Recent sexist comments made by a B.C. Liberal candidate towards an NDP candidate will likely be the focus of an upcoming debate, says a political science assistant professor.
On Sunday morning, Bowinn Ma, the NDP’s candidate for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, took to a podium to address inappropriate and sexist comments made by B.C. Liberal candidate Jane Thornthwaite in a leaked video.
“As a woman who has worked in male-dominated industries my entire life, I’m sadly no stranger to casual sexism,” said Ma. “Like many women in these situations, I found myself making choices about the way I act, dress or carry myself to avoid having sexist interpretations.”
Ma’s comments came in response to the concerning video leaked to The Vancolour podcast, who shared it on Twitter.
The video shows a Zoom video chat meeting involving numerous Liberal candidates and party leader Andrew Wilkinson, all taking part in a retirement roast for politician Ralph Sultan.
In the video, Thornthwaite joked about Ma, who has been the MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale since 2017, getting “cozy” with Sultan on a couch, saying that she is a very pretty lady.
“She knows how to get Ralph going,” said Thornthwaite in the video. “Both Bowinn Ma and Ralph were stuck on the couch together, very close together, but Bowinn knows how to get Ralph going.”
Story continues below
I’m not going to editorialize this.
Rather, I’d like to hear from women on how they feel about this clip.
I’m sharing because a woman reached out to me and asked me to do so (her email in below tweet).#bcpoli pic.twitter.com/AiDwFmBT7F
— Mo Amir ॐ This is VANCOLOUR (@vancolour) October 11, 2020
The video is sparking outrage on social media, as many candidates in the video laughed along with what many are calling sexist comments.
While Andrew Wilkinson didn’t partake in the joke, Ma says standing by and letting it happen was unacceptable.
“John Horgan has made it very clear he will not tolerate sexism of any sort amongst his team. I think Andrew has a lot to answer for, in terms of what he feels is acceptable within his caucus,” said Ma.
Thornthwaite, who has been the MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour for more than a decade, has since apologized.
“The comments I made at the roast for my colleague Ralph Sultan fell flat and were inappropriate. I unreservedly apologize for making these comments. I have reached out to Bowinn Ma to apologize to her directly as well,” Thornthwaite said on Twitter.
Janni Aragon, an assistant professor in political science at the University of Victoria who was the chair of the school’s Academic Women’s Caucus, said the joke wasn’t funny.
“This is casual sexism. These just aren’t throw away comments, they’re problematic, and one doesn’t joke about this because the stereotype or the trope they’re playing with is the sneaky, hyper-sexualized, racialized woman,” said Aragon.
Story continues below
I wish to add this. The comments I made at the roast for my colleague Ralph Sultan fell flat and were inappropriate. I unreservedly apologize for making these comments. I have reached out to Bowinn Ma to apologize to her directly as well. I commit to doing better moving forward.
— Jane Thornthwaite (@jthornthwaite) October 11, 2020
According to Wil Greaves, a political science assistant professor at the University of Victoria, the leaked video will likely be the focus of Tuesday’s B.C. leaders debate.
“It’s poorly timed for the B.C. liberals in the sense that it gives Mr. Horgan and other opposition leaders ammunition at a crucial moment, and gives a chance to distract against some of the liberals critiques of their platforms and puts the liberals on the defensive,” said
Greaves says although the debate will most likely be steered by this topic, the overall effect on the election outcome, will most likely be minimal.
“I don’t think people who are already plugged into politics already are going to change their positions because of this,” said Greaves.
The debate is set for tomorrow, and it’s expected, all eyes will be on the BC Liberal party, waiting for answers.
Rebecca Lawrence
