‘As politicians, the work we do matters more than looks’

When Hazel Smyth was first elected to Westmeath County Council in May 2019, she vividly remembers someone commenting online that she was only in it to find a husband.

The Killucan native, who made history along with her party colleague Louise Heavin by becoming the first Green Party candidates elected to Westmeath County Council, at the time also received a number of what she describes as “crude emails”.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner days after the publication of an article by journalist Niamh Walsh in the Irish Mail, in which she criticised the appearances of three female Fianna Fáil politicians and one male, Cllr Smyth said that it was “very sad” that politicians, particularly female ones, are judged on their appearances rather than their abilities.

“It was just appalling to read in this day and age. It is a case as a politician you think that what should be important is the work we are doing, your commitment and dedication to what you are doing rather than the superficial way that you look.

“I think that it is sad that a lot of people, particularly women, are being judged and assessed on how they look rather than their efforts to better their society and communities.

“The perception that you are getting into politics to find a husband or those kind of reasons is just so sad.

“It is disappointing because we really need to encourage more women into politics and not be afraid to get involved, but when you are being scrutinised or criticised based on what you are wearing or what you look like, rather than what you are doing, it is disheartening.

“It is a reason a lot of women don’t get into politics. It is tough to be ridiculed like that,” she said.

Cllr Emily Wallace agrees that many women are reluctant to enter politics as they know they will be judged by many on their appearance as much as on their work do. She says the abuse and comments appear to have become worse in tandem with increased efforts to get more women involved.

“It’s the decisions and work that is done rather than their clothing [that people should be judged on]. It’s like the wrapping on a present. It’s irrelevant and superficial.

“I think that this is a bigger issue since there has been a push to get more women involved in politics, from the colour of someone’s lipstick being too bright to their nails and hair. To be honest, it has gone very small minded. I don’t see why gender is a factor. You should be judged on the work you do and results you achieve not on your appearance.

“That is not progressive. I don’t want my children and daughters in particular to think that [their appearance] has anything to do with how they do their day’s work.”

Like many female politicians has been received her share on abuse, both online and offline. “I don’t engage with it. I don’t listen to it. If you do, you give it power. The comments say more about the people making than about me. My work speaks for itself. I don’t engage and won’t waste my time or energy.

“I have noticed that comments have become more toxic and personal. I could not go to the paper and ask them to print derogatory comments on a person. How can people sit at a keyboard and type these comments on social media posts and think it is alright?”

The mayor of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Aoife Davitt, knowns Senator Erin McGreehan, one of the politicians whose appearance was criticised in the Mail article.

She praised Sen McGreehan for her Twitter response to the article, a response which received widespread support online.

“I know that Erin is capable, knowledgeable, very able and amazing at her job. For a journalist to speak personally about people and their appearance rather than the job they are doing or their job is a personal attack.

“Erin’s calling it out [on Twitter] was to the point. She felt that it was a form of bullying. These people are individuals and they have a life. For someone to say that you have a crease in your dress or your fashion sense is not to their liking is not okay.

“They are not being judged on their performance or their ability to their job and it is not fair.”