"One of my greatest challenges has been the assumption that, as a young woman in leadership, I am naive. People often sexualize my appearance and attribute my success to factors other than my skills and abilities. It is a very wrong perception that is very common. This stereotype and objectification can deter young people from pursuing political careers and exclude them from important discussions, despite their efforts to make their voices heard. It also distances young women from discussions that matter. Because you really have to have a thick skin to relentlessly have your voice in there and yet if you already have an environment that is disruptive of their existence, then you are not going to have many young women in leadership to be reaching out and advocating for affirmative action of women entering the space which should not be the case."