My brilliant artist friend Jackie knows a woman who filmed her own cervix for her MFA thesis, and I can't think of a more rigorous feminist self-examination than that.
I don't plan to show you my cervix here (though, as of my last colposcopy, I can report happily that it is pink and shiny and healthy, yay!) But I thought I might do my own rigorous self-examination of my personal attitudes and public utterances here on the Huffington Post toward Hillary Clinton.
I know I'm late to the game on the whole Hillary vs. sexism thing (I've been busy taking that "10-year nap" of toddler childcare, and have the bruises to prove it.) Still, I was compelled to write after hearing the comment this week from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While agreeing that Sen. Clinton had indeed been hindered by sexism, Pelosi also said that she herself has been a victim of it, "all the time. But I just think it goes with the territory. I don't sit around to say, but for that..." She might as well have added "you don't hear me bitchin' and moanin' about it!"
I think this is a pernicious and competitive attitude held by many successful women. It's just part of the atmosphere, ladies, deal with it, see, I did! So I began to ask myself: as an early Obama supporter, did I have insidious attitudes that colored my attitude towards Sen. Clinton? You tell me.
- I found myself saying, "give it up, already!" under my breath numerous times, well before the primaries were finished. Sexist?
Answer: Yes.
I strongly believed that the protracted primary battle served as sloppy wet kiss to the Republicans, but would I have been so quick to say 'give it up, already!' about a man? I don't think so. This is the exact phrase I had in my head, and it suggests irritation with someone I viewed as a pesky annoyance, not a real contender for the candidacy who had garnered millions of votes.
- I had done due diligence on both candidates and decided Sen. Obama was as strong a candidate, had a better chance in the general election, and didn't come with the baggage of the Clinton years. But at some level, I think I was inevitably drawn in by the glamour and youth of the entire Obama family.
Sexist?
Answer: Yes.
Older women (as I'm starting to realize myself) become invisible to the world, unless they force you, by sheer will, to see them, as Senator Clinton did. The Obama family fit the archetype buried in my head for the perfect young family in the White House, and I can't deny that this must have added to my enthusiasm for the candidate.
- I refused to countenance Senator Clinton's experience in the White House or as Governor's wife as true experience, and wrote about wanting my first woman President to be wholly uncompromised by male power.
Sexist?
Answer: Perhaps, or at the very least, too idealistic.
In my eyes, the soft power of a politician's spouse, even a formidable one like Sen. Clinton, is unaccountable power, and far from transparent. It's impossible to subject that kind of power to the intense scrutiny that lawmakers, governors and the like should face as they run for office. I still believe this. But beyond that, I argued that the first woman President should ideally be one who didn't come in on the coattails of a man. The fact is, however, that women were excluded from most venues of power only two generations ago, or less. Is it realistic to expect a female leader at this moment to be perfectly cleansed of male power? And why do I expect this sort of purity from women, but not men? I certainly don't support Sen. McCain, but I've never put much, or any thought into the idea that he was compromised as leadership material by his wife's mighty economic power, even though I knew she was the money bags in the family.
- I was drawn more to the life-story of Obama's mother as the model of a feminist icon than I was to the life of Hillary Clinton. Sexist?
Answer: Maybe/Yes.
I wrote recently about the globe-trotting, rule-bending way of life led by Ann Soetoro, Obama's mother, and was greatly impressed with her apparent tireless work as a backer of microfinance in poor countries. I was also drawn in by the quote of a colleague that said Soetoro was not personally ambitious or one to seek power. It was grass-roots policy work that fired her up. At first, I thought, "this is a woman who inspires me" (and still does). But I think there was an element of preferring a woman who didn't seek recognition or personal power. I don't fault her son for seeking personal power. But by celebrating Ann Soetoro and her chronic self-effacement, I think I was implicitly scolding Hillary Clinton for relentlessly seeking power of her own.
- I was apoplectic that Sen. Clinton made those ghoulish comments about staying in the race, because, well, look what happened to RFK? Was my reaction disproportionate to the offense, because I expect a woman to be more careful, nicer? Was that sexist?
