NY Times Op-Ed: Women Are Never Front Runners

[wlotus]

I agree with every word, including her reasons for supporting Senator Clinton, whom I also support.

THE woman in question became a lawyer after some years as a community organizer, married a corporate lawyer and is the mother of two little girls, ages 9 and 6. Herself the daughter of a white American mother and a black African father — in this race-conscious country, she is considered black — she served as a state legislator for eight years, and became an inspirational voice for national unity.

Be honest: Do you think this is the biography of someone who could be elected to the United States Senate? After less than one term there, do you believe she could be a viable candidate to head the most powerful nation on earth?

If you answered no to either question, you’re not alone. Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life, whether the question is who must be in the kitchen or who could be in the White House. This country is way down the list of countries electing women and, according to one study, it polarizes gender roles more than the average democracy....

Read the rest...

Comments

[llahearn.livejournal.com]

You and me both. I was SO happy to hear the news this morning! :)

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I was glad, too.

The op-ed piece boldly raises issues some people find uncomfortable to face or difficult to believe, but that doesn't make them any less true. As the only black woman in a predominantly white male department, I see subtle gender *and* race double-standards all of the time. It's about time someone spoke up about it. I am always shocked when anyone, particularly any American woman, doubts the validity of the piece. All I have to do is look around to see it is true. It makes me wonder what much more ideal environment they must be living in to think the piece is without merit.

[llahearn.livejournal.com]

I thought she did an excellent job of raising those issues. And I too have a problem with anyone who doesn't see the double-standards -- my gosh, it's so obvious! But too often if you say anything, you get jeered at for being too politically correct.

[ennuiescapist.livejournal.com]

No. Not for another good 20-30 years. Unfortunately.

[heronblue.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. Growing up in Washington DC, with its glaring racial inequality, and surrounded by strong, successful women, I've always just assumed that racism in this country is worse than sexism. Perhaps it's just that the sexism tends to be slightly more subtle. I've suffered some frustration in my life from sexism, but I've tended to assume that race would be more of a burden. Of course, I avoid being demeaned because of my gender by appearing and acting as unfeminine as possible (of course, then there's homophobia to deal with). I've observed that women who are more traditionally feminine than I am get talked down to more.

Thanks for pointing this article out. I like having my assumptions questioned.

As for the presidential race, I'd be happy to have either Obama or Clinton as president, and I will do everything I can to help whichever of them gets the nomination. I'm really, really glad that Clinton won New Hampshire, partially because the nomination race would have been essentially over if she hadn't, which is absolutely ridiculous one week into the election year. It was New Hampshire's blind ratification of Kerry's Iowa win last time that got us stuck with a lackluster candidate. Now, it's still a competition, which is appropriate.

I expect that the person who gets the nomination may take the other one as a running mate. Either way, that would be a good ticket.

[joystreet.livejournal.com]

Wonderful article. Amen.