Another 55-Year-Old White Woman for Obama
Second chances are rare and wonderful moments. Baby Boomer white women now have one: we can cast a vote backwards in time, declaring that gender wins the 'who's-more-oppressed' game, or we can recognize that we missed an opportunity to fundamentally change institutions 30 years ago and our experience has made us wiser.
After each loss, Hillary Clinton or her supporters raise the specter of sexism in a divisive way; this stands in sharp contrast to Barack Obama's unifying discussion of race. Declaring gender as the "highest glass ceiling" has neither facts nor a hunger for uniting the country on her side.
In 1976, when I co-founded the first organization in the United States to offer comprehensive services, training, and consultation on the topic of sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advances were disproportionately directed towards women of color; however, white women's complaints were consistently taken more seriously. Stereotypes and privilege were at work then, and they continue to play a critical role in our society today -- especially in the workplace.
In 2007, the Level Playing Field Institute conducted a rigorous study of 19,000 professionals and managers to determine who leaves corporate America and why. When the data were broken down, race, not gender, became the defining demographic. People of color are more than three times as likely to leave solely due to unfairness (9.5%) than Caucasian heterosexual men (3.0%). In comparison, Caucasian women are only one-and-a-half times more likely to leave (4.6%). The cumulative effect of stereotyping, mistaken identity, being asked to attend extra recruiting events and community functions to be the "minority face" of one's company is further indication that race plays a crucial role in one's experience.
When study participants were asked what could have kept them at their former employer, again, responses were divided along racial lines. For people of color, the single most important step employers could have taken was "a better manager who recognized my abilities." For Caucasian heterosexual men and women, the single most important step employers could have taken was related to the issue of "fair pay."
While there is a dearth of white women professionals and executives, the progress of people of color in any number of sectors--banking, law, consulting--has been pitifully slower. Solutions to the problem do not lie in irresponsibly fanning the flames of the "gender vs. race" argument, as Hillary Clinton seems to be doing. .
On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., where I spoke to a group of lawyers and social advocates, including three of the five Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) commissioners, I learned that white women voters in California and Michigan voted in favor of Propositions 209 and Proposal 2, both of which effectively ended affirmative action. Why would women, who had been assured equal opportunity under affirmative action, vote for such a measure? According to those who conducted interviews with them, because they believed that a vote for themselves and people of color was a vote against their white husbands and their white children.
We need to change this double standard where some are willing to see gender bias but unwilling to look in the mirror at one's own biases or to take action on any form of bias whether one is directly hurt by it. Instead of taking a stand, privileged white women have often opted out.
At a recent party celebrating the publication of my new book, I was asked by a privileged white woman why women don't support each other. This obvious reference to white women not lining up uniformly behind Hillary came from a woman with two Ivy League degrees who dropped out of the workforce to be home with her children. Another woman at the same gathering reflected that only one of the 100+ women from her MBA class was still working. As many studies find, the single greatest predictor of whether a woman lawyer or MBA stays in the workforce after having children is her husband's income. Why haven't these privileged women stayed to help make the workplace more welcoming for all of us?
To me, Hillary Clinton represents the status quo: privilege protecting privilege at the expense of less affluent or "connected" populations of our society -- especially with regard to creating a level playing field in American workplaces. I am supporting Barack Obama because he challenges us to build empathy, to care about others as much as ourselves, and to ask hard questions--such as who really has the unfair advantage?
Freada Kapor Klein, Ph.D. is the founder of the Level Playing Field Institute (www.l;pfi.org
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This blog post misses the point. Regardless of whether Hillary wins or loses, the sexism snd misogyny directed toward her in this campaign was blatant, inexcusable and -- worst of all -- accepted. She could win and be re-elected and made president -for-life. It doesn't negate the Hillary Nutcrackeresque BS that continues to go on.
If she didn't speak up about it, she would have let down every woman and man in this country who is repulsed by the sex-based disrespect and not afraid to say so. To call it whining or making excuses or the crazed ravings of old white women is just more of the same game. It's dismissive and insulting. And spectacularly ironic.
I'm glad Obama is challenging you to "build empathy". Step up.
He has stepped up; you just don't want to listen, you're so blinded by your sexism.
What are you talking about????
What are you talking about?
Well, there's a certain amount of "ism" no matter who you are today, isn't there? Hillary did not lose because of sexism.
If you can't stand the heat...
Who said she lost because of sexism?
If you can't comprehend the comment...
Kira,
I know that you have great respect for the woman you support to be President right now.
I implore you not to overlook someone who probably has the exact qualities you might wish in a President just because he is "a man". We will have our first woman President in our lifetime Kira. I'm afraid Hillary just does not meet most women's standards. We, as women, should aboveall else expect honestly and the expectation that when the going gets tough - we don't hear words thrown about such as "Oblieration" and the "other" word re: RFK. There is no place in our world for such out-of-touch politics. It's quite frightening actually. That fear-based politics has been used by both genders. Barack Obama brings a calm tempermant to a troubled world. Please learn more about him this fall.