Answer: Maybe/Yes
My gut reaction to these highly troubling statements was this: she either has ice water coursing her veins or is stupid for thoughtlessly voicing the terrible assassination implication. And no one has ever accused Hillary Clinton of being stupid. But do I ever care if male politicians are cold-blooded? Maybe a tiny bit, but I surely hold women to a far higher standard in this department. Women can only be so tactical before I instinctively recoil. In my defense, the satire I wrote about the Senator's comments also took aim at that double-standard imposed on Senator Clinton, by myself and others.
So what do you think? Fire away, I'm a big girl, I can take it. You don't hear me complaining. I'll probably get some big, ugly, screeching, chortling belly laughs out of it. Now back to my 10-year nap.
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BTW, why do they have to go hand-in-hand?
You could just be a Hillary-hater, minus the sexist!
I'm SO sick of hearing about Hillary Clinton.
Sexist?
No, Linda, you're not sexist. You are reasonable and have thought this through. It isn't all black and white for you (I don't mean race), as it never was for me. I am a feminist, in my 40s, who has been an advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors for years. You would think I would jump on the H bandwagon early and all the way to the end.
I could never stand the nastiness, the lies, and the ego of her campaign. She declared herself the winner very early on, which I thought was very condescending. The assasination comment really put me over the edge. The constant message changes, rule changes, and the comments of her husband were ridiculous. Her choice of advisors and mismanagement of the campaign were absurd.
These things would offend me regardless of the candidate's gender. She never brought up the subject of discrimination during the campaign, which she could have done to advocate for every woman, but instead used it afterward, which just looks like sour grapes to me.
It wasn't sexism that ruined her run - it was her poor choices.
WFV,I could have written your post,there are just a couple of things I would add
It was an historic race for AA's to-I never thought I would live to see an AA actually become the nominee of the Democratic party,and a chance to be the President. of the United States.I thought about how proud my mother and father would have been,and how I wished they were alive to see it. And how proud I was.
Then she could not even let him have his moment in the sun.She wouldn't even congratulate him. Terry Mccauliffe introduced her as the next President of the United States. Disrespecting and denigrating him right to the end.
I looked at him-his eyes looked sad and cloudy. No bright,happy smile. She stole his joy,she stole my joy,and the joy of all African Americans who worked so hard to be thought of as equals in our country.
I despise her for that-and I can never forgive her.
Linda,
How your frank and soul searching article warms the cockles of my ovaries.
Last September, I attended an Obama fundraiser, eager to catch Obama fever as many of my close friends had.
It didn't happen. I left the fundraiser more unsure than excited.
I moped through December. I decided to research Clinton. I agreed with her on every issue and preferred her health plan.
Then I stumbled upon her Wellesley commencement speech. I felt more thrills reading that speech than I did after hearing Obama speak in person. I was hooked.
From there it all went downhill.
Until now, I have had little experience with sexism. But what I have witnessed in the coverage of Clinton has changed me forever. It didn't just feel wrong, it felt personal.
And yes, watching pro-Obama women echo these stereotypes about Clinton in blog after blog was beyond disheartening.
How many blogs did they devote to discussing Hillary on her positive merits, on the issues? I found few here at Huffpo. It was 24/7 soap opera coverage of campaign rumors, gaffes and innuendo. I watched helplessly as my own people waged a character war against her... and won.
Do I think it affected the outcome of the primary race? I do. Will I vote for Obama? Probably. With passion? No.
However, I am a liberal, Linda. Many of Hillary's supporters are not. Their anger is real and unwavering. And Mr. Moderate John McCain suits them just fine.
Just to clarify my typo--
Meant to write: Woman TO woman, I expected her to be a better person.
As a woman and a strong feminist I understand the importance of the word "feminism" but actually it is trumped in meaning by the word "progressivism". True progressives are always feminist whether they be men or women and Clinton, though a woman, did not run as progressive or therefore as feminist a campaign as Obama.
She was power hungry, divisive, willing to help McCain at the Democrats expense etc., etc. Was it sexist of me to be embarrassed that the male in the race was more progressive than she?
