This election I’m gender voting. It has long been my practice to do research on all of the candidates and then based on what I learn, decide on who will get my vote.

Recently, I decided to gender vote instead. Primarily, because after living in a society that has been created and run by white men, I am tired, fed-up, annoyed, disgusted, angry, and generally disillusioned by what I see, that passes as civil society.  I want this to change. I need this to change.

I am tired of reading about men who kill their significant others and their children. Why do they do this? What could any of them possibly have done to warrant these extreme acts of violence? And why does this continue to go on?

I cannot bear to hear about another group of young men, who have been given so many opportunities including the benefit of post-secondary education, who somehow think it is fun to drug and rape young women.  Who has raised these young men?  How dare they be okay with perpetrating this obscene act of degradation on another human being?

As if being subject to physical violence weren’t enough, women are still paid less than their male counterparts.  This economic violence is based on what? It’s ridiculous.  I remember many years ago being told a male colleague was being promoted, though I had seniority and was better qualified, because “he was married and had a child- he needed the promotion more.”  This was how men took care of one another.  Has this changed? No. Clearly, taking care of their own continues today.  How else could men today still believe they are entitled to whatever they want at the expense of others?

I am beyond disappointed in the ways in which white men have built the society that I, as a woman, must live in. I do not understand why it is so difficult for white men to recognize and acknowledge that they have exercised power in a way that benefits their demographic to the detriment of every other demographic, to apologize for doing so, hang their heads with shame, ask for forgiveness and step back so that a true leader can step forward.

I have waited decades for changes that would create a more equitable society, a more just society. Frankly, I am at a loss.  Don’t get me wrong, there has been progress.  We have come a long way from tossing raped young women from cars and speeding away leaving those who lived nearby to call the police.  I’m not sure why we called the police because in those days no one would have believed her anyways.  Perhaps we have not come as far as we’d like to think we have. Actually, I’m pretty certain we haven’t.

I’m older now, in my sixties.  I used to fear for myself (a soccer dad spiked my G&T after a meeting one afternoon).  Then I feared for my daughter and now I must fear for my wee granddaughter.  Surely, this must be wrong thinking.

I’ve followed politics since I was a child.  I love the idea that we can create legislation that supports our communities to evolve and thrive.  Unfortunately, this violence against half the population seems to be exempt from this process.  Let’s call it a lack of political will by those with power, shall we?

So what to do? Well, sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion that after decades of learning about candidates and where they stand on various issues, it may be better to simply vote only for women. Does this sound incredible? In a way it is but then in another way, maybe it’s a saner thing to do. Let me tell you why.

1. No matter who wins the election, the winner will tell us that their predecessor (if they are not the incumbent) has made a mess of things and there is more debt than was previously thought.  This, of course, will impact the decisions they will make in the future.  In other words, regardless of someone’s personal convictions, I no longer expect candidates to fulfill their campaign promises.  So, if no one is going to do as they promise during the election, why not just vote for someone because of their gender?
2. I no longer believe that a mother of 3 who has balanced the family budget, sat on parent council, volunteered in the community or worked part-time, is less qualified to hold office.  First, she is skilled.  Her skills may be similar and also different than the businessman who creates jobs for others. This is a good thing as so too will be her perspective.  Since I don’t believe the current cohort has done a good job of improving the lot of women and girls, I’m now thinking a different perspective may be a better choice. And secondly, those who are elected learn on the job and are trained to some degree by the bureaucracy.  Consequently, I’m now more interested in whether someone can learn than I am in how successful they were in business.  If the criteria is that those in office need to be open to learning and that the more viewpoints we have at the table, the better the final outcome will be, there is no reason not to vote female. We need the female viewpoint at the table. It’s time.
3. There are women leaders everywhere in the world and they are doing a smashing job. Let’s elect more women here and see what happens. Let’s be bold and experiment because the old ways do not support women.
4. Number four is a no brainer.  The way in which I have been voting has not given me the results I was looking for.  We need a societal shift and face it voting for more old white men is not the answer. They’ve had plenty of opportunities and yet, here we are. So, this time round I’m voting for women.  It’s time for a change.

P.S. I am still reading bios and doing my research- I’m just not bothering with those that do not belong to women.

P.P.S. Even if you choose not to gender vote, please still vote. Every voice and every vote matters.

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Heike has a Master’s degree in Political Science and takes politics and the building of civil society seriously. She is also the author of Grief is… thoughts on loss, struggle and new beginnings. She lives deeply in Stratford, Ontario.

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To learn more about Heike, Transitions Coach and the author of “Grief is… thoughts on loss, struggle and new beginnings click here