Marthlois,
Where in my comment does it say I'm a Hillary supporter?
I am a supporter of a woman's right to compete for a job without being subjected to misogynistic crap. That doesn't meet my standards.
If you think it's acceptable for Clinton to be subjected to that because she doesn't meet your standards, I think you need to check your standards. Sexism is not okay for any woman -- not just the one's you judge worthy.
Please learn more about sexism this summer.
kira: I, too, am a woman who has avidly watched this election season unfurl. The most sexism that I saw was in allowing HRC to get away with tactics that wouldn't have been tolerated by the male candidates. I think part of it was due to sexism and part was loyalty to the Clinton name. But, if any other candidate had resorted to tears when the chips were down, they'd have been laughed out of the race. "I'm your girl"; "I'm fighting for us women everywhere"; "The guys are ganging up on me" were blatant gender appeals. SHE played the gender card, not the men. Other times, she proudly accepted labels that she had more testicles than any of the male candidates. What the heck was THAT all about???? Imagine if a male candidate campaigned on having more PMS symptoms..
Women cannot expect others to respect us more than we are willing to respect them. When sexism was directed toward Hillary, it was wrong. When Hillary used her gender to whip up votes, it was equally wrong. Sexism, rascism, ageism are ALL wrong. And, they've ALL been employed during this race.
Any candidate who cannot stand strong against any or all of the above is unworthy to be CIC. It's time for Hillary and many of her supporters to take her own advice and get out of the kitchen. It's obvious that they cannot take the heat without destroying every principle that the Dem party has ever stood for.
Obviously, Hillary can "stand strong against any or all of the above". The rest of that last paragraph ... I'm lost.
I do not believe that anyone -- male or female -- who has not been in a coma during this primary who claims to have not noticed the misogyny displayed by the much of media as well as many, many Obama supporters online.
This has nothing to do with Hillary winning or losing. Since she is the most visible target of misogyny right now -- it is her obligation to denounce it and she has. How can you not get this?
this 50 something white female agrees completely.
I initially decided to vote for Obama because I think he inspires and if there is one thing this country doesn't have much of any more its inspiration and hope that anything can be different. I made that choice with no particular ill feelings for Hillary except that I thought she represented the past and the status quo.
In the last couple of months I have realized it was an outstanding choice not just because I think Obama is amazing but have come to the realization that Hillary is without any ethical core whatsoever.
Being a woman is not enough reason to vote for someone who lies all the time and wants power so badly they will say the sun is up when the moon is out.
I too am a 55 yr old white woman for Obama. I liked him better right off. How refreshing to have some one with some new ideas for doing things. The world needs Obama, America really needs Obama
Get rid of your cynicism. Have some hope. I did and so did my 61 year old lifelong republican husband now a registered democrat. We along with our three thirty-something daughters will campaign for him all the way to the WH.
Obama is the real deal, he is a quality person, super intelligent, family man, who loves this country and wants to restore the Consitution, thank God.
And why does she who will not be named want to play the victim insted of the Trailblazer she really is?
Sad.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."--Mah
Bravo! (I didn't really even read this, but whatever you said, I agree.) I am almost 50, and how I yearn to reach that milestone with a chance for change, and a better world for my 9 year old twins. They instinctively love Obama, as do all their classmates. The other day, one of their teachers was trying to show them a video of something, and by accident, turned on the TV to a regular station, a news show, where Obama was speaking. All the kids started chanting in unison, OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
Except for one poor little boy in the back of the glass, whose two grandmas are for Hillary.
Poor kid.
Still, I love that story.
You didn't really even read this but, whatever the author said, you agree? And ... everything after that?
God help us all.
Be nice.
Add another 51 year old white woman, from Texas, to your list. Thanks for the truly fine article.
I have to say, with each passing day, I think that Hillary is actually psychotic. No normal human I know would lie, distort, and obfuscate facts like she does. It's far beyond a call of sexism, although that's just one more of her distortions. Any rational person can see through Hillary's tactics -- and it's ugly, ugly.
I do admit that I have always been an "anyone but Hillary" voter, but I am hooked on Obama, and just thankful that he wants to be President.
Thank you for an excellent piece!
I think HRC is playing the gender card to create division in the Democratic party. She wants to infuriate her women supporters by claiming that she has been a victim of sexism and has been mistreated and disrespected. She wants to convince her supporters that she has been wronged so they will threaten and possible actually vote for McCain in November. All this "SEXISM" hoopla is to ensure that Obama loses in Nov. As a 35 y.o. AA woman and an Obama supporter, I want to make sure her evil tactics fail!
I have never "slighted" because I am a woman, but I have felt mistreated because of my race. I am happy that so many women are speaking out against HRC and her lies!
PS
Thank You Freada for your insightful column.
It is encouraging that more women are voting for Obama. It blows the notion that women, especially our age, are Hillary's demographic.
I wonder how many women who supported and/or voted for Hillary have buyers remorse?
