‘A long way to go still:’ NDP talks gender equality

Wednesday is International Women’s Day, a day to recognize the advances and achievements made by women but also to take a hard look at the struggles and inequality still left – and for an example of that dichotomy one has to look no further than the Saskatchewan legislature.

For the first time in the province’s history, there is a caucus with a majority of women. Eight of the Saskatchewan NDP’s 12 members are women.

Jennifer Bowes is the NDP’s status of women critic. She believes that could be because the party has prioritized issues important to women and making sure there is equitable representation.

“We make sure that we are giving supports to women that are looking to run for us so that they are able to succeed and are able to be winning seats that are strong seats,” said Bowes.

Women in the NDP caucus have been making waves in the legislature, pushing for changes that make it easier for women to serve in politics. In 2019, Nicole Sarauer spearheaded an effort to have the procedures changed to allow babies on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

“We see my colleagues with young babies and they’re bringing them in and they’re breastfeeding them on the floor of this assembly and they’re not feeling ashamed to do that even though it is uncomfortable because of some of the attitudes here and, you know, some of the behaviour on the other side,” explained Bowes.

She said she has a lot of respect for her colleagues who have managed to change things.

“It takes a long time to change the culture in a place like this, as you can imagine, which is steeped in tradition and customs which are not always easy to change overnight,” said Bowes.

But the MLA from Saskatoon University also acknowledges more needs to be done.

“We have a long way to go still,” she said.

She talked about sexism she’s faced on the doorsteps while campaigning.

“I got asked a lot about my marital status. I got asked if I was old enough to be running for politics, especially the first time I ran in 2016. I got a lot of comments about my appearance, about what I was wearing, whether that was flattering to me or whether it was appropriate to not have my arms covered, for example, in a picture on a leaflet,” explained Bowes, while explaining her male colleagues didn’t get asked about such things.

“They get questions about policies and their positions and I wish that was happening more with women.”

Bowes also said she’s faced sexism in the legislature, explaining an incident that happened when she was a new MLA. She said she took a picture sitting on the only empty pedestal in the legislature’s rotunda, a pedestal she believes is being reserved for when the province gets its first female premier.

“It was pretty innocent, I thought. But I was intimidated heavily after having that picture taken and refusing to take it down from social media, to suggest that it was time for a female premier in this province. I was threatened that if I didn’t take that picture down that I was going to be followed by security every time I came into this building to do my job. It was sexist in my opinion,” said Bowes.

In the SK leg rotunda there sits 1 empty marble pedestal, rumoured to be waiting for SK’s first female Premier.

Hopped up there today & perched on that pedestal for a hot minute to honour all the women in SK who should’ve had their shot by now. #skpoli #puttingwomenonpedestals pic.twitter.com/WzUFjryXnz

— Jennifer Bowes (@JBowes_SKNDP) May 12, 2021

Bowes said all parties need to work toward diversity in their ranks, not only in gender but race and background as well.

Despite all the things that need to improve, Bowes does believe Saskatchewan is ready for its first woman premier.