The thing is-- when a high profile woman politician can be every bit as devious and inauthentic as a male politician --it's not progress. It's more of the same old patriarchal but stuff in a skirt. Why should I apologize for refusing to be fooled?
Perhaps her Rovian maneuvers were more shocking to me--because I expected her to know better.
Woman or woman, I expected her to be a better person.
Nice article. Thanks.
I think Hillary got away with a lot of stuff because she was a female....there is no way a man could have came out and said "shame on you" "meet me in Ohio" like Hillary did and get away with it. If a republican had said "I have the white working class vote" all of the democrats would have been upset but since it was hillary, it just floated on by. A male candidate could never have gotten away with the foolishnes that Hillary displayed in the primaries. Hillary and her supporters felt like she was entitled to the nomination beause she is "Bill's wife"......
Exactly. It was 'her time', whatever that means.
First things first. You, like many, jumped to a conclusion about the Bobby Kennedy statement. She was using it as a reference to a primary that lasted to the beginning of June. Did the quick reaction have anything to do with sexism? It's hard to tell, because by that time people were piling on top off her at every opportunity.
I commented yesterday in response to Pelosi making light of sexism. My comment never got through moderation. I wanted to ask Pelosi if there were nutcrackers made up of dolls in her likeness? Were there daily comments on her hairstyle, her ankles, her laugh, her clothing, her makeup? Did pundits suggest that violent things be done to her to get her out of the race? Was she called a witch, a b#$%^, an angry first wife, or a pimp? Did commentators spend their shows analyzing her every mistake, misstep and base "special comments" on her misconstrued statements?
Well it doesn't sound like you did any of those things. But I think there is something worse. I don't think women are ready for other women to have that much power and I think that attitude, however subconscious it is, colors our feelings for strong women. You are right when you say you wouldn't have scrutinized a man the way you did Hillary. I hope much more is written about this odd female perspective, so that someday we can have a woman president, even if only women vote for her.
I always had the feeling that Pelosi, instead of being proud that a female peer who was a viable candidate for POTUS , was more greed and jealousy than anything about Sen Clinton. Pelosi fought hard and like Obama was a campaign money maker who could donate to others for House favor (does this say that she "bought' the Speakership?), and it paid off to further her ambitions. As 1st Speaker of the House, she made history, and had the added bonus of being two heartbeats from the Presidency, If Hillary would to become president, Pelosi wouldn't be the #1 most powerful woman in government. I think that is why she sabotaged Hillary every chance she got. Meanwhile she has been pretty much a failure as Speaker of the House.............'Impeachment is off the table" "continue to fund this grievous war" and protect the Telecoms from libel suits for invading the privacy of out citizens. I so wish that she would lose her seat, and if that is not possible, at least lose the Speakership. Who needs her kind of leadership...............and in this case I am sexist. I
I agree. With Pelosi, it's a case of female rivalry. I was thrilled when she became speaker until she said impeachment was off the table. She will forever be known for that one decision.
I am a guy who was raised almost soley by a 'seriously' active feminist. I was initially drawn to Hillary both by her intelligence and her strength. It wasn't until I looked closely at BO's obviously stronger humanitarian approach that I abandoned Hillary as a contender. I don't think I was alone in this revelation, which is one reason Obama did so well in the primary. My point is to say that Hillary did not lose to overtly sexist bias anywhere during the primary. I regret if any female was offended by the calls for HRC to end her struggle for the presidency, but to me it was obvious to me that she wasn't bringing the sort of leadership we needed to prevail in the next 8 years as a nation.
And what kind of leadership do you see Obama having? I think that he was a blank pallate that his supporters could paint a picture of what they wanted to see in him. Me, I voted for proven qualifications and a history of caring for those less fortuate.
The only problem is that it was obvious to 18 million other people that she was the best leader. I could see your point if everybody at some point flocked to Obama, but they didn't. He did not win by a landslide. In fact I think by the fairest account he won the popular vote by 40 some thousand. Which is a half of percent. I think what happened in this election is that Obama was treated with velvet gloves out of fear or guilt by the MSM. Hillary had her open sores broadcast from every mountain top 24/7. That pulled a lot of people away from her.
