Why So Many Feminists Are Deciding to Vote for Barack Obama

Something's happening in these elections that feels like a tipping point.

From a national women's media training to my local women's book club, from exchanges among long-time feminist activists to conversations with my feminist son, I hear a buzz about why so many feminists are deciding to vote for Barack Obama. Count me among them.

Almost without exception, we'd love to see a woman president. Anyone who thinks gender doesn't matter hasn't seen Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin or Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton before a room full of women hungry for solutions to low pay, unfair treatment and lack of time to pee, much less care for loved ones. To paraphrase Eleanor Holmes Norton, we're well aware that the under-representation of women in political positions has nothing to do with talent or merit. A woman in the highest job would inspire many more women to push against the barriers. And we're outraged at the sexist treatment of Hillary throughout the media.

But we know the Big Boys have also excluded people of color of both genders from the halls of power, and constructed a massive set of racial roadblocks and indignities. We won't allow ourselves to be pigeon-holed into choosing which matters more, sexism or racism. Both hurt women. Both profit the Big Boys and allow them to maintain the status quo. Justice matters.

In Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, voters have a choice between two smart, capable and energetic candidates, either of whom would be far preferable to the current occupier of the White House who has made our nation an occupier in Iraq. Both stand for many of the changes we want to see, including fair pay, living wages, workers' right to organize, and new standards like paid sick days and family leave insurance, so family values don't end at the workplace door.

So what's tipped so many feminists to Obama? For some, it was when the Clintons began treating him as women are treated -- patronizing him as merely a "good speaker," trivializing his accomplishments, minimizing the importance of his early judgment and risk-taking in opposing the war in Iraq, and using surrogates to demonize his morality.

For me and many others, the key attraction is Obama's vision that people need to be eager, desirous for and participants in the change we want to see (the very strength the Clintons either don't get or deliberately misstate). Barack Obama doesn't just make people feel hopeful about the possibility of change -- he inspires them to become part of that change, makes them feel it's the only way we'll get there. And in doing so, he's motivating the base, reaching independent and swing voters, and perhaps most important, inspiring young people and many undecided-whether-or-not-to-vote voters -- people most affected by injustice who often feel their votes, and their lives, don't matter in elections where money has so much sway.

This public mobilization is precisely what Hillary failed to do with health care reform in 1992. She owns that failure but not the reason for it.

As long as money determines elections, we won't have the perfect candidate. Many of us wish the two leading candidates took stronger stands, like Edwards and Kucinich have, against the role of lobbyists and corporate greed and the continuation of poverty. As activists, we know that whoever wins will be subject to huge pressure from the Big Boys and will go only so far as organized movements of people demand that they go. It may take a president to push through a law, but it takes a movement to say, "Ignore us at your peril."

I believe Barack Obama has the best chance of helping to galvanize that movement and to stay connected with it.

Ellen Bravo is a long-time feminist activist and author who teaches women's studies at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her most recent book is Taking on the Big Boys, or Why Feminism is Good for Families, Business and the Nation.

Comments

[midtown]

"It may take a president to push through a law, but it takes a movement to say, 'Ignore us at your peril.'"

BINGO.

[enoughalready]

I say Bravo to Ellen.

I am a 60 year old woman from Wisconsin that lived through and fought for women's issues my whole life. I supported John Edwards and since his departure from the race, have decided to support Obama, too.

The "tipping point" for me was the Jesse Jackson remarks of Bill Clinton - in essence explaining away Obama's win in SC. You know - it's a black thing. The Clinton's do nothing they don't systematically plan out before attacking. The campaigns up to then had been above board and not about race. Bill Clinton brought race into this campaign. I was sickened that anyone, any candidate and especially a candidate of my party would be so hateful and destructive.

I want change - the change Edwards has been calling for but in his absence I am hoping that Obama's words will bring us as a nation to become one and fix what is wrong with our country. Poverty has many faces including our vets. We must have the leadership to lift us all up and not just the wealthy few.

Obama 2008

[Lazslo]

Sweet justice! Ellen, you are wise.

[Veeve]

Brilliant, pragmatic post Dr. Bravo.

[wasabi]

Another feminist for Clinton here...

