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Read the Women Blog
June 19, 2008
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Unaddressed sexism now shifts focus to Michelle Obama
The dissection of the mainstream media’s role in the downfall of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is not yet exhausted. The power of the print, electronic and cyber press to reflect society’s values and reinforce or influence change is indisputable. While the media washing cites isolated incidents of gender bias and overblown reactions, the debate revealed an often unspoken truth: sexism is not dead. In fact, it is broadly tolerated, beyond the candidates, crushing in various ways the lives of more than half of the electorate. Each of us must take responsibility for making sexism as unacceptable as racism.
Mrs. Clinton’s run for the Democratic nomination taught us that today’s sexism is cast at the individual, not at a system that’s capable of supporting a woman conduct a credible and competitive campaign for the presidency. She emerged from the fabric of our society’s sexist stereotypes as a lightning rod aspiring to the highest male bastion of arguably the most powerful political position in the world. However, her ascent was laced with shockingly open and often unspoken intolerance and hatred, not unlike the challenges women encounter in their daily lives. Gender bias is often insidiously subtle, sitting on the fence between humor and questionable behavior, and pernicious to the advancement of our country.
The conversation becomes more complicated by the intersection of gender and race, as the laser is now especially focused on the novelty of Michelle Obama as the first African-American aspirant for First Lady of the United States. In the absence of defining positions articulated by senators Barack Obama and John McCain on issues important to women, the focus is easily turned to their wives.
Women are a central part of the electoral process. We are 54 percent of the electorate; now, 57 percent of registered Democrats. Candidates must address our concerns in specificity and with seriousness and respect. This must not be relegated to surrogates and committees. Mr. Obama carries a heavier burden, given the resentment generated by the treatment of Mrs. Clinton during the latter stages of her campaign and exit. Charges of sexism could become as explosive as the Jeremiah Wright controversy. A nationally televised speech denouncing sexism in America and outlining how each candidate’s presidency would improve women’s lives would be a modest, yet powerful, start.
Pat Nolan-Burger says
Dear Faye, Thank you for your important voice on the issue of sexism in the U.S. Anyone who denies it’s existence need only look at the facts. Women, as you stated, make up 54% of the population, but our federal government-the thre top branches- executive,legislative and judicial, is overwhelmingly male. 91% of the members of these 3 brances are “Male”. That is shocking in a country that points the finger at other countries for their mistreatment of women. This male domination is why things like abuse of women and children (ex. polygamist cults that are allowed to continue under the guise of religion, or attorney generals that while condemning and prosecuting women prostitutes, is at the same time using prostitutes for his pleasure, bashing women like Cindy Shhehan who has paid the ultimate sacrifice in this male war happy country, and the latest demonizing and trashing of Hillary) is allowed to continue. Why didn’t the democratic party support a black woman for president? No, it must be a black man! The passing of Tim Russert made me even more aware of how the Catholic church (I attended Catholic schools) is one of the most repressive and sexist institutions in this country and people like Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, etc. are good people but they are also indoctrinated by the Catholic church’s belif that women are inferior to men and will never be allowed to be part of the hierarchical power structure that exists in not only the catholic church but in the media and in our gov. Hillary, while not being allowed to break any barriers, did amazingly well in spite of all the anti woman rhetoric. This campaign hopefully raised more women’s consciousness about how far we have to go in this country before being considered equal to men. I am seriously considering dropping my cable service until they replace Chris Matthews, Nora ODonnel( one of the many young woman who know they better go along with the good ol boys or they won’t get air time )and all the other sexist so-called journalists. Pat
Cathy Carron says
Hi Faye - Your perspectives as expressed on CNN were much appreciated (and comforting to boot - there is sanity out there)...re: Michelle Obama...admittedly, I was really dismayed by Barak Obama’s dismissive comments towards Hillary, but at this point it’s somewhat under the bridge. However now his wife is on the scene and he’s giving double messages, just confusing the sexism issue even more. He says Michelle is not to be fodder for comment BUT...first, can’t she speak for herself on this issue? - he’s coming across as her he-man and secondly, his PR team is now retooling Michelle’s image (what was wrong with her before?)and placing her in the public eye...you can’t have it both ways. Senator Obama seems to need some enlightening about women in general. At the same time, Barak’s Democrats are tearing down Cindy McCain for her vicodin addiction (because of past infirimities not of her doing)...but no one has given her credit yet for adopting a child of color, being on the Board of her family’s company and just being her own women (Mrs. McCain supposedly insisted that John sign a prenup agreement long before it was fashionable!)..she’s really a strong woman in her own right. The Democrats used to be the party of open arms, bigger thinking, but in the fervid push to the White House...they are revealing more sexism not less, not to mention the DNC totally dumping on Hillary and manipulating the primary to favor Obama. In the end, I feel I have no choice but to go with the party that seems to be taking the higher road regarding women this time - The Republicans. The Dems keep on saying how can Hillary’s women support an anti-abortion platform? - but I have to ask myself, it wasn’t so important for Democratic women 18-35 to support the more experienced female candidate, than why should I care? Let them fight the battle this time. Perhaps the younger generation ought to get a taste of what sexism feels like?