Hysterical Women and Logical Men

It's a commonly held belief that men reason from logic and that women reason from emotion. Male stand-up comedians have it easy. Can't come up with new material? No problem. Just hit 'em with the shtick about how women's minds work; their crazy reasoning; their illogical way of approaching the world, especially men. Just look at what happened when Hillary cried. According to the media -- who assumed results in Iowa clearly meant her campaign should start making funeral arrangements -- New Hampshire was a sure bet for Obama. But since it and its polls couldn't be wrong, the media decided it was the crying thing that made women run out and vote for her in droves. So like emotional women to do that. In the meantime, nobody noticed that the very woman whose question elicited those nauseatingly-documented tears went on to vote for Obama. God forbid Hillary won New Hampshire because she was the most high-profile, nationally-recognized woman in the country and had been in public life for, as she often remind us, 35 years! No, had to be those darn, pesky emotions. But in light of recent, highly illogical thinking on the part of some very high-profile men, I propose we re-evaluate who is winning the illogical and hysterical gender war. Consider these bold statements made in the month of February alone.

That's logical:

Bill O'Reilly on Obama's "Give Hope a Chance" Theme, February 14, 2008: "But as with the John Lennon/Yoko Ono song 'Give Peace a Chance,' hearing it over and over is worse than being waterboarded."

And in the same breath: "Obama is like a Caribbean vacation in February. It's tough to say no to that."

If not hysterics, what do you call the following two opinions?

William Kristol, February 4, 2008: "American conservatism's ascendancy has benefited this country -- and much of the world -- over the last quarter-century."

George W. Bush, February 8, 2008: "Our policies are working. The American people support our points of view. They share our philosophy."

And not to be outdone on the logic front:

Rush Limbaugh, talking to a caller about his disdain for McCain (the newly minted moderate and centrist) while describing what sounds a lot like a guy named Obama, February 12, 2008: "I guarantee you if we had somebody running for office out there, Ted, who was able to articulate with passion and confidence his belief in the American people, their ability to triumph and overcome, and the fact that they're the ones that make the country work, it wouldn't even be close. But we don't have that. We have a roster of people who want to pander to the left."

Anyone want to start a movement?

Comments

[bodhibabe]

Misogyny reigns. In our culture, the male of our species is socialized to go to war and the female is socialized to nurture. Males tend to have a higher level of testosterone and women have a higher level of estrogen. Is it any wonder the stereotypes exist that men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to be more in touch with feelings? Obviously, all humans have both masculine and feminine traits, or energies within them to varying degrees, separate from gender and these energies need to be balanced. Intelligence is the ability to be in touch with logic & reasoning, intuition & love but these are muscles that need to be worked. Aggression (or pushing away that which is displeasing to us) is a muscle we"ve all overworked in our patriarchal society and to be able to access our intelligence, we need to be able to tame it in our individual interactions with the world.

For more on the Buddhist approach to balancing the masculine and feminine within us, see http://sealevel.ns.ca/isx/alice05.html

[NABNYC]

The funny thing is that men demand they be in charge of everything, control everything and every person, because they're somehow better equipped to run things.

Yet when they rape, and even gang rape, they claim they couldn't help it -- the woman wore a short skirt, low-cut top, or an enticing burka.

When they kill, they claim they had testosterone poisoning, it was inevitable because someone took their toy, or some woman rejected them.

When they steal, they claim they just could not bear the pressure to succeed.

When they start wars, they claim they are protecting us all. When they commit mass murder in wars, they claim they are saving the world.

When they abuse, beat, brainwash, and enslave women and children, they claim God told them to do it.

Of all the so-called holy people and prophets of the world, those who start religions and gather followers and disciples, who claim God spoke to them personally and told them they need to be in charge -- ever notice it's only men who make these claims.

Want to make a man mad? Call him hysterical.

Want to make a woman laugh? Tell her men are the logical gender.

[Cathexis]

Yep ... I think we've had an adequate number of centuries' experience to lay to rest the canard that men tend to be logical and women are given to hysteria. Just the same old misogynist bigotry and unfounded stereotypes.

[mamacat]

My God! Do you want the terrorists to win?? Go out there and vote for calm, collected, cogent Republican man!!! Hurry!!!!

[1fliteup]

Some months ago, Hillary was the one that couldn/t be beat, the front runner, etc.etc.etc. the pundits were just going crazy for her. Then just as typical pundits, they suddenly turned like a pack of dogs. Now they are all, Obama, Obama etc etc. They have made the Presidential election into a popularity contest. Have you noticed most of them are men. Just a bunch of empty suits telling us who to vote for. Makes me want to PUKE!!!!!

[DoninJoisey]

To pick O'Liely, Kristol, and Limbaugh as representative of men is as fair as saying Ann Coulter represents women.

