The Best of Intentions
You know when somebody has good intentions but their message just comes out all wrong? That’s what happened recently in an article in the Canadian journal, The Globe and Mail, entitled “Confident Rookie MP one of a New Breed of Tory Women.” What’s so frustrating is that the article is meant to highlight and praise the outspokenness of several new women members of parliament like Michelle Rempel, the parliamentary secretary to Environment Minister Peter Kent, and Lisa Raitt, the Minister of Labour.
Yet only six short sentences in, the article describes Rempel as, “Only 31 years old, the blonde and petite rookie Calgary Centre-North MP, doesn’t hide behind anything – not even behind those prominent dimples of hers.” Quite obviously, this description of Rempel is just plain sexist. What the author tries to point out, that she “doesn’t hide behind anything,” is clearly a testament to the personal strength of Rempel, yet using a physical description of the parliamentary secretary, instead of sticking to expounding on her merits, dilutes the point the author is trying to make.
If Mrs. Rempel is meant to be recognized by the strength of her political career, then why is the reader left reflecting on “those prominent dimples of hers?” Female politicians will never be taken seriously if the journalists who hope to highlight the importance of their work continue to use sexist language to describe them.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 12/13/2011