There is no need to win by a landslide, though. A win is a win.
And if your candidate had run a better campaign, the shoe would be on the other foot.
This takes navel-gazing to a new low.
The oppressive system against women in this country - which, in itself, many people seem to utterly deny - necessarily separates woman from woman. Its always been a strategy of war to encourage the enemy to fight among themselves Just as powerful is the male-run media (male-run being a fact, not an opinion) which colors our view of the world with their particular lens of what is right/wrong or true/untrue (as all lenses do). They, of course, don't want to seem themselves as sexist. Its hard for any of us to see our ability to oppress others!!!! In this case, I think they are particulary busy saying "look I voted for a Black man. I'm so great! I've proven to the world I'm not an oppressive racist! Don't tell me I'm actually still oppressive with some other group! That I'm sexist!!!"
America needs to be educated about sexism and about the importance of Women-Americans!
Visit www.womenamericans.com for more!
Excellent comment gaypastor.
I am a guy who was raised almost soley by a 'seriously' active feminist. I was initially drawn to Hillary both by her intelligence and her strength. It wasn't until I looked closely at BO's obviously stronger humanitarian approach that I abandoned Hillary as a contender. I don't think I was alone in this revelation, which is one reason Obama did so well in the primary. My point is to say that Hillary did not lose to overtly sexist bias anywhere during the primary. I regret if any female was offended by the calls for HRC to end her struggle for the presidency, but to me it was obvious to me that she wasn't bringing the sort of leadership we needed to prevail in the next 8 years as a nation.
Hey 3Gs....I fully respect your upbringing and your God-given right to choose Obama over Hillary (the woman candidate). Truly, I do! I do not believe, however, that the sexism that dodged her campaign allowed the WHOLE country (many who have NOT have the advantages you have had in your upbringing) to fairly choose between the two choices. In short, I believe sexism brought her down...whether I (or any one person) personally voted for her or not isn't the important question anymore! Its about the system, the rules and the ethics (or lack thereof) of the DNC regarding "women" running for President. I can't help to wonder (as many people do) why we are able, as a country, to "find" the right "man" to do the job every four (or eight) years but we've said no to over 30 women now who have runned for president since 1892. Doesn't that sound like sexism to you too?
I had a lot of the same thoughts and feelings about Hillary, but I don't consider it sexist because I would have felt the same about Bill Clinton. I just don't like the Clintons and don't want either in the White House again. There's too much drama with that family.
I also believe Obama's mother is the model of feminism, not because she didn't pursue power, but because she lived her life by her own terms. Her terms just happened to not involve personal power or wealth.
Agreed, Susan. I never thought his mother got nearly the credit she deserves. I wish she were still alive to see all of this, and I would love to hear what she would have to say. I will bet this story would no longer be a story.
Exactly. The Obama's seemed much more real and in touch with the pulse of our nation and our world.
Isn't your fundamental assumption circular? Hillary didn't win because of sexism, and we know it was sexism because Hillary didn't win.
~~
As for the racism angle, it is absolutely untrue that Hillary CLinton was held to a higher standard than a man would. The opposite is correct: Hillary Clinton got away with much more in the way of noxious politicing than any male democratic candidate could have. There were six other white male candidates in the race, and not one of them stooped to the depths of the Clinton campaign; nor could they have succeeded if they'd tried.
Sometimes women are our own worst enemies. Since women are raised in male culture, they tend to pick up on sexism, too. It's why so many women dispayed sexist attitudes towards Hillary. At least you have the grace to admit it.
I had almost identical thoughts to yours on Hillary and sexism, right down the line. My late mother dealt with it, superbly, and her experience has been my point of reference since.
I think I will keep my nether regions out of the art gallery too. I think my prostate enjoys its privacy.
Just a medical correction or maybe it is a typo - A colonoscopy will show a view of the colon, not the cervix. Maybe you are referring to a colopscopy, but those are usually not routinely done unless someone has an abnormal Pap smear result. And maybe you just meant a gynecological speculum exam.
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Posted June 25, 2008 | 09:47 AM (EST)