Prime Ministers also need families and children
Stephanie Rodgers for Radio New Zealand
I felt cynical, tweeting a call to arms shortly after we all learned through Twitter that the Prime Minister (Jacinda Ardern) is expecting her first child in June.
Then I saw some of the responses she received – thankfully a minority among an overwhelming outpouring of congratulations and aroha.
“Guess Mark Richardson was not so out of line!”
Hurtful comments
Mark Richardson’s comments were absolutely out of line.
While a lot of people like to focus on the fact his question would be illegal in an employment situation – and are not politicians our employees, after all’ – the simple fact is it was none of his business, presumptuous, and rude.
We now know that Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford have previously been told they would need help to have children – and this pregnancy is a wonderful, happy accident. In that context, Richardson’s comments could have been deeply hurtful, and I have even more admiration for the cool-headed firmness with which Jacinda quashed it.
There is a wider impact of that kind of discussion.
Many people struggle with fertility issues, and especially if you are a woman, the constant questions of, “When are you having children?” or the assumption that you have chosen not to have any (especially if you are a career woman) are just another straw on the camel’s back.
Struggling women
Women who have young children often struggle to find flexible work or even get their old jobs back after taking parental leave.
A constantly-cited factor in the inequity between men’s and women’s pay – in the same jobs, at the same companies – is, “Oh, well, women just take time off to have babies,” as though babies offer no benefit to our society.
It is a big jumble of prejudices and assumptions which reduce women down to a tick-box: “Child-bearer, yes or no.”
It is demeaning for those who do not have children and it is insulting to those who do, treating their babies like a function instead of wonderful little human beings.
“Conflict of interest in the paid parental leave bill.”
This one comment gobsmacked me.
And again, we could rebut it with legalities: elected officials are not covered by paid parental leave provisions.
MP’s unwanted remark
But let us consider how often male politicians are asked whether it is a conflict of interest for them to vote on matters related to parenting.
Bill English has six children, yet I cannot recall a single instance where they were portrayed as an obstacle or distraction from the job of Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition.
And you cannot win: remember, when National Party MP Maggie Barry implied that Jacinda Ardern should not speak about paid parental leave at all because she did not have children’ (I hope Ms Barry is offering the PM an apology today, along with congratulations.)
The implication is that we should not have the voices and perspectives of pregnant women or mothers in our political debates, because they are biased, unlike sensible, rational men who apparently do not think about their own children when voting on legislation.
It is the same old sexist story that we see in the equal pay debate (women are “better suited” for caring jobs; so they do not have to be paid as much as ‘real’ jobs) or the abortion debate (pregnant people cannot be trusted to make their own medical decisions) and many other issues.
But I think that is going to change.
Special Privilege
Our Prime Minister is going to become possibly only the second elected head of state to give birth while in office, following Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in s.
She and her partner have a plan to manage this, and it involves a short period off work for her, during which time the deputy prime minister will be acting PM, as is entirely normal and proper.
This sets an amazing example of what working and family life should be for everyone: not two conflicting priorities that have to be “balanced” but two parts of a whole, complex, fulfilling life.
It is something every person who is having a child should be able to enjoy: secure work, a supportive community to wrap around them, and no judgements or insinuations or assumptions about their decisions for their family.
We can all be that community for our Prime Minister now, because she and the “first man of fishing” have more than enough to think about now without also battling all the busy-bodies and disingenuous “concern” which is going to be headed their way.
Stephanie Rodgers is a Contributor to Radio New Zealand. The above article and picture have been reproduced by Indian Newslink under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
