Dialogue: Nudity conceals genuine talents

By SANDY BURGHAM

Like many I found the media story about North Shore's Naked Politician rather arresting. Fresh-faced, enthusiastic 18-year-old gets voted on to North Shore City Council thanks to radical billboard campaign bearing aforementioned girl posing in tulle, knickers and a big smile.

While the cheeky stunt paid off and secured her a place on the council, it was both charming and slightly irritating that the Naked Politician seemed bewildered at the disapproving reaction her tactics provoked in some people, presumably women. What did she expect?

Mind you, when I was around the same age and had my first brush with the media, I was similarly naive. Having been featured in the press for doing well in my vocational studies, I was asked by the reporter, "Do you think it's harder for women in business these days?"

I replied boldly: "Oh absolutely not." I had been in the workforce a year and had just been promoted up the next rung from office junior. So far, the view from the bottom was looking pretty straightforward.

Of course, my off-the-cuff remark didn't go down too well with some older women who were clearly finding things a little tougher than I was.

I was learning my first lesson in sexual politics. Better to keep the other girls on side.

While I couldn't help but admire the Naked Politician's guts, motivation and initiative, one feels equally disappointed that a young woman who allegedly has such passion and gumption needed to strip to get the votes. Sex jokes are cheap shots. They are an easy way to get attention and even a few laughs.

Sure, we live in liberal times where we readily watch TV shows entirely premised on sexual tension. And, yes, we tolerate the tacky TV promos showing a boat rocking presumably from the rumpy-pumpy occurring inside. But that's because we don't expect anything smarter from television. Sex and politics will always be uncomfortable bedfellows.

I can't help but wish she could have chosen another dimension of her fine character to promote, one which garnered her the respect she may have been entitled to for her grand efforts at such a young age.

Instead she enjoys the support of many a bloke who is certainly not interested in her potential as a councillor.

Unsurprisingly, there was unanimous approval of her methods from the blokes I know. Leaping to her defence, they are quick to attack me as a humourless, spoilsport feminist bore for pouring cold water on her nudity.

"If only she had promoted herself on her own merits," I wailed. "Oh but she did!" exclaimed one. "She's brought people a lot of pleasure," says another. "She didn't expose her tits," said a third. "I mean you couldn't even see any nipple."

And this from my husband: "Look, her only mistake was that she didn't drop that silly tutu she was wearing."

My female friends seem a little bored by it all. Their attitude seems to be that such a literal interpretation of pre-election exposure only serves to confirm the quality of the candidates in local body politics recently reflected in the poor voting statistics.

"It's all kids' stuff anyway, so why not give her a go," they say.

I hope the Naked Councillor will do an admirable job, breathe new life into tired old council subcommittees, and earn the wider support she is possibly worthy of. But the jury is still out on whether she has had a head start in showing a bit of flesh.

Awareness and profile can be easily bought. The shock value of sex or nudity will help to shortcut the way into people's minds. But once there, respect has to be earned.

More experienced politicians, I am sure, would attest to the fact that there really are no shortcuts in creating and sustaining a strong following.

John Banks, veteran politician and savvy old fox, knew there were no shortcuts. I wouldn't have voted for him if he'd posed in boxers, but the fact that he, with his rather alienating persona, was prepared to go door-knocking was the thing that appealed to me in the end.

There is apparently no such thing as bad publicity, which is why I am sure the young lady will appreciate both this column and any other controversy her nudity has created.

I will watch with interest to see if she can create positive change in the North Shore, turn her infamy into a reputable track record and prove to all her doubters that her place in council is well deserved.