Well, if my friends and my totally unscientific polls of them are any indication, I would say at least half of them have "buyers remorse."
I am a 65 year old woman, originally from the rust belt, who wishes she had spent more time in school. I have been for Obama from Day One. The pundits keep stereotyping people,along with the pollsters.
Ms. Klein, Thank you for injecting light on a dark and disgarded truth. As a fifty something AA woman struggling to gain professional recognition I can personally affirm that what you say is true. I have been trotted out to so many multi-cultural seminars and conferences it would make your head spin. My white colleagues seem to think that the very existence of such events is proof that there is little or no racism operating in the workplace. This primary election has been a real eye opener for me and millions of other black people about how deeply rooted racism is in this society. It is indeed really sad to hear that so many white men and women would rather vote for McCain than to vote for an intelligent, articulate, and stately black man with a vision to rescue the country from the brink of self-destruction. Well, the whole world is watching..
Is it possible to find a greater contrast between the Clinton campaign that cries sexism and the Obama campaign that looks to lift us all up?
For too long women were painted as being too e_motional to be trusted to make rational, intelligent decisions. Iam not implying all females supporting Hillary who voted gender in hopes of breaking the glass ceiling did so strictly for that reason, however, a large number did which rightly or wrongly furthers that notion.
I find it equally discouraging that some say they will not vote for Obama without Hillary on the ticket. Obama won the right to choose his VP. If that is Hillary fine. But threatening to vote for McCain is not only hypocritical considering McCain will set women's rights back it is irrational and immature, too. And again furthers the notion women cannot be trusted with important decisions.
Hillary's foray into the presidential campaign blazed a trail for future women seeking the highest office in the land or a higher position in the work place. On the other hand blaming gender for her losses stoked the frustrations of women who really were slighted because of it. Which begs asking did she intentionally play on women's e_motions to garner more votes? Understand, Hillary lost not because of gender, she lost because she ran an incompetent and sloppy campaign.
Voting for McCain at the expense of women's rights reawakens the notion the idea women cannot be trusted to make decisions. I do not want set backs any more than I want younger women to struggle like we did. Add another 57 year old, white femme, Obama supporter.
Right on.
You say it poignantly. Watching Hillary diminish the valid complaints of other women, and play upon the fears and sense of mistreatment of many to draw them into supporting her based on emotion, is like watching a car wreck. Instead of proving themselves thoughtful and rational, many women are becoming whiny and behaving like two-year-olds as if to prove all the men right who insisted they were too emotional or mentally immature for real authority. Falling on the "blame the system" model when the fault clearly lay in Hillary and her campaign, not in its environs, only gives our nation less reason to have faith that women are capable, reasonable, and trustworthy.
My sentiments exactly!
Hillary and company are waging a psychological mind-game: They need voters to be e_motionally invested.
Using sexism to stoke women's frustrations who really have been slighted is the first step. Next Hillary needs women to emotionally identify with her so she plays the victim. Then by taking on the role as a fighter for women's causes voters become e_motionally attached and invested in her.
Bottom line while Bush uses fear to leverage control; Hillary plays on a range e_motions to leverage control.
E_motional
Blaming sexism or Obama or the media will not change that.
But as long as Hillary commands the dialogue to perpetuate false hopes convincing those e_motionally invested in her campaign otherwise is next to, if not, impossible.
Thank you for the compliment
Add me to the list. I'm a 52-year-old, white, Jewish woman. While I was standing in the voting booth, I realized that I had forgotten to check with the polsters. With my demographic profile, who should I be voting for? I punched through the Obama slot. After I left, I discovered that the polsters said that I was supposed to vote for Hillary. I had the four requisite characteristics. I'm over 50, white, Jewish, and most importantly, I'm a woman.
Their mistake. You just can't trust the polls.
Me too. 63 year old white woman for Obama. My 83 year old white cousin from Ohio is also for Obama. He has voted Republican all his life, until now. Who ARE these older white women who are voting for Hillary? WHERE are they?
Hey - Me too! Another 50 Year old white lady for Obama (and I am a Republican
I get it that some women have a great deal of anger about sexism they have experienced in this country but to allow Hillary and her campaign to misdirect this vitriol at the Obama campaign is heinous and underhanded.
We see here an example of equal opportunity sleaze - which I guess is how it should be.
Another 53 year old white woman for Obama says thank you for writing this!!!
I am another one who started this primary season with mildly positive impressions
of Clinton. Now I feel I see her true colors and it isn't a pretty picture.
Her current behaviors continue to contribute to turmoil and conflict. In fact, her response
to conflict is always to escalate. Give me the cool aikido Obama candidate any time.
for the next 8 years preferably.
I'm a 55 year old white woman (nurse practitioner) who longs for a leader who will work to unite rather than split, divide, and infuriate-Obama '08
Well said. Now if only you could get Hilary Rosen to listen: http://www
While I do admire her, I think her loyalty is misplaced. Her loyalty should lie with the entire country, not to any particular candidate.
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