Bradshaw: Female politicians without children still taking on a parenting role

Opposition St. Michael South East Member of Parliament Santia Bradshaw, has taken to task Member of Parliament for St. John Mara Thompson, for what she said were certain critical comments made by that member about female politicians who do not have children.

“What concerns me, is when I heard the Hon. Member for St. John (Mara Thompson) earlier speak to the fact that the Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party and Member of Parliament for St. Michael North East (Mia Mottley) not having children of her own, was perhaps less capable, I believe, of perhaps managing the affairs of this country,” Bradshaw stated in the House of Assembly on Friday.

“It does not mean that because you do not have children and you have come to public life as a woman, that you do not understand what it is to parent. I am just mind blown that women Parliamentarians could take such a position as I heard this morning, because, amongst members in this Chamber, there are persons who cannot sometimes even control their own children. In some cases, we have people who have come to public life and only in recent years have recognised their own children. So when we stand in this Chamber, we have a responsibility to be fair,” the Opposition MP argued.

She also suggested that though some female politicians have made a sacrifice in not having children, they still play a parenting role, in guiding many young persons in their constituency and beyond, in leading better lives.

“I have no children, but I have chosen to come to public life to be able to be an example to the young people, to be able to speak out and to represent my country. That is the choice I made and I take real disgust to persons who speak in that way, because I have worked hard to be here,” Bradshaw stated.

“I made the sacrifice because my father who was a politician, didn’t spend the time with me when I was young, because he spent it representing the people in St. Michael South East and I understand the sacrifice that women must make in public life, if they are supposed to give of their best to their constituents and to represent their country,” she added.

She further stated, “The Member for St. John has only recently come to hold her position. She has not worked her way through the ranks. ... I have worked for [my position], the Member for St. Michael North East has worked for it and we must not be judged as women in this country, on the basis of being childless”. (RSM)