Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson has expressed her disapproval of public criticisms, stating that they are focused more on her appearance rather than her work.
The legislative member of the NDP expressed her thoughts on social media in response to recent comments regarding the perception of her photos as being excessively enjoyable, according to the public.
“I apologize for my posture in the photo, which may give the impression that I am not fulfilling my duties effectively,” she expressed in a Facebook post and X (previously referred to as Twitter) on September 27th.
“I derive enjoyment from my activities, and I am also dedicated to putting in a great deal of effort. I am capable of managing both aspects simultaneously.”
Anderson, who addressed the unequal treatment of women, additionally referenced the well-known speech delivered by America Ferrara’s character in the Barbie movie: “We are expected to be slim, yet we cannot desire to be slim.”
During an interview with CBC’s Daybreak South, host Chris Walker, Anderson acknowledged that she willingly subjected herself to public criticism by choosing to pursue a career in politics.
She stated that she had enrolled to receive feedback regarding her work and the policies of her government, rather than about her appearance, outfit, or posture.
Just a little video to talk about being a female politician and my personal body image issues.<br><br>My response to feedback I have been getting about looking like I am having too much fun…I am having fun, I am also working super hard. I can do both!<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#bcpoli</a> <a href=”https://t.co/EQCe8hnTnl”>pic.twitter.com/EQCe8hnTnl</a>
—@BrittnyAnderso
Anderson mentioned that she is familiar with experiencing public harassment and shared instances of being verbally confronted while shopping or spending time with friends in public. These incidents started occurring after she assumed the role of a city councillor in Nelson in 2018 and later became an NDP MLA in 2020.
She stated that everyone, regardless of their occupation, should not have to handle harassment.
An advocate asserts that women are subjected to harsher judgments based on their appearance.
The chair of Equal Voice B.C., an organization that supports gender-diverse candidates in government, states that women in politics still endure excessive criticism about their looks compared to men in similar positions.
“It’s something that we have seen in the past, something we often see today yet we are still shocked when these comments pop up,” Allie Blades said in a phone interview with CBC News.
Premier David Eby is not receiving any calls regarding his hair or attire.
A displeased person contacted a city councillor in Prince George to express their dissatisfaction with her hairstyle.
During an interview with CBC News, Coun. Cori Ramsay expressed her surprise when she was advised to alter her hairstyle due to her gender and age.
Ramsay expressed her gratitude to the individual for their feedback and shared a portion of the conversation on Twitter.
She stated that someone had touched her pants and remarked that city councillors should not wear ripped jeans, indicating that this has occurred in the past and is likely to occur again.
Ramsay expressed her dislike for directly facing critics one by one, but she also emphasized her unwillingness to ignore them.
“I am required to consistently control my emotions due to my gender.”
An actual phone call i just received:<br> <br>Hello, I’m calling because I want to discuss how you’re doing your hair at council. You’re a young lady and having it pinned back makes you look 50. You should fix your hair with curls or puff it up so it looks better. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/hairgate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#hairgate</a> is back
—@CorRams
Blades suggests that public figures can utilize their platforms to draw attention to the difficulties women encounter as a method of addressing the issue.
She emphasized the significance of women in leadership roles stepping up, sharing their experiences, and discussing these matters.
Blades expressed that for an extended period, we have established a setting that allows for occurrences like these. Therefore, it is essential to expose and address such hateful and sexist remarks.
Source: cbc.ca
