Deanna Keene
I currently work within the private health sector as a compliance consultant outsourced to Public Health England and prior to this I travelled globally to over 150 countries worldwide as a professional singer/entertainer. This also involved entertaining numerous refugees in worn-torn countries such as Bosnia, Syria and Lebanon. I have also entertained the British Armed Forces and troops at UK and overseas army, air and navy bases. This has been a truly amazing life experience, that lead me to form the Conservative Friends of the Arts (CfoA), a year ago. CFoA aims to help artists and musicians be heard and we steer policy ideas in government from a grassroots aspect. Most individuals who enter the culture, media, arts or sports sectors as a profession seem to feel that these particular industries both accept and encourage ethnic minorities to be very successful more than other work sectors.
In my opinion, most women of colour feel that they have to work much harder than their white counterparts to earn and achieve the same status, whether in terms of salary or promotion. The BAME gender pay gap issue can be seen in most work sectors and can lead to feelings of being constantly undervalued and being treated as a subordinate to non-BAME work colleagues. This can radiate negative feelings of adversity and contribute to losing confidence.
Some BAME women, who have suffered from discrimination throughout their lives and careers, have been unable to fulfil their ambitions within their career of choice, this includes going into public sector roles such as politics. I have been very fortunate not to have faced any major adversity in this area and have so far experienced mainly positivity and growth. Having made friends with other BAME activists, Councillors and MPs over the last five years with the same aspirations and goals has definitely inspired me and encourage me to want to make a difference in society. I stood as a Council candidate in my local constituency of Harrow East in May 2018 and came fourth in a ward that has been held by Labour since 1968. This has given me tremendous confidence and hope for the future, not just for myself but for all other BAME Party members.
I am hoping to see more change in current BAME disparities that are present in society and I am also keeping my fingers crossed that we may even be looking at welcoming the first ever female BAME Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the not too distant future!