Let me set the scene for you:

It’s a beautiful and typical day at work. I am performing my usual balancing act of social media moderation, drafting press releases and dealing with the public as a man walks in to my office. He is obviously upset, seething as he speaks of the issues that he has with the NDP government, and demands to speak to the MLA. Now, the member is in Edmonton and unable to talk to him at the moment. First, I offer him a coffee and a chance to sit down. I let this man know that I am proxy of the member and would be more than happy to sit with him, listen and hear how we can try to alleviate his concerns. He responds, and I quote, “Sorry sweetie, this isn’t a job for a secretary — but I’ll take my coffee black.”

What followed this comment blew my mind. He proceeded to spill all of his issues to our summer student – a young man. This man automatically assumed that I couldn’t help him, but our notably younger, notably male, staff member was the ticket to solving his problem.

Ok – how about another one.

I am very passionate about encouraging people to be self-reliant through compassionate means, thus limiting their burden on taxpayer-funded social programs and government systems. In a recent conversation with an elected official I brought up the idea that a volunteer tax credit could revitalize the volunteer sector and reward those who work hard to support their communities. They turned to me and, in a state of shock, said, “I love it when a girl can talk taxation!” There’s a fundamental issue at play here: my gender doesn’t make me less privy to fiscal responsibility and it most certainly does not determine my interests. It was obvious to me that we tend to put women into “boxes”– and that I had just stepped out of one.

As a woman in politics, a traditionally male-dominated field, if there is one thing that I have learned it is that you have to work twice as hard to be respected. A lot of the time, that involves swallowing your pride, dealing with less than ideal situations and people that still believe that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. As a conservative, I am of the opinion that respect isn’t given, its earned. Positions that you achieve within any structure as well as within politics, more generally, should be based on merit. With the resignation of Rona Ambrose today, a strong conservative woman who is tenacious in her pursuit of a better Canada, I am inspired to have seen her reference her desire to encourage other women. Rona is a prime example of ferocity, compassion and dedication, ascending to the top of the Conservative Party of Canada food chain, by leading the Official Opposition. Not once did she suggest that her gender made her more apt to do the task, she never complained, but she remained a champion for other women – for that I am eternally grateful. Taking into consideration all of the hard work of the powerful lady-Tories before me, and currently, I had to check myself. What is it that I bring to the table?

Recently, I traveled for work and had the daunting task of deciding what to wear/how to present myself. Knowing that we were meeting with major energy companies (read: a lot of men in suits) and that I would be networking extensively, I wanted to make sure that I was on top of my game –part of being a professional is looking like one. As I was getting ready that morning I caughtmyself psycho-analyzing how I planned on presenting myself. Lip choice: bold or nude? Dress: black, nothing too crazy. A bold lip says confidence (and excellent taste, obviously), but as first impressions are everything, did I want to risk looking incompetent or shallow for “trying too hard”? After about 10 minutes of deliberation, and a working knowledge of how the male mind works (emphasis here on “working”), I figured that this habitual process of ensuring that I fit into a “box”, and stressing professionalism over individuality, is part of the problem. That being said, I went bold.

I am a passionate, university educated, fiscal conservative with strong beliefs and the ability to advocate for them. I say exactly what’s on my mind. I am young woman who has a fascination with energy and taxation policy; I watch CPAC for fun and my favorite author is Tom Flanagan (PSA: if you haven’t read his books, you are missing out). I am not “normal” and I am not trying to be. Our strengths come from what make us different and differences do notequate to a lack of competence. Your merit is much more important than your gender and your gender does not make you more or less qualified to do a job. What will matter in life are the choices that I make. I chose, that day, to honor myself by refusing to make myself less visible. It may not seem like much, but if it chips away at those annoying “sit still, look pretty” stereotypes, maybe the next plethora of qualified women will have one less problem than I did that day.

SaveSave