Re: “Mayoral candidate calls for end to misogynistic attitudes in politics,” Cape Breton Post, Sept. 4.
I was disappointed to read about a candidate being judged by her gender and her status as an expectant mother in the above article. There is simply no place for this type of discrimination in the 2020s. At all. Whatsoever.
It defies belief that in this day and age people would judge a person because she is a woman — and make no mistake, passing judgement over someone because she is an expectant mother is the same thing as passing judgement over someone because she is a woman. The two are inseparable and such judgement has no place in today's Canadian society.
It is not only ignorant, it is harmful to democracy and it risks hurting the future prospects of Cape Breton. Women make up half of society and their role in procreation does not and should not restrain their ability to fill positions of leadership.
I do not know mayoral candidate Amanda McDougall, who was quoted in the article, and this is not an endorsement of her campaign, but I do know that politicians should be judged on their ideas and their character. The fact that McDougall is an expectant mother should not enter the decision making process.
Cape Bretoners need to listen to what the politicians are saying and make a judgement based on the ideas they are presenting, rather than ill-informed, bigoted assessments based on gender and other irrelevant factors. No matter what your political inclination, there are examples of strong women in leadership positions. No matter someone's gender, status as a parent or sexual orientation, each candidate deserves to be dignified by judging them on their platform and nothing else.
Finally, it is important that you get out there and vote in the upcoming election. Even if it is to spoil your ballot with a protest vote. You have no right to complain if you can't be bothered to take a trip to the polling place once every four years.
Mitchell Ramsay-Mader
Melbourne, Australia
(formerly of Mira)
