Young political staffers most vulnerable to sex harassment on the Hill, says May
OTTAWA — Young political staffers on Parliament Hill, who are often ambitious and desperate for a foothold in their chosen profession, can be much more vulnerable to the scourge of sexual misconduct than their older, more experienced colleagues and elected counterparts, says Green party Leader Elizabeth May.
Indeed, May — who took part in a recent Canadian Press survey of female MPs about their experiences with sexual harassment — is drawing comparisons between the career ladder in political Ottawa and the familiar Hollywood cliche of a “casting couch” mentality.
Thirty-eight of Canada’s 89 female MPs took part in the survey, with more than half of respondents — 58 per cent — reporting that they had personally been the target of one or more forms of sexual misconduct while in office, including inappropriate or unwanted remarks, gestures or text messages of a sexual nature.
Political staffers often lack job security, making them far less likely to speak up about their experiences — especially when the problem lies with someone who is in a position of authority, said May, who likened their environment at times to the “star culture” of Tinseltown.