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Where are all the women?

I admit it - when I saw the story running in the media recently about B.C. Premier Christy Clark's cleavage I felt like hitting my head against a brick wall.

I admit it - when I saw the story running in the media recently about B.C. Premier Christy Clark's cleavage I felt like hitting my head against a brick wall.

In case you missed it, former NDP MLA David Schreck used his Twitter account to call into question an outfit Clark wore in the legislature last week - a dark knit dress with a beige jacket.

"Is Premier Clark's cleavage-revealing attire appropriate for the legislature?" Mr. Schreck tweeted, adding that there is a dress code for "the leg."

The comment set off an uproar, as it should, and NDP leader Adrian Dix did the only thing he could do - he called out his colleague on that tweet and the ones that followed.

Then came the media headlines: Storm in a C-Cup.

It's no secret that the NDP have been working to portray Clark as unserious and a bit too boppy in these difficult times. But why is what a woman wears, or how her hair looks, or her shape fair game when in most cases those things are rarely commented on for men in politics?

It's simplistic to suggest that this type of comment is exactly why women hesitate to enter the political arena, but you can't get away from the fact that it is also part of a truth.

The paradox of the situation is that the comments come at a time when women are finding great success in politics. Alison Redford has just been elected leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and Newfoundland and Labrador's Kathy Dunderdale began the trend without even a leadership contest, becoming premier after Danny Williams resigned late last year. On Tuesday Oct. 11 she won the provincial election, making history by becoming the first woman elected premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, leading the Progressive Conservative party to its third-straight majority government. And, of course, we have Clark becoming premier of B.C. in February.

We also had more women running in the federal election last time around, which all seems to point to the fact that women are becoming more engaged in a career that is traditionally male dominated. We currently have a woman interim leader of the federal NDP, Nycole Turmel.

While this all looks good one should remember that women make up 50 per cent of the country's population.

And, it should be noted that few countries have reached the United Nations benchmark level of 30 per cent representation - and women lead only 20 of the world's 194 countries.

Though I dislike making generalizations it can be said that women leaders are more in tune with social issues and focus on them more - that can be seen, some would point out, with Clark's "families first" agenda.

So why, I ask myself, when women are concerned and have something to say about many of the most important issues of the day, do so few chose politics to make their voices heard? You can find women in top positions in the private sector but they are still pretty rare in political life.

Whistler is a perfect example. The head of Tourism Whistler, Barrett Fisher, is a woman, as is the head of our Chamber of Commerce, Fiona Famulak. Our arts council is headed up by Doti Niedermayer, our film festival by Shauna Hardy Mishaw, our parent bodies in our schools have women at the helm, one of our top business women, Sue Adams, is part of the provincial Ministry of Small Business Round Table. But only three women are so far running in next month's municipal election: Nancy Wilhelm-Morden for mayor, and Jen Ford and Andrée Janyk for council.

In a recent Star news article Ontario Legislature MPP Leeanna Pendergast said being a women in politics, "... takes an emotional toll,"

"You want to dedicate yourself 100 per cent to the people that you serve in the riding because you want to make sure they get the quality of services they deserve. And you want to dedicate yourself 100 per cent to your family and to make sure your children get their Mom for the amount of time that they need her. I don't think anybody can understand the personal conflict for female MPPs that are raising families."

I work full-time and believe me I fully understand the pressures of being a working mom to young kids and the guilt that goes along with not being there when they need you because of a career choice.

But there are many women whose kids are grown or who have no family commitment - where are they and why isn't politics a good choice for them? Is it also in part because at higher levels women are seen as less suited to politics emotionally than men?

And what about women's own perceptions of themselves - despite great qualifications many believe they don't have what it takes.

I know there are Whistler women who would bring a strong voice to municipal politics and I'm hoping that when Friday's deadline comes for filing nomination papers for the election a few more of their names will be on there. It's time to step up.