Sexism and politics in 2018: Jacinda Ardern announces she's pregnant

The day is the 1st of August 2017. Labour leader Andrew Little has announced he is stepping down and Jacinda Ardern, then deputy, will become the leader.

Immediately she is grilled about her intentions to have a family. TV3 broadcaster Mark Richardson asks her on the morning show if she plans to have children. She is furious about the question saying that while she is happy to answer the question, it is inappropriate to ask it.

 

As you would expect from a leader of a major political party she was polite when answering the question but said that the question was inappropriate in 2017. To give you a heads up, it is illegal to ask ANYONE, male or female what their family intentions are. It breaches their human rights and can lead to undue discrimination. 

Mark Richardson, who asked the question was criticised for doing so by thousands of people on social media and media comment sections.

You can see in the video that Duncan Garner says he had never asked a male politician if they planned to have children. It should be noted that Trevor Mallard, Jenny Shipley, Bill English and John Key all had children while in office. On the flipside, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark were criticised for not having children. 

Prior to becoming leader of the NZ Labour Party, Jacinda Ardern made it very clear that she was hesitant to take on the leadership role because she wasn't sure that she could juggle being Prime Minister with having children.

The world media responded to Mark Richardson's question in disbelief that she would be asked a question about her reproductive plans the day she was elected as leader of the Labour Party. You will recall that I blogged back then saying that her partner Clarke Gayford would be a stay at home dad.

Well, fast forward to January 19th 2018 and we have our answer.

Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford have announced that they will be having their first baby in June and that he will be a stay at home dad. Ardern will take six weeks maternity leave (the entitlement in NZ is 18 weeks) before returning back to work. It should also be noted that she has said in today's media conference that she will still be reachable when she is on maternity leave. NZ First leader Winston Peters will be Acting Prime Minister for the duration.

Now let's talk about the implications of Jacinda Ardern being pregnant. The majority of responses have been overwhelmingly positive with people being very happy for the PM and thinking that it is the reality - working parents can have kids. Meanwhile others are not as nice saying she must immediately resign. These people are likely bitter about the election result and looking for any excuse to have a National led government again. Full disclosure: I am an Act and National voter, however I also support gender equality and do not think that having a baby while in office should mean someone is excluded from the top job. Jacinda Ardern has been a role model from the moment she became Prime Minister given her youth.

Getting pregnant in itself isn't news, but getting pregnant while you're the Prime Minister of a country is a huge moment for women's rights in New Zealand and the country really does pave the way for other countries to follow suit, step up and take notice that hey here's a female Prime Minister who is having a child while in office.

In the 1990s girls were told we could do anything but the reality is somewhat different. Even Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has said that she couldn't have it all. She chose politics rather than kids. Meanwhile former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark said that women should have the choice to have a career and kids.

Some people say that Jacinda Ardern cannot do it, but remember, she is on a $400,000 salary and has a very supportive partner who will play the role of stay at home dad. They will also travel regularly with her so they won't be separated from eachother for very long. We also need to remember that male Prime Ministers have had kids in parliament as well - John Key, Bill English, Kevin Rudd, John Howard, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. None of them were questioned about their ability to work AND run the country so being a woman should be no different.

What about women outside of high powered jobs though? Well, working conditions should be more flexible with parents (male and female) able to work from home, flexible hours (as long as you get the work done by X it doesn't matter when or how you do it) and increased childcare centre hours (not everyone works 9-5, shift workers need to be considered).

For all the naysayers, this is a great day for women's rights and shows just how far the country has come since Kate Sheppard first fought for women having the right to vote in 1893.

Congratulations to both Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford. I'm sure they'll be great parents and will be able to provide well for the child.

I hope that businesses in New Zealand and Australia take notice that women are capable of working while raising children, and that men can take parental leave as well.