Author: Gloria Pancrazi

Unequal expectations at work mean women have to work harder to be heard

Listen up ladies: you should be assertive, but you shouldn’t be bitchy. You should be talkative, but you shouldn’t take over the room either. You should be sexy, but shouldn’t be slutty. You should be sweet, but you shouldn’t be a pushover. You should act like a man, but behave lady-like. Right?

Bullshit.

We have this misleading concept that we should be everything and nothing all at once, so, we constantly doubt ourselves. Personally speaking, I question myself every day and overthink everything. Do men do this as much as women do?

In the workplace—or simply in daily events—us lovely human beings “blessed” to be the weaker sex have a lot going on in our heads. We don’t want to be labeled as the ‘bitch.’ And you are perceived as the ‘bitch’ if you are too assertive. However, reversing the roles, a man is being the boss, or simply a man, if he is boldly self-assured about his opinions. Negative feelings are heaped on women when they act like a man should, sure, and men experience the reverse when they behave the way women are “supposed to”, by being called a sissy—or worse. This just reinforces negative gender stereotypes. This happens because of how gender is culturally constructed in our society, and it continues despite our best efforts.

Our fear of being seen as unattractive or out of the norm is perpetrated by the gender inequity in the workplace: that is the still remaining wage inequality along with male dominated professions. Women are still being paid only $0.82 to every $1 earned by men and a majority of men at work encourages this ridiculous idea and vicious cycle of men acting bigger and women acting smaller. Yes, this is what contributes to women apologizing more for their actions because of the actual fact that they are not as valued as men—according to their paycheck that is.

My mother used to be president of her company alongside my father. When they got divorced, she lost her position. My father and his colleague now have that title. Divorce comes with its own taunting quarrels and my mother didn’t want to fight relentlessly over job titles. So she let it be. I wonder if a man would have let go of that title of power that easily. That’s the thing isn’t it? Men are born into the world with a position that makes them more eligible for power than women.

I sometimes silence myself in front of issues that bother me to avoid looking stupid or overly sensitive. Overly sexualized women dominate the media in our day-to-day lives and we mindlessly accept it.

This only drags on the issue. Speak up about your thoughts and don’t apologize for sharing them. Be labeled as the ‘bitch’ for being assertive, and don’t act like a man or a woman—but as a human being.

Some considerations for the cynical and the disinterested student voters among us

Two weeks ago, I was absolutely certain I wouldn’t be voting in this federal election. I was meeting the expectations set out for our generation, who seem to stubbornly refuse to go out and vote.

Truthfully, my alienation from politics came from my lack of knowledge on the subject. I never followed or had an interest for politics. I’ve never understood it, but mainly I just don’t trust politicians.

I agree with the sentiments Ray Davies, former singer of rock group The Kinks, expressed in the song “Money and Corruption:” “Money and corruption are ruining the land, crooked politicians betray the working man, pocketing the profits and treating us like sheep, and we’re tired of hearing promises that we know they’ll never keep.”

In a 2013 interview, comedian Russell Brand passionately explained why he doesn’t vote. I think he influenced a lot of young people with his words that day. He believed in an alternate political system and talked of politicians exploiting the people, the planet, servicing the needs of corporations, and being treacherous. I agree with his point of view that politics do not make a difference.

I also think a feeling of helplessness made me not want to vote at first—that we might be in over our heads and that voting wouldn’t change anything. What I’ve come to realize is that most of us who vote put all of our hope for change on politicians and then blame it on them when everything stays the same.

Yes, it is their job to fight for change but it is also our responsibility. People are lousy at change. Thinking of environmental issues, we still act the same way we used to regardless of the fact that our planet is dying.

This will probably come a shock but I really didn’t know anything about Stephen Harper, not even that he led the Conservative party—don’t judge, I said I don’t follow politics.

But as soon as I researched more about his time in office, I decided to vote.

Yes, I think politicians are liars and I still don’t trust them, but by not voting I was only reinforcing the voice of those who are voting for things that I don’t stand by.

My vote was more a vote “against” than a vote “for” anyone. I decided to vote simply to try and stop Stephen Harper from being re-elected—no offense to anyone who voted for the Conservatives. At first I was going to spoil my vote to show my dissatisfaction, but that still wouldn’t help the most adequate party be elected and fight for a better Canada.

Actually, Russell Brand also changed his mind on voting for the same reason I decided to vote: it’s a vote against the current party in power. He now urges young people to vote for the Labour party in the United Kingdom in order to step away from the Conservative party there.

With a growing number of people not voting—especially young people—a voice is given to those who do vote and who might vote for parties whose main priority is the economy rather than environmental and social issues.

I am on the same side as Russell Brand: I voted hoping for the most adequate party to win the election and I voted because I’m hoping for change.

This change begins with a vote, but it certainly doesn’t end there. It’s with more action from individuals in their communities that will achieve true change—no matter which party is in government.