Deputy Jess Perchard said she had been on the receiving end of sexism on a number of occasions since she entered the States in 2018 but since her pregnancy had felt a ‘shift’ in how she was perceived.
The Deputy said she had dealt with the incidents ‘behind closed doors’, but has now publicly questioned why Education Minister Jeremy Maçon turned her down for an assistant minister role despite, she says, being ‘most qualified’ for it.
Deputy Maçon responded by saying he had chosen to appoint ‘generalists’ to the position instead.
Deputy Perchard, a former teacher who has a degree in education from Cambridge University, said: ‘I’ve definitely experienced sexism in this role, but so much of it comes from unconscious biases and actions that individuals clearly don’t realise are no longer appropriate.
‘Very early on in politics I was mistaken for a waitress during an overseas meeting. It was particularly baffling because I had been an active participant in the meeting before the coffee break.
‘And I have experienced other typical things you hear about from women in the workplace. For example, I’ve raised an idea in one meeting that was shot down but then brought back by the man who shot it down the following meeting and presented as his own.
‘I’ve been “shushed” – with accompanying hand gesture in my face – on more than one occasion. And when trying to make headway with proposals around diversity and inclusion have been patronisingly told not to be “hysterical” – accompanied by mocking high-pitched voice and flapping hands.
‘I’ve sat on a lot of these experiences because the cruel irony is that, as a woman, complaining about these things often leads to more abuse, often around being emotional, hysterical, irrational and so on – and who can be bothered with that?’
She added: ‘Since being pregnant I have felt a shift regarding how I’ve been perceived. I have received emails from strangers expecting me not to run again because I’m pregnant and I’ve been told I wouldn’t be considered for certain things “partly” because I was going on maternity leave.
‘I dealt with those experiences behind closed doors, but I can’t ignore being turned down for a role despite being the most qualified for it.
‘I have a degree in education from Cambridge University, a two-year teaching qualification and five years of teaching experience in our Island’s secondary schools, and now
five months of being an Assistant Minister for the Environment, so I have to question the rationale behind that decision and, where that is lacking, I have to question the flawed process that allows decisions like this to continue to be made.’
Deputy Perchard wrote to Deputy Maçon on 10 February expressing an interest in the role of assistant minister, following a discussion with the Chief Minister about what she could bring to the job.
She set out proposals to carry out two specific projects connected by the overarching theme of ‘educational intervention needed in response to Covid’.
The Deputy also highlighted a need to look at recovery and interventions for literacy and numeracy in primary-aged children and said her appointment could wait until after her maternity leave in September. She also reminded the minister that he was free to appoint a number of assistants.
She received a reply three weeks later when Deputy Maçon thanked her for expressing an interest but said he had chosen to appoint a ‘generalist’. The same day, the appointment of Deputies Scott Wickenden and Trevor Pointon to the assistant minister roles were announced.
Deputy Perchard sent a follow-up email asking the minister to elaborate on the reason for his decision, but she says she has so far not received an answer.
Responding to Deputy Perchard’s claims, Deputy Maçon said:
‘Deputy Perchard acknowledged that if I was “looking for just one assistant minister who is a generalist and will not have a particular portfolio, but rather acts as a shadow minister, or if you wish to delegate a different part of your portfolio, I am clearly not the right candidate”.
‘I wrote to Deputy Perchard on 1 March thanking her for her interest in the position and advising that, on balance, a generalist was something I felt I needed at this time. I offered to meet the Deputy to discuss any individual workstreams she would like to see progressed.’
He added: ‘As Minister for Children and Education I have a wide-ranging portfolio which requires significant daily political oversight. I have appointed Deputy Pointon with political oversight for CAMHS and his similar role as Assistant Minister for Health will help with cross-cutting departmental policy and issues for mental health. I have also appointed Deputy Wickenden as generalist support across my portfolio but also as he is an Assistant Minster in Social Security, so is well placed to assist with cross-cutting departmental issues too.’
