american misogyny: alive and kicking
by Cameron Contois
Published: February 25, 2008
Imagine standing in a crowd of people, looking up at a dark skinned man behind a navy blue podium. In his deep, moving voice, he says: “We must continue to be a nation that strives always to give each of our children a better future… so, today we say with one voice — give us the child who wants to learn, give us the people in need of work, give us the veterans who need our care. We say give us this economy to rebuild and this war to end. Give us this nation to heal, this world to lead, this moment to seize.”
Hearing such hopeful words, you feel inspired and united with the fellow Americans around you. Now imagine that man is Hillary Clinton. She’s the one who said it. Why do these words sound so much better if one thinks their coming from Obama?
My roommate’s union, the AFSCME, endorsed Hillary Clinton. However, in Michigan’s primary, he voted “uncommitted.” Intrigued, I asked him why. I expected to hear that he supported Obama. He simply replied, “She scares me.” Unfortunately, his logic echoes that of many Americans, particularly men. An ambitious woman scares them.
A CNN poll shows that, among men, McCain gets an 18 point lead over Clinton. When compared to Obama, McCain’s lead shrinks to 3 percent (”Obama has advantage in head to head with McCain.”). Obviously, these men aren’t voting on the issues; Obama and McCain’s beliefs are drastically different.
National Organization for Women president Kim Gandy writes: “Our society still has not come to terms with ambition in women — it is suspect.” Everything Clinton “does to win the election — strategizing, organizing, confronting, comparing and contrasting — is interpreted as calculating, fake or just plain evil.” (14th Feb 2008. “Ignorance and Venom: The Media’s Deeply Ingrained Sexism.”
Sadly, there is blatant sexism towards Senator Clinton in the media. In an op-ed article in the New York Times, Maureen Dowd repeats a joke that Clinton’s recent losing streak is due to the fact there’s “no White B– Month.” Dowd admits the joke is offensive, but uses it as a lead-in to deride Clinton none the less. Dowd criticizes Hillary for her marriage to Bill and says she’s failed the feminist test because of it. (13th Feb 2008. “A Flawed Feminist Test”)
I can’t name another candidate who has been so harshly criticized for who he or she is married to. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver, a Kennedy Democrat, and he never received such idiotic attacks. Furthermore, Michelle Obama’s role in her husband’s campaign goes unquestioned by the media. She’s on the cover of Newsweek with the caption: “He Calls Her His ‘Rock.’” Double standard, anyone?
Gail Collins writes that Clinton, after showing emotion in New Hampshire, was given the “sympathy” vote from women. “The women whose heart went out to Hillary knew that it wasn’t rational.” (10th Jan 2008. “Hillary’s Free Pass.” New York Times.) Collins not only takes a sexist swipe at Clinton, but goes on to state that all women who voted for her were irrational and capable only of voting on emotional whims.
Clinton just can’t win. In “Why Women Hate Hillary,” Susan J. Douglas states that Clinton “seems to want to be more like a man in her demeanor and politics… She seems above us, exempting herself from compromises women have to make every day… [and leaves] feminism in the dust.” I admit, I skipped Feminism 101, but don’t equal rights mean Clinton shouldn’t have to act a certain way because of her gender? When has a male candidate ever had to compromise between his masculinity and being a politician? It’s hypocritical and repulsing that a self proclaimed “feminist” would make such stereotypical judgments.
Media sexism towards Clinton is as appalling as the claims that Obama isn’t “black” enough, yet this gender bias is more subtly accepted. Often, Clinton’s inspiring words like those quoted above are overlooked by the media in favor of “white b—” jokes. If one doesn’t like Clinton’s issues… fair enough. But how many voters don’t like her because an ambitious woman rubs them the wrong way?
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