2023 Jill Vickers Prize

Winners : Tracey Raney and Michael McGregor Toronto Metropolitan University

Beyond the Ballot Box: Public Opinion and Accountability in Addressing Sexual Harassment in Canadian Politics

Excerpt from jury report : Tracey Raney and R. Michael McGregor’s paper examines public attitudes toward men’s harassment of women in Canadian politics. Their quantitative analysis reveals that women are more likely than men to support public disclosure and suspension of a member of Parliament when accusations are made but that this “gender gap” closes when male politicians are found guilty following an investigation, since both men and women believe that men convicted of harassment should be formally sanctioned. These findings demonstrate that sexual harassment is not considered a private matter but a public one, especially when male politicians are convicted of wrong-doing.