Double Standards: Finland’s PM Partying Versus Albo’s Beer Sculling
Last week, Finland’s prime minister Sanna Marin was the centre of controversy after private footage of her dancing and partying —AKA having fun — was leaked online.
Meanwhile this week our very own Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was filmed downing a beer at a Gang of Youths concert, at the request of a cheering Enmore Theatre crowd.
The differing responses to how both PMs spend their down time reeks of sexism. And sadly this isn’t the first time female politicians are held to account more than their male counterparts.
What Exactly Went Down?
Videos of the Finnish PM began circulating on social media last week, showing her dancing and partying with celebrities, and a Finnish pop star, a detail that some people seem weirdly angry about.
Finnish and overseas media outlets jumped on publishing the vids, adding fuel to the firestorm of what really seemed like a harmless Saturday night.
Allegations of illegal substance use were swift. Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Marin said that no drugs had been used at the party, and that she had only consumed a moderate amount of alcohol and “could’ve left to take care of government tasks” if necessary.
“We didn’t have any government meetings during that week, I had time off and spent it with my friends and I did nothing illegal,” the prime minister said to reporters.
Since the media shitstorm, the Finnish PM has taken a drug test which has returned negative, and she paid for it herself.
Marin said that she’d hope that in the “year 2022, it’s accepted that even decision-makers dance, sing and go to parties.”
Only last year, Prime Minister Marin issued a public apology after clubbing until 4am without her work phone, and missing being informed she was a close contact. She didn’t test positive though.
Despite the initial backlash, the Finnish PM now has an army of fans sharing dancing videos in support.
Love it! Danish women are posting videos of themselves partying while tagging Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
To show “Solidarity with Sanna” pic.twitter.com/8gsUTuROLJ
— Very Finnish Problems (@VFinnishProbs) August 20, 2022
Ms Marin is the world’s youngest serving government leader but she is not alone in being slammed for acting her age. This dancing video of AOC from her college years went viral a few years ago, with the intention of undermining her. Inadvertently it won people over to.
Some Double Standards At Play Here
But what about our dear male politicians, who have indulged in everything from drinking, racist makeup, to violation of covid rules?
How could we forget former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke’s reputation as a beer chugger, when he famously sculled a yard glass, equivalent to two and a half pints, of beer in just eleven seconds. This behaviour earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.
Or Boris Johnson’s ‘Partygate’ scandal, which did end up with him resigning, but that left his character pretty much unscathed with no drug accusations.
By far the worst was Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s brownface at a themed party, which received considerable backlash, but still people moved on pretty quick.
And Trump’s neverending list of sexist and fucked up remarks about women, that still didn’t stop him from becoming President of the United States.
Ultimately, there’s a whole lot of double standards for those in power just wanting to have a dance.