A space for her: what we can learn from Jacinda Ardern’s resignation

Last week, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that she would be stepping down. She stated simply and honestly that she “didn’t have enough in the tank.” Rarely does a person in a position of power voluntarily step down and, if they do, they never admit it’s because they know that they’re about to hit their limit. However, Ardern’s tenure has marked a new kind of responsible leadership in many ways. Following her announcement, many commentators were quick to point out her Labour Party’s challenges on the domestic front and the online vitriol she experienced as a leader. She has been exceptional because she continuously redefined what it means to be a politician. In the early days of the pandemic, she was doing daily broadcasts on Facebook, informing citizens of what the government was doing to protect them and emphasizing what people could do. For centuries, we’ve been governed by institutions that were designed by men. And the traditions and the cultures that have been passed down have long been defined by masculine ideas of power and politics. We have shaped the narrative of politics as a game, a battle, always confrontational. We ask a tremendous amount from our political leaders. We ask them to give up so much—to have it all worked out and be superhuman. To take all of the hits, whether they be political or, more and more often, personal. Ardern was certainly no exception to that. If anything, she faced more abuse than her male counterparts. It’s no wonder, then, that our research has shown male MPs stay in their roles for, on average, three years longer than women. We know there’s something in the water here: that this work exacts higher costs on women. We know that women-identified leaders, particularly women of colour, face real systemic and cultural barriers. These realities make it a challenge to recruit and retain women in politics. Canada’s track record of electing women has been dismal. Our Parliament has never had more than 30 per cent women; and we rank 61st in the world for gender parity in the legislature. While politicians of all gender identifications make huge personal sacrifices to do the work they are elected to do, we know that the system—designed by men—is still rooted in a sexist, racist, and classist culture. We as citizens can help by remembering that our leaders are people, too; that they deserve our respect and gratitude. In our work at Equal Voice, we’ve been exploring just how our institutions could become more gender-inclusive as workplaces. We call for safer and more respectful workplaces with more security and civility, with policies in place for staff and Parliamentarians to know that if they come forward with threats to their safety, they can do so effectively. We want to see more family-friendly measures: our system has lacked the infrastructure and clear formal policies that have made it possible for leaders to take parental leaves and access child care. We know that when we have more gender balance in our parliaments, we can ensure that our democracies include the experiences and wisdom of women. It’s why Ardern’s time in office has been so critically important, and why her arrival and departure shift the rules for political engagement. Given the circumstances and the context, Ardern’s tenure as prime minister is absolutely remarkable. She’s led her country through a rolling series of crises, including a global pandemic. Whether you agree or not with the policies and positions taken by her government, it’s clear that she was doing everything she believed would be best for her country, with her whole heart on display. She has continuously redefined what it means to be a politician. As an avid proponent of women in politics, I’ve been grateful for each time she took the mic: at home and abroad. She did this in ways that made it seem effortless and genuine. I’ll miss her energy dearly on the political stage. I’ll miss her kindness, empathy, and humour. I’ll miss her incredibly sharp wit, and I’ll eagerly watch as our next generation of women-identified leaders step up to rewrite our political culture, so it is more human. Chi Nguyen is the executive director of Equal Voice. The Hill Times

A space for her: what we can learn from Jacinda Ardern’s resignation

Canada’s track record of electing women has been dismal. Our Parliament has never had more than 30 per cent women; and we rank 61st in the world for gender parity in the legislature.

On the persistence of politicians

Does Trudeau have the fire in his belly to stay in the game?

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is leaving the building

On the persistence of politicians

Canada needs a modern, national health data architecture

To address online harms, Canada must commit to digital media literacy

A cure for multiple sclerosis could be just around the corner

Renewable energy is the way to go, says letter writer

Supporting local broadcasters is critical for our democracy

John Lorinc takes home top Balsillie prize for book on smart cities

Ottawa’s 5G policy a stress test for Canada-China relations

CANZUK time, is Canada ready?

Women of colour are changing the face of Canadian politics

Baby on board for MP Collins

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

A space for her: what we can learn from Jacinda Ardern’s resignation

Canada’s track record of electing women has been dismal. Our Parliament has never had more than 30 per cent women; and we rank 61st in the world for gender parity in the legislature.

Get The Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter