Introduction
On August 19, 2022, Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin came under massive criticism after a captured video of her dancing and drinking with her friends during a private party was leaked online. Sanna Marin, the world’s youngest prime minister, has been leading Finland since she was first elected in December 2019. She has been raised by two mothers, fighting hard from the beginning to overcome the discrimination toward her rainbow family, pay for her academic studies and to emerge in the political arena (Sky Tg24, 2022).
The main facts
The video shared on social media displays six people dancing and mimicking a song to the camera, including PM Marin. Later, Marin is seen down on her knees, continuing dancing while mimicking the song. However, after the release of the video, widespread allegations started spurring against the Finnish PM for using drugs during the party based on the actions seen in the video. Marin denied using drugs. Instead, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE, she spent “the evening with friends. Partied pretty wild, yes. Danced and sang”. (Buzz Staff, 2022). During a press conference on 18 August, she reported not using drugs “or anything other than alcohol. I’ve danced, sung and partied and done perfectly legal things” (Farberov, 2022). Despite her confirmations, Finnish Member of Parliament Mikko Kärnä of the Centre Party, partner of the Marin coalition, tweeted that the PM should take a voluntary drug test and make the results public. Marin reported that “it’s not a problem to take a drug test, but I also think it’s quite special that something like this is required,” (Farberov, 2022).
After the video went viral, the Finnish Prime Minister was hit by numerous criticisms and attacks, directly undermining the rights of Sanna Marin – as a woman, as a person – and her right to privacy. Consequently, videos and pictures of women, dancing and singing, started to appear on social media to support the Finnish Prime Minister and her freedom to private life. In the past few days, during a press conference Marin, dressed in black, is in tears apologising for the diffusion of pictures and videos that should have remained private. During the press conference, the PM justified herself to her people – and to the world – explaining that, just as any other person, she needs leisure time and moments to have fun with friends. In addition, she guaranteed that before going to this party, she was free from her work duties and that no time had been taken away from governmental and official matters (Canonico, 2022).
The disapproval of the behaviour of Sanna Marin reveals a state of mind that is still deeply rooted in the societal nature of patriarchy and misogyny. For instance, the Partygate scandal involving British PM Boris Johnson, saw him gathered with other people inside the PM’s official residence and workplace, 10 Downing Street, London, during the lockdown periods that took place between 2020 and 2021 to contain the spread of the Covid-19. The gatherings included alcohol, music, food, and dancing, on top of a serious lack of social distancing and the violation of health measures (Roche, 2022). While thousands of people in the U.K. were confined in their homes, afraid that their actions could result in legal repercussions or costly fines, the PM was breaking those same rules. If Johnson had partied outside a global pandemic, no scandal would have happened. And again, when in 2021 Tory MP Michael Gove was spotted dancing all night in a club in Aberdeen, the story was simply considered amusing, without any mention of inappropriate behaviour. The PM was instead also praised for his energy on the dance floor (Tosshead, 2022).
Conclusion
What Sanna Marin has managed to create in Finland is an inspiring environment through the promotion of equality and sustainable practices. The Finnish premier has been raised by two mothers, leading her to fight in order to overcome the discrimination towards her rainbow family, In addition, she worked hard to pay for her education and ultimately get into politics. Marin is leading the Finnish Government sided by four women – three of whom are under 35 – namely, Maria Ohisalo, Minister of Interior and head of the Green League (Vihreä liitto), Katri Kulmuni, leader of the Centre Party (Suomen Keskusta), Li Andersson of the Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto), Education Minister and Anna-Maja Henriksson, who runs the Swedish minority language party, the Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland (Fioravanti, 2019).
Women, especially women in power, are perceived unworthy of that position, considered as a menace to the standard patriarchal rule and vision. Women are always required to meet the highest standards, forced to conform to rules that do not apply to men. And even when men break the rules, the consequences they face are always easier and soon forgotten. But why is this still happening, with governments – like the Finnish one – increasingly willing to close the gender gap and fight gender-based discrimination? It is not that women are different or inferior to men, but that they are simply under-represented in numerous fields – for instance, the world of international relations, diplomatic affairs and the governmental sphere of power. In spite of the progress of education and the modernisation of societies, deep-seated inequality of opportunities and representation for women are still part of everyday life. Barber (2010), in his chapter “Levels of Analysis and Foreign Policy” discusses how in foreign policy, the equal representation of women – or even dominance – would radically change the global political scenario, by creating a more peaceful environment, based on international cooperation. Indeed, American political scientist Francis Fukuyama explained in his paper “Women and the Evolution of World Politics” (1998) that “international politics is gendered, that is, run by men to serve male interests and interpreted by other men, consciously and unconsciously, according to male perspectives” Of course, it cannot be said – as stated by feminist theorist Jean Bethke Elshtain – that the traditional dichotomy between men being just ruthless warriors and women being advocates of peace is always the truth as this is “frequently transcended in practice by women intoxicated by war and by men repulsed by its cruelties”(Fukuyama, 1998). However, Fukuyama concludes by declaring that “a truly matriarchal world, would be less prone to conflict and more conciliatory and cooperative than the one we inhabit now”(Fukuyama, 1998).
It is inevitable to wonder why women keep being under-represented in so many fields and why the gender gap is still a concerning issue in numerous countries. Perhaps, it is too frightening to see and live in a world free of conflicts and wars, where there is space for cooperation and equality. Indeed, there should be much more effort to build a reality where women are free to enjoy the same rights that are enjoyed by men, without being constantly judged for their actions. More endeavour should be put into building an environment like the one created by Sanna Marin, where young women are leading a prosperous and just nation.
SOURCES
Buzz Staff. (2022, August 22). ‘Solidarity With Sanna Marin’: Finnish Women are Posting Party Videos in Support of PM. News18. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/solidarity-with-sanna-marin-finnish-women-are-posting-party-videos-in-support-of-pm-5796943.html
Canonico, N. (2022, August 25). Sanna Marin in lacrime dopo le polemiche: «Anche io ho bisogno di gioia in tempi bui». Io Donna. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://www.iodonna.it/video-iodonna/attualita-video/sanna-marin-in-lacrime-dopo-le-polemiche-anche-io-ho-bisogno-di-gioia-in-tempi-bui/
Farberov, S. (2022, August 18). Finnish PM Sanna Main urged to take drug test over leaked party videos. New York Post. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://nypost.com/2022/08/18/leaked-videos-show-finnish-pm-sanna-marin-partying/
Fioravanti, A. (2019, December 9). Il pentapartito delle ragazze: Sanna Marin e le sue sorelle. Ecco la coalizione rosa che guiderà la Finlandia. Linkiesta. Retrieved on 28 August 2022 from https://www.linkiesta.it/2019/12/sanna-marin-finlandia-premier-giovane/
Fukuyama, F. (1998). Women and the Evolution of World Politics. Foreign Affairs, 77(5), 24-40. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20049048
Roche, C. (2022, June 6). What is the partygate scandal and how is Boris Johnson involved? AS. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://en.as.com/latest_news/what-is-the-partygate-scandal-and-how-is-boris-johnson-involved-n/
Rourke, J. T, and Boyer, M. A (2010). Chapter 3: Level of Analysis and Foreign Policy. pp- 65-100
Sky Tg24. (2022, August 23). Non c’è pace per Sanna Marin: nuove scuse per le foto osé delle amiche. Sky Tg24. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://tg24.sky.it/mondo/2022/08/23/sanna-marin-foto-scuse
Tosshead (2022). Sanna Marin racchiude i doppi standard sessisti imposti alle donne al potere rispetto agli uomini. Tosshead. Retrieved on 25 August 2022 from https://tosshead.com/it/topics/18568-sanna-marin-encapsulates-the-sexist-double-standards-placed
