Michael Gerson, speech writer for former president George W. Bush, is credited with coining the term “the soft bigotry of low expectations,” and it has been popping up in every second online debate ever since.
The phrase refers to the assumption that a marginalized group should be treated with kid gloves and helped along in an effort to level the playing field, but in so doing implies the group couldn’t achieve an equal degree of success on their own.
A prime example of the soft bigotry of low expectations is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s laser focus on gender. It all began with his cabinet selection he touted proudly as being 50 per cent women. But hold the phone a moment; were these the best candidates for the job or were they hired because they’re women? Does shoehorning in candidates who may not be best suited really bode well for feminism? Does the modern Canadian woman really need help getting into federal politics because they can’t make the grade otherwise?
I find myself conflicted about this focus on the alleged plight of the average Canadian woman. A CBC article published last Feb. 3 claimed women employed by the federal government were paid 87 cents for every dollar a man was paid, and that women tend to work more part-time jobs than men do, at 19 and three per cent respectively.
However, with these statistics there is more than meets the eye that should be considered before making sweeping generalizations that pave the way to policy reform. For instance, how many of those women work part-time by choice? How many of the women employed by the federal government who allegedly make 87 cents for every dollar that a man makes work the same job as those men? This is an immensely complex issue that merits further study before strong-arming legislation through to help women who may not need, or want it.
This focus on equality at all costs -- and not equality of opportunity but equality of outcome seemingly without context or consideration for nuance -- stinks of the soft bigotry of low expectations. As a woman myself, I find I’m insulted that Trudeau seems to feel that women can’t achieve the same success as men on our own and need a leg-up in the form of legislation and policy, both in the public and private sectors.
I never want to start a new job wondering if I was hired based on my qualifications, or if I’m only there to fill some sort of arbitrary quota that looks good on paper. Now I’ll never know.
Darlana Robertson is a 20-something writer and new mom living in Calgary, and a former Central Alberta resident.