[1dogs2]

This 65-year-old professional, third-generation feminist supports Obama for, among other reasons, those stated Ellen Bravo. Well done.

[tstamp]

Thank you for this spot-on article--it articulates my feelings perfectly. (but much more eloquently!)

[hope4theflowers]

Nicely said Ellen.I agree that this historical presidential race has ironically tipped in Obama's favor.I,to­o,have decided on Obama over Hillary,who I've always admired.I'­m old enough now,and secure enough in my own gender and skin to choose a candidate based on ideas and policy,not just window dressings.­..or even partylines.
Obama pinned the tail/blame-hehe- on the donkee(so to speak) when he apposed the war from day one.My hope is he stays true to that initial disaproval and does not sell out as Hillary did over health care.Hilla­ry not only sold out..she has approached a line no American politician should ever cross with her mandating every American purchase private insurance and calling that a solution to our health care crisis.I respect Obama for staying true to a democratic principle.­Fix the system first and people will WANT and be able to afford it willingly.­It was THE a deciding factor in my vote..and it should be for any Constitution respecting American..­in my opinion.I say that without shame.

[moguro]

Ms. Bravo writes that "...voters have a choice between two smart, capable and energetic candidates, either of whom would be far preferable to the current occupier of the White House." That may be true, but the problem is that the Democratic nominee will not be running against the unpopular incumbent Bush, but against the Republican nominee, most likely John McCain.

[vsign]

If Hillary is on top and Barack is on the bottom - it is very attractive to me. They look good together. If Barack is on top, I'll sit this election out. Barack has painted himself clean by painting Hillary as dirty. As a woman - this sounds too familiar to me. I don't like the way Barack has conducted his campaign against the Clintons. For example: "Young people unite and do away with the old people! Tear down the bridge to the past and follow me! I will deliver the power to you, you so deserve." Who said this? Isn't that what Barack is saying?

I used to think that I could not trust anyone over 30, because they must have sold out. Now I don't trust anyone under 30 to vote, because they must have sold out. Sold out? - sold out their ability to think and giving in to the media messages they carry around in their pockets like little red books.

Hillary is ready and prepared to make decisions on day one. I like her having President Clinton to consult intimately with. I like the stability of Hillary at the top of the ticket.

If Barack could be disciplined enough to prove himself over the next 8 years of a Hillary presidency, I would see him as more attractive.

[KDH]

Obama's agenda for women's issues will be to snub them like he did Hillary at the SOTU. He'll be too absorbed with the Kenya situation, and will ignore women, everyone else, and anything else.

[Star123]

I am a feminist, one of the founders of Women in Govt Relations in DC, and I am not for Obama. In fact, this breathless rush to him without knowing squat about him is scaring me.

[Florida08]

OK...what do you mean by change? Hell... what does Obama mean by "change". Bring everyone together? No more two party system...j­ust Obama's Change and Vision party? Fifty percent right and 50 percent left? That is a lot of compromise on progressive issues. What is he going to give up to O'Connell? What does he give up to 'compromise' in appointing the next SC justice? He loved Roberts remember. He has quietly, and covertly hinted that a woman's right to choice is not something that is important.­..but if necessary, I am sure he will compromise on it. And Social security? What's the compromise? And health care? What's the compromise? We know he is compromising the Iraq war...hope­fully "within a year" maybe, if he can bring the right over to his side. Yes...this guy is one powerful human being.

Even Jesus Christ would lose to him with all this devotion.
I

[krissymax]

So many feminists are voting for Hillary because she is the best candidate in this race and she and proves it time and time again in each and every debate. Like the New York Times' endorsement, I believe of Barrack - not yet. Further as the Times stated his message is "amorphous­." Further as to women's issues, Hillary has worked tirelessly on behalf of women's issues her entire adult life from law school on. She is clearly superior in this race and so many people have come around to that conclusion, especially after last night's head to head. I am an attorney of many years and believe that given the choice of candidates Hillary is the best because of her policies, her experience, and her specific details that she provides. It also doesn't hurt that she is a woman!

[mommadona]

YEP. THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP.

Patronizing

Constantly with the imperial "we"

DLC Patrichial pandering.

"TRUST us - 'we' know what's best for you"