[SamThornton]

Oddly enough, the five people who most closely fulfill Rush's call for someone "...who was able to articulate with passion and confidence his belief in the American people, their ability to triumph and overcome, and the fact that they're the ones that make the country work" ran in the 2004 race for President:

1) Walt Brown, Socialist Party, USA
2) Bill Van Auken, Socialist Equality Party
3) Roger Calero and James Harris, Socialist Workers Party
4) John Parker, Workers World Party

Rush might want to revisit what he wishes for.

[Gibbons]

I think you left out one of the sexist differences. If a man raises his voice the pundits say he was being aggressive if a woman does it she became rather shrill. I am an old white male and am going to log off and call my sister and alert her to your post.

[peterg76]

It's deplorable that people making these petty childish attacks are slandering half of the human species, but male candidates don't exactly get respect from their oppponents either.

[OtayPanky]

While there are surely some people who wouldn't vote for Hillary because she's a woman - or wouldn't vote for Barack because he's black (the so-called BRADLEY EFFECT)...you're missing the essential point:

Hillary arouses too many negative feelings for too many thoughtful men AND women who would definitely support a woman candidate.

She HAS been throroughly vetted because she's been on the national stage since 1992 - in a variety of roles - and too many people find themselves UNCOMFORTABLE with her - either as an icon of enlightened feminism, or as a model of a leader.

During this primary she's dug that hole deeper, and both she and Bill have fallen into it.

You can delude yourself with paranoia, but that doesn't change the facts. It's not about men who hate women, or women who hate themselves. It's about lots and lots of human beings - reasonably educated, reasonably thoughtful, reacting to a PARTICULAR person who happens to be a woman.

And that fundamental discomfort with Hillary that so many are feeling is simply being hilighted because Obama is such a powerful contrast, IN THE WAY HE MAKES PEOPLE FEEL.

Now, you can argue that he's less substantive, or experienced, or whatever - but the reality is we don't choose our mates or our presidents soley by rational criteria.

That's just not how life works.

[westview]

Right from the Obama talking points for training volunteers, don't talk about the stands and details he doesn't cover, ONLY TALK ABOUT HOW HE MAKES YOU FEEL. Keep the focus on feelings and popularity. Emphasize that he is the feel good candidate. That is what the Obama camp thinks is the priority. Good work. You really learned the patter. The republicans will knock that stuff out of the ballpark so far it will never come back. They have been destroying "popular" feel good dems. for over 60 years now and very effciently too. That will last about 2 weeks if Obama gets the nod from the dems. and they will be laughing at us again all the way to the white house.

[mommadona]

Let's do a little test:

Ask a male to change a diaper - baby or adult.

Ask a male to clean up a projectile vomit.

Ask a male to experience birthing a baby.

Ask a male to experience that "monthly pleasure" of the Tampon kind.

[DoninJoisey]

And what does ANY of that have to do with ANYTHING?

Ask yourself if you'd have even hear of Hillary Rodham if it wasn't followed by Clinton. Wow, what a coup for feminists, Bill by proxy.

I have no problem with self-made women - ones that think they're something because of their husbands irritate me.

[clr2]

So true doninjoisey - Hillary has done nothing on her own. Bill has given it all to her. Why didn't she run for the senate in Illinois or Arkansas? Because NY was a sure win. All she had to do was show up. She didn't even live in NY. She is a woman who gets everything she wants. Sorry Hillary, Bill can't get this one for you. I think its time for you to throw in the towel.

[ATLiberal]

Gee, that seems fair, since the last two are virtually impossible.

As to the first two, as a father of two wonderful, smart, incredible teenage girls. Soon to be grown women in their own right, I have cleaned up many a projectile vomit mess in my day, and diapers I could do in my sleep. So that is a ridiculous thing to say.

[DemandTruth]

All my life I've seen real-life examples of women who are smarter than men, funnier than men, quicker than men, more ingenious than men, more creative than men, more rational than men, more able to tolerate pain than men, and frankly, stronger and braver than men.

As we've learned from the last ten years, and as history can tell us since religions were created and man began subjugating woman: Just because daddy says it's true, don't make it true.

[Rockerbabe]

It has been evident, to me, that the men and some of the women on the right have a hard time dealing with difference of opinion; they refuse to believe that "those liberals" are just as decent, hardworking and thoughtful people as they are. Unfortunately subtle racism and overt sexism have reared their ugly heads during this primary season. Men are no more logical than women and women are no more hysterical than men. It has more to do with perception and most importantly how often and how loudly bad things are stated and restated. What men [in the media] are good at is repetiton and since they have the lion's share of the broadcast air time, their views are most often heard and not often disputed, even when just plain wrong. Obama is just a tall, good looking guy with a great tan; I am unsure of his platform for change and he has a very imperfect wife. I doubt he will do much to improve women's lives in the country. I will vote for Hillary; women who stick together get what they want and can fend off the nasties. So bigotry be damed.