Sexism keeps women from municipal politics, says new Canadian study

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion address the media in Mississauga on Wednesday May 14, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

A new study out of Simon Fraser University in B.C. says the biggest barrier for women entering municipal politics is sexism.

“Women often still face challenges like poor treatment, lack of respect, or assumptions made about them, due to their gender,” said a report by Masters of Public Policy student Halena Seiferling, who unveiled her findings at the annual Institute of Public Administration of Canada conference in Toronto in late June.

“In 2002 the [percentage] of women elected at the local level was 19.4 per cent and in 2015 it was 23 per cent,” said Seiferling in her report. “Though fluctuations have occurred, overall the upward trend is extremely slow.”

In comparison, the percentage of women in federal politics is at 26 per cent and in provincial politics is at 25.7 per cent.

Seiferling focused on mayors and city councillors. Her study exposes a culture of chauvinism and bias no matter the position of the woman.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps recalls that she was often faced with remarks during her campaign for the seat such as she didn’t “look like” a mayor.

Calgary City Councillor Druh Farrell said she’s been the target of belittling comments: “I remember during a debate one candidate said [to me] ‘Don’t you worry your pretty little head.’”

Thirty per cent benchmark aim

Stories like these make it harder for women to consider politics as a career, but the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is hoping to change this. It created a standing committee to increase participation of women in local government 10 years ago.

“We created a regional champions program as training for women who go on to be mentors and it’s made a big difference,” Chris Fonseca, the chair of the committee, told Yahoo Canada News. Fonseca is also a Mississauga city councillor.

“We’ve heard that what a lot of them need is to be pointed in the right direction, or to have a sounding board to give them the confidence to put their name on the ballot.”

FCM also runs the Protégé Program, which pairs young Canadian women (ages 18 - 28) with municipal councillors, so an elected official can mentor them. This, in fact, is modelled after a City of Toronto program of the same name, which has been running since 2008.

There is also the Diverse Voices for Change program, which will run until 2018, in Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton, London, Ont., and Sioux Lookout.

FCM’s aim is to get 30 per cent female representation in leadership roles in local government by 2026.

Thirty per cent is the minimum threshold set by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations for female representation in all levels of government in order for women’s issues to be taken into account.

“One of the best ways to reach that is to get women advocating and the Status of Women just announced they are reinstating their advocacy program which was cut in 2007, that’s great news,” noted Fonseca.

“In fact the Status of Women minister, Patty Hajdu had participated in one of our campaign schools. We had a meeting with her and we have her support.”

The municipalities will be working with women’s organizations to make sure they can hit the target. They are also required to hold focus groups from April to November 2016. This program will help FCM gather data to make sure their efforts are targeted well.

Not seen as a career choice

In the past five years, the FCM has held workshops and webinars targeted at women interested in getting into the political arena, covering topics from how to campaign, media relations and financing.

“Young women don’t see politics as a career choice because it doesn’t seem to match with their ideas of a future or being in a marriage…So our programs try to give them a head start with links to resources and women in their own communities,” said Fonseca.

FCM runs a contest every year for high school and post-secondary students to write about their own participation in the democratic process, their experiences and future goals.

Scholarships of $500, $1,000 and two each at $4,500 were handed out to 15 young women last year. They are also provided access to workshops and other programs at FCM.

Fonseca herself participates in a high school co-op program in which a girl from grade 11 or 12 gets to spend time with her as she chairs meetings, looks over bylaws and deals with the community.

“I tell the student their voices are important and must be heard and that if they go into government, they have to make decisions that take into account women: when you schedule a meeting make sure it’s at a time that doesn’t make it hard for babysitting or someone who is a caregiver for their parent. Things like this.”

Fonseca feels lucky she works with a municipal government that is more than 50 per cent female at its highest ranks — including the mayor and chief of police. Early in her career, she said she often was told things “always worked this way” in a condescending tone.

“I would stick by my policy decisions and by my merit. Eventually, that’s what would work.”

In terms of advice for other women thinking of throwing their hat into the municipal ring?

“Women are already doing everything it takes to run,” she emphasized. “They are community-builders … they just haven’t taken that extra step to put their name down. I say, go for it.”

As for the 30 per cent by 2026, she believes the FCM can probably exceed that number: “I’m very optimistic.”