High-profile Canadian lawyer Marie Henein says women face an âextraordinary double standardâ on their path to success in the workplace, and calls the type of criticism when they reach their goals âastounding.â
âLook at Hillary Clinton,â Henein said in an interview on BNN on Thursday. âSheâs extraordinarily accomplished, but the complaints are that sheâs not relatable. Sheâs not cuddly.
âAnd those sorts of complaints suggest to me that (the critics) know nothing about what it takes for a woman to succeed in the way that she has and the way that other women have.â
As one of Canadaâs top criminal defence lawyers, Henein has faced her own share of criticism in the public sphere.
âIt doesnât bother me, it comes late in my career and itâs neither here nor there to me,â Henein said, adding that, to some extent, the criticism is derived from her line of work.
As a partner at Toronto-based law firm Henein Hutchison LLP, Henein has successfully represented such high-profile clients as ex-broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi, former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant and former Nova Scotia premier Gerald Regan.
Henein says that, as a woman, her level of success is âtoo rare for my liking.â She often sees many women leave law less than 10 years into their careers.
âI think the problem is that we have done a very bad job of promoting women across the board and giving them the push that they need to stay in this profession and to lead in a variety of professions.â
Heneinâs mother was âfrustratedâ by the limitations imposed on her, she said, explaining why she was taught as a child that she could be herself and do anything she wanted.