Good (old and new) boys in Canadian politics

Here at the Canadian Political Science Association's annual conference in Waterloo, a couple of studies have been delivered, confirming a stereotypically male tilt to politics in this country of late. As Don Cherry would say, they're all "good boys." 

Today, for instance, two UWO researchers are going to release their paper on Don Cherry as the common link between hockey, soldiers and politics. I've written about their findings in today's Star -- you can see it by clicking on the link. 

I also wrote about the results of a new survey of the Canadian political blogosphere. Again, surprise -- most bloggers are male, partisan and educated.

These studies confirm what many of us, especially of the female persuasion, have been feeling anecdotally over the past few years: that politics has become more of a man's game, with a sharper focus on sports and fighting and partisan/team aggressiveness. And before anyone's back gets up, yes, I recognize that women are soldiers and hockey fans too, and are certainly capable of getting their elbows up in political battle. But the rock-em, sock-em spirit is definitely ascendant, I'd say at the expense of collaboration and the gray area in between black and white.  

Lots of other insights are being churned out by the hour here at Wilfrid Laurier. I'm trying, when the Internet permits, to file some of them by Twitter, as are others. Best bet is to go to the @CPSA Twitter feed. 

Comments

[Jim M]

Case for the defence of Don Cherry (Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, etc.) :

"A backdoor in a computer system (or cryptosystem or algorithm) is a method of bypassing normal authentication, securing remote access to a computer, obtaining access to plaintext, and so on, while attempting to remain undetected." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdoor_(computing)

[Nadine Lumley]

snip snip: Does it not seem odd to anyone that Don Cherry, who always played the average Joe, got so wrapped up in neoconservatism, the revolt of the rich against society?

I mean he's everywhere. Campaigning for Julian Fantino, endorsing Rob Ford. He'll probably be lending his blubber to Kingston's local conservative candidate.

Many are just calling him a senile old crank, trying to capture a bit of the limelight, and while that may be true, there is another reason.

Steve Harper and the boys made this man a lot of money. More money than I'll ever see in a lifetime. And now he owes them.

How you ask? Pull up a chair. I want to tell you a story.

The Backroom Deal of the Century

http://pushedleft.blogspot.com/2011/01/did-you-ever-wonder-how-don-cherry.html

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=181139401919426&set=a.101148906585143.2545.100000701030243

[Colin]

Because Marlene Jennings and Hot Cross Hedy were all about collaboration?

[Cathy Payne]

I feel the undertones of women's new place in Conservative dogma. Being called a "left wing fringe group" was only surprising because it was an honest opinion of Mr Harper. Maybe in a majority the honesty will grow. Women have long memories when they get riled. I still remember that our military jeeps are being built in Virginia. Mr Mackay was proud to give out that contract. Those Conservatives with our contract are honest enough to say outright women shouldn't have the vote. We vote wrong. Only in a male centered bubble could it matter that our military vehicles are built hetrosexually. Virginia Conservatives did explain that but I didn't like what I heard.