Chapter 9: Wynne Some, Lose Some: An Intersectional Approach to Media Prejudice Against Canadian Women Politicians

How can an intersectional analysis, coupled with an Arendtian phenomenological investigation, add conceptual richness to current theorizing concerning women politicians and media prejudice? I suggest that the dual lens of intersectionality and Arendtian phenomenology illustrates how prejudice is multifaceted and works to privilege some bodies over others. This privileging involves not only political action but also political speech. Specifically, I consider the effects of media prejudice on the success and failure of two political campaigns. The first politician I discuss is Canada’s first openly gay premier, Kathleen Wynne. The second politician is Olivia Chow, the initial frontrunner to replace the former mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford. When we consider these women’s campaigns through an intersectional lens, interesting facts emerge. It appears that Wynne’s lesbian identity did not affect her campaign as much as Chow’s ethnic identity did. Indeed, ethnic prejudice in the media was a major factor in Chow’s defeat (Honderich, 2014; Mallick, 2014). Focusing on gender alone, therefore, may be insufficient to explain why some women politicians are successful or suffer defeat. As such, the present inquiry adds to current literature that critiques media bias against women politicians by showing how media and political prejudice is multifaceted (Adcock, 2010; Bligh & Kohles, 2008; Mavin, Bryans, & Cunningham, 2010; Ross & Comrie, 2011).