The relationship between achievement and service is complicated. This is particularly true for women because they are generally—not always—recognized for what they do for others as mother, wife, nurse, and teacher, but recognition for the many contributions they make in other roles, as lawyer, doctor, scientist, musician, businessperson, artist, politician, academic and so on is acknowledged far less frequently. Indeed, women who accomplish great things are often stigmatized for their success.
Marie-Paule Charrette is a woman of tremendous achievement. She has served as a social worker, a pioneering radio programmer, a media executive, the president of the Liberal Party of Canada, a lawyer, and as a parliamentarian in the Senate of Canada. She has sat on the boards of several corporations, organizations, and not-for-profits. In all these roles, she accomplished something truly extraordinary: inspirational personal achievement through public service.
It was not easy, though. As a single mother, in the early 1970s, she was shunned and as a working woman she encountered gender discrimination, sexual harassment, mockery, shaming, and intimidation. As a senator she faced the painful public trial of a politically motivated investigation. Through all this, she persevered, and her legacy of actions and initiatives continues to benefit many.