Just over 30 of the candidates who are running in the election this time around are female—that’s fewer than the ideal number according to Equal Voice, an organization that encourages women to run.
Lori Lee Oates, the national vice-chair of the organization, says traditionally about 25 per cent of the candidates in a general election in Newfoundland and Labrador are female—they would like to see 50 per cent.
Oates says their site offers women information on how to run an effective campaign. Putting your name on the ballot is not for the faint of heart as women face more obstacles.
She says media portray female candidates differently and are more likely to talk about a woman’s appearance, personal characteristics, their clothing—especially if they’re trying to move into a leadership role. Oates says women notice that and it makes them not to want to run.
Equal Voice also wishes for people to ask candidates if they support closing the gender wage gap in NL which she says is the greatest of all provinces: women make 69 cents for every dollar earned by a man.