives, the daughters and the mistresses. We’ve come so far in so many other fields, so why aren’t we getting anywhere in politics?

Well for one, political institutions aren’t supporting and promoting women in politics in the same way that they do men.

Continuing the cabinet position example, appointments like Heritage and International Development go to women; Defense and Finance go to men. It’s also troubling that the stature of women within political parties changes depending on where you are on the political spectrum – the NDP have the most women in their party and in positions of leadership, the Conservatives have the least.

(This feminist wants to make a “Sexism in the Conservative party” smear right now, but will back away for the sake of maturity and reason.)

The easy counter argument to the promotions criticism is that women aren’t putting themselves out there in politics, and therefore, there are just fewer women. Which, I actually agree with, to a point.

Women need to get out there more. I know for a fact, from doing my own degree in Political Science, that there are many, many women interested in politics. They are dominating the classes, the grades and the discussions. I know life isn’t like university (thank goodness for that!) but we should be seeing more women getting political than we currently do now.

I want to see more female political bloggers. If one more woman gets famous for her mommy, decorating, celebrity or fashion blog, I will ask someone to shoot me.

I want to see more female candidates. In Canada, this means that the political parties need to start supporting women, as I mentioned earlier. It is impossible to get nominated on your own will, like in the United States, the political party apparatus needs to choose you to run in a riding.

I want to see women creating more policy. This spring, I was deeply angered by the discussion of maternal health leading up to the G8. That a group of old, white men think they have the right to dictate the reproductive choices of women in developing countries is offensive. If there had been a policy that said that all men had to get a vasectomy after the birth of their second child, male politicians would have…oh wait…that would never even happen.

Women in politics is a two-way street. Women need to put themselves out there more, to be more fearless, to channel their inner Lady Gaga. A new generation will be prime to run for office in 10 years, maybe some of our “Gen Y” arrogance and sense of equality will transfer into a Golden Age of Women in Politics.

But we need men too. Men currently run politics and the powers within it. This is not conspiratorial, it’s just a fact. If men continue to obstruct and create challenges for women in politics, it’s going to be harder and there will be less progress.

A stronger female presence in politics – running for office, writing about politics, campaigning, agitating – will only strengthen our society. In international development, one of the most widespread beliefs is that women are the key to the growth and development of a society, because they work, take care of the family and manage the finances – often while the husband is off wasting money and unemployed. There is a reason why all micro-finance loans go to women. An empowered and engaged woman is excellent for the growth of a society.

We need more females in politics.

Related posts:

1. Canadian politics, I’ve missed you, let’s snuggle
2. Privileged, white women? The worst.
3. You (should) probably know that I’m a delusional feminist