Jenna Fisher at Newton Patch has had the most extensive reporting on concerns about the treatment of female Newton City Councilors, including this from a new article posted tonight…
Multiple councilors told Patch of stories where a woman would hold their hand up to speak but the person leading that particular meeting would ignore her or be dismissive. Another incident mentioned was where a city councilor called two women councilors “lightweights.” There were reports of a city councilor calling colleagues after hours and cursing them out, or snapping at them or talking over them in public meetings where members of the public were present. During one meeting a councilor asking a town employee about why something was not going the way it was supposed to in that department was interrupted by another councilor to tell her he didn’t like her tone, Patch was told.
and Fisher ends with this..
Patch is in the process of listening to recordings of meetings from the past six months and will update once this reporter contacts the men who have been named. If you have witnessed behavior on the city council that you think is inappropriate, email [email protected]
Looking forward to Jenna’s report. Having served with many but not all of the City Councilors for 20 years, I am interested in learning what, if anything, has changed in terms of the dynamic of the Council. I have had confrontations from both male and female councilors but never perceived any of those confrontations based on my gender or my race.
How much of this is due to people being ‘new’ or ‘unfamiliar’ with the environment (ie horrible but not sexist)? However it should change as the city should foster an environment to make everyone comfortable
For example, my workplace is very ‘curt’, no please or thank you’s, all communication between people is extremely direct and to the point because we are a very time sensitive organization. I could definitely see someone new being very intimidated.
He didn’t like her tone? A male Councilor calling councilors at home to cuss them out? Such blatant sexism has to be taken seriously with proper consequences. Waiting for Jenna’s additional reporting.
Cussing out is really inappropriate behavior but not necessarily sexism (though it could be… I don’t know what was said on the phone or if it was so aggressive that it was meant to be intimidating). But calling a couple of women city councilors “lightweights,” even if they are rookies, is way over the line.
I miss working with Jenna. She’s a very good reporter, tough as nails.
Her next story will hopefully name names.
@Andy: So can a woman call newbies lightweights – whether they are male or female?
@Amy – I’m not Andy, but as far as I’m concerned no Councilor, male or female, should be calling newbies lightweights. They should be teaching the newbies, not dismissing them.
@Meredith: That’s sort of, but not exactly, the point I was trying to make. I’m not sure that any Councilor should be “teaching” the newbies – that’s condescending as well. Everyone comes to the Council with various strengths and weaknesses and various levels of experience. What is expected is that every Councilor comes prepared and does the necessary legwork/homework so that the Council can have an informed discussion and debate on the issues or policies and be effective.
@Amy, you and I both know some of our former male colleagues are sexist pigs, and you know full well who they are. Privately, you have told me so yourself. Please stop trolling.
The problem here is that this isn’t an isolated incident. The women of the council all gathered together because most or all of them felt they were being mistreated BECAUSE of their gender.
Here’s what I say: I believe them. If they say it’s happening, I believe them.
I have no interest in second guessing them or asking if the bullies aren’t really just bullies to everyone.
@Amy – I did NOT mean anything condescending by saying they should be “teaching”. In any new job I’ve had, I’ve appreciated those who showed me the ropes whether by modeling expected behavior, telling me who to go to for various needs or problems, answering my questions about procedure or background knowledge without making me feel stupid, etc. I always try to be available to mentor new people at my job, and I expected those who have been on a board (whether City Council, School Committee, etc.) to do the same for newbies – not in a condescending way but in a welcoming way.
There’s always a lot to learn in a new gig. Uncondescending help can make it much easier to learn what you need in order to be effective.
@Ted: I would venture to guess that we could find plenty of times when you came after me or some of our other female colleagues- not because of gender – but because of our opposing opinions.
@Bryan: It’s not that I don’t believe the women Councilors – I am eager to learn more about this lack of decorum and mistreatment.
@Meredith: I don’t think everyone would be as accepting of offers to “help” or “teach”. I think that’s one reason why President Laredo put forth the Guidelines.
@Amy – I was thinking less of offers than openness. And, of course, of any offers being made clearly in a spirit of helpfulness, not being condescending. And of course, there’s also teaching by example – i.e., referring to all councilors and “Councilor So-and-So” in open discussions, modeling general civility, etc.
Thanks for your candor Ted.
Amy, it does seem you’re attempting to muddy the waters. Calling out Ted or other male councilors for “coming after you” for your positions is part of that distraction. Absolutely no one is suggesting that there aren’t councilors who vehemently disagree on issues. Your banging that drum is taking integrity from the women councilors who are experiencing sexism in our city council. That is the focus here.
At one point you said you didn’t experience the same things when you were on the city council. Ted is disagreeing with you. You are not addressing the point including commenting to Bryan that you are “eager to learn” about their grievances.
Merideth, of course you are right about a new position. Certainly grownups should know how to do what you suggest in an appropriate manner which many do. It should be expected of them.
None of this behavior is acceptable. I don’t think these women need anyone to agree with them. They know what’s going on and can speak for themselves as they are doing. It’s a real shame that experienced women councilors have just let some this behavior go but somewhat understandable. I congratulate them for now speaking out and helping change unacceptable behaviors. All they need from us is support and whatever we can do to help hold these men accountable for changing their own behaviors.
@Marti: I’m not defending any of the male Councilors over any behavior that is despicable, deplorable or in any shape or fashion inappropriate or targeted against any of the female Councilors. Ted says that in private conversations, I have told him some of my former colleagues are sexist pigs (some of whom may no longer be on this current Council). Whether they are privately or not, not one of them treated me any differently in public or in their capacity as City Councilors, than they treated any of my male colleagues. If any of my fellow female colleagues that I have served with over the years felt they were being treated unfairly while I was on the Council, then I hope they went to the Council President or the perpetrator of said behavior and called them out on it.
@Amy
I don’t think you are trolling and you make a fair point. But in today’s highly charged political environment the old ways are no longer acceptable. A, perhaps older, male councilor can’t derisively refer to a new female counterpart as a “lightweight” (even if he might refer to a new male councilor in the same way). It sounds really, really bad… That type of behavior could get you in a lot of trouble in today’s private sector.