Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson says she鈥檚 weary of public criticisms directed at her body, clothing and a pose she favours in photographs.
In released Sept. 27, Anderson said her staff had briefed her on complaints from constituents that she appeared to be 鈥渉aving too much fun鈥� in photos.
That prompted a response to what she characterized in an interview with the Nelson Star as 鈥渕icro aggressions鈥� that have become too common since she entered politics.
鈥淚 love my job. I think I am also very effective at my job. I love my team. I love my community, and I really want to continue to do the work. But it definitely has a toll on my mental health.鈥�
At 37, Anderson is among the younger MLAs in Victoria. Since she was first elected to Nelson city council in 2018 and as an NDP MLA in 2020, Anderson says she鈥檚 had multiple death threats and spotted people filming her while grocery shopping. In a 2021 incident she was verbally assaulted about COVID-19 vaccine policies that led to an .
Despite it being a routine part of a politician鈥檚 job, Anderson isn鈥檛 comfortable having her picture taken. To adjust, she typically stands at an angle with a hand on her hip, which she prefers because it makes her waistline look smaller than it would if she stood directly at the camera. And, of course, she smiles.
That isn鈥檛 good enough for some critics, who Anderson says think she should be more serious in photos.
鈥淪omeone posting, like, wow, the MLA really likes to have her photo taken with a bunch of people all over the place. I鈥檓 trying to show you what I鈥檓 doing and showcasing businesses or community groups.鈥�
Janice Morrison said she was disappointed to see the feedback Anderson receives.
Morrison was elected Nelson鈥檚 mayor last October, and is only the second woman to hold the office. Prior to that she served three terms on council dating back to 1999.
Sexism toward women in politics, Morrison said, is nothing new. But it is something she wishes wasn鈥檛 as prevalent in 2023.
鈥淚 would have hoped by now that these kinds of comments about dress and look and style we would no longer be seeing in politics. My thing is, let鈥檚 look at the record of the person who you鈥檙e talking about. And in the case of Brittny, she has been one of the most active and involved MLAs that I鈥檝e seen in this region.鈥�
Last week, Morrison was in Victoria for meetings with local government officials and the topic of Anderson鈥檚 video came up. Men told Morrison they had never experienced critiques of their looks. The women disagreed.
鈥淚鈥檓 just surprised that we continually have to deal with this, because it鈥檚 not a reflection of the quality of our work. And that鈥檚 what I want to be judged by. I want to be judged by the quality of my work.鈥�
Anna Purcell is among the women who reached out to Anderson after her video was released.
Purcell was a Nelson city councillor for one term, and said during her time in office she dressed to show she took the job seriously. But she came to feel as though she had to put on a professional face 24-7.
鈥淎s a public person, you are hyper scrutinized for everything you do, and feel a pressure to continually demonstrate [and] embody the best of what your community has to offer, even on your off time.鈥�
Purcell left politics in 2018, but five years later still feels self conscious while she鈥檚 out in the community. The criticism of Anderson鈥檚 appearance, Purcell said, is a double standard that women in politics have to live with.
鈥淚n what world does that preclude competence? It鈥檚 hard for me to imagine that, maybe I鈥檓 wrong about this, but I just wonder if a man in politics who looked like he was enjoying himself would be called out for looking like he was enjoying himself.
鈥淚 hope [Anderson鈥檚] having fun because otherwise it鈥檚 not worth it.鈥�
Lately it hasn鈥檛 been fun for Anderson.
She is comfortable hearing criticism of her party鈥檚 policies, but said she鈥檚 now had enough negative interactions with the public that she tries to bring a friend along even when she鈥檚 doing mundane tasks.
It鈥檚 a situation Anderson is trying to live with, although she worries it could deter other qualified women from entering politics.
鈥淚t makes them not want to step up because they see how other people are treated, whether it鈥檚 on their appearance or harassment or bullying.鈥�
Last month, Anderson attended the Union of British Columbia Municipalities鈥� annual general meeting in Vancouver. The event features thousands of delegates from local governments across the province, and one session focused on how to support women in politics.
During that workshop, Anderson said she was moved by the stories other women told of how they鈥檝e been poorly treated in office.
鈥淚 think, still, the public is getting used to seeing a different type of politician, and sometimes I think that鈥檚 hard for some people to grasp,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 think some people really appreciate it and celebrate it. But for others, it鈥檚 hard for them to see women in leadership positions, especially young women.鈥�
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