Satu-Marja Tenhiälä, former special advisor to Finland's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä, has accused her former employer of being a male chauvinist, saying that his dislike of educated women was the reason for her departure from the ministry. Tenhiälä worked for the natural resources department for just seven months before she was let go.
Tenhiälä hopes that her decision to come forward will generate a discussion in Finland about everyday chauvinism in the workplace. She says she has no interest in intervening in the ministry's work, as she is happy to continue in her current position as an expert consultant for MTK, an interest organization representing farmers, forest owners and rural entrepreneurs.
"I've now let the cat out of the bag. I hope this leads to general discussion of the issue," she said. "I have received feedback that indicates that this certain way of treating women is quite common."
Tenhiälä says she has received a lot of support in her decision to go public with the reason for her dismissal. She says both women who work for the government and women with positions in the private sector have backed her up.
The tabloid Iltalehti writes that Tenhiälä said she expected to be fired after it became clear to her that cooperation with the minister was not working out. In Finland, ministers can choose their advisors freely and let go of them if they are not satisfied.
Tenhiälä maintains that she was not let go because her work was subpar, but that chauvinism was behind the move.
Leppä denies discrimination
Minister Jari Leppä responded to the accusations on Saturday, saying that he would not condone inappropriate behaviour from anyone in his ministry. He says everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their age, gender, domicile, skin colour or sexual orientation.
"In my home, I was taught to treat all people equally and politely," he said in the statement.
He said that cooperation between special advisors and, for example, the ministry experts and parliament should be seamless, and in this regard he was not satisfied with Tenhiälä's performance.
The minister added in his statement that he has sought to support the careers of young women in the political arena, and plans to continue to do so.
Prime Minister Juha Sipilä's special advisor Riina Nevamäki and Centre Party MP Hanna Kosonen both took to Twitter on Saturday to defend Minister Leppä.
Both say that Jari Leppä is a very polite man, and not a chauvinist.
