Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson says she害羞草研究所檚 weary of public criticisms directed at her body, clothing and a pose she favours in photographs.
In released Sept. 27, Anderson said her staff had briefed her on complaints from constituents that she appeared to be 害羞草研究所渉aving too much fun害羞草研究所� in photos.
That prompted a response to what she characterized in an interview with the Nelson Star as 害羞草研究所渕icro aggressions害羞草研究所� that have become too common since she entered politics.
害羞草研究所淚 love my job. I think I am also very effective at my job. I love my team. I love my community, and I really want to continue to do the work. But it definitely has a toll on my mental health.害羞草研究所�
At 37, Anderson is among the younger MLAs in Victoria. Since she was first elected to Nelson city council in 2018 and as an NDP MLA in 2020, Anderson says she害羞草研究所檚 had multiple death threats and spotted people filming her while grocery shopping. In a 2021 incident she was verbally assaulted about COVID-19 vaccine policies that led to an .
Despite it being a routine part of a politician害羞草研究所檚 job, Anderson isn害羞草研究所檛 comfortable having her picture taken. To adjust, she typically stands at an angle with a hand on her hip, which she prefers because it makes her waistline look smaller than it would if she stood directly at the camera. And, of course, she smiles.
That isn害羞草研究所檛 good enough for some critics, who Anderson says think she should be more serious in photos.
害羞草研究所淪omeone posting, like, wow, the MLA really likes to have her photo taken with a bunch of people all over the place. I害羞草研究所檓 trying to show you what I害羞草研究所檓 doing and showcasing businesses or community groups.害羞草研究所�
Janice Morrison said she was disappointed to see the feedback Anderson receives.
Morrison was elected Nelson害羞草研究所檚 mayor last October, and is only the second woman to hold the office. Prior to that she served three terms on council dating back to 1999.
Sexism toward women in politics, Morrison said, is nothing new. But it is something she wishes wasn害羞草研究所檛 as prevalent in 2023.
害羞草研究所淚 would have hoped by now that these kinds of comments about dress and look and style we would no longer be seeing in politics. My thing is, let害羞草研究所檚 look at the record of the person who you害羞草研究所檙e talking about. And in the case of Brittny, she has been one of the most active and involved MLAs that I害羞草研究所檝e seen in this region.害羞草研究所�
Last week, Morrison was in Victoria for meetings with local government officials and the topic of Anderson害羞草研究所檚 video came up. Men told Morrison they had never experienced critiques of their looks. The women disagreed.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just surprised that we continually have to deal with this, because it害羞草研究所檚 not a reflection of the quality of our work. And that害羞草研究所檚 what I want to be judged by. I want to be judged by the quality of my work.害羞草研究所�
Anna Purcell is among the women who reached out to Anderson after her video was released.
Purcell was a Nelson city councillor for one term, and said during her time in office she dressed to show she took the job seriously. But she came to feel as though she had to put on a professional face 24-7.
害羞草研究所淎s a public person, you are hyper scrutinized for everything you do, and feel a pressure to continually demonstrate [and] embody the best of what your community has to offer, even on your off time.害羞草研究所�
Purcell left politics in 2018, but five years later still feels self conscious while she害羞草研究所檚 out in the community. The criticism of Anderson害羞草研究所檚 appearance, Purcell said, is a double standard that women in politics have to live with.
害羞草研究所淚n what world does that preclude competence? It害羞草研究所檚 hard for me to imagine that, maybe I害羞草研究所檓 wrong about this, but I just wonder if a man in politics who looked like he was enjoying himself would be called out for looking like he was enjoying himself.
害羞草研究所淚 hope [Anderson害羞草研究所檚] having fun because otherwise it害羞草研究所檚 not worth it.害羞草研究所�
Lately it hasn害羞草研究所檛 been fun for Anderson.
She is comfortable hearing criticism of her party害羞草研究所檚 policies, but said she害羞草研究所檚 now had enough negative interactions with the public that she tries to bring a friend along even when she害羞草研究所檚 doing mundane tasks.
It害羞草研究所檚 a situation Anderson is trying to live with, although she worries it could deter other qualified women from entering politics.
害羞草研究所淚t makes them not want to step up because they see how other people are treated, whether it害羞草研究所檚 on their appearance or harassment or bullying.害羞草研究所�
Last month, Anderson attended the Union of British Columbia Municipalities害羞草研究所� annual general meeting in Vancouver. The event features thousands of delegates from local governments across the province, and one session focused on how to support women in politics.
During that workshop, Anderson said she was moved by the stories other women told of how they害羞草研究所檝e been poorly treated in office.
害羞草研究所淚 think, still, the public is getting used to seeing a different type of politician, and sometimes I think that害羞草研究所檚 hard for some people to grasp,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淚 think some people really appreciate it and celebrate it. But for others, it害羞草研究所檚 hard for them to see women in leadership positions, especially young women.害羞草研究所�
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