Help Us Write "The Gender Speech"

When Senator Obama called on our nation to create a more perfect union, his appeal resonated deeply with Americans of every race. His words spoke to the legacies of the grief and guilt, anger and apprehension that we bear as a nation, remnants of a history which has never been remedied. We are all scarred by the racial wounds of injustice, and we will be perpetually hindered as individuals, as communities, and as a nation until we address the historic and current, the overt and discreet, the personal and the structural, manifestations of racism in our society.

Obama's speech has paved the way for a much-needed conversation on race in America. Yet there is another essential element to creating a more perfect union: acknowledging and rectifying the persistent and pervasive injustices based on gender that women continue to experience in all areas of life. If we are, in Senator Obama's words, "to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America" then we must march for women as well.

What would a speech on gender sound like? Would it speak to the continued wage gap, the perpetual attacks on women's sexual autonomy, the lack of affordable child care and healthcare? Would it reference the continued political disenfranchisement and under-representation of women in the upper echelons of business and politics? Of the unity and divisions which exist among women themselves?

We need to open up the conversation on gender in America. And it is our thought, at The White House Project, that no one woman, or leader, or organization should be writing that speech. Instead, the women of our nation must join together to chart this course. Only then can we speak to the diversity of women's experiences, our shared and divergent historical repression, and the realities of our lives today.

So we invite you to share with us, in the comments section below, what you would include in such a speech. We'll start with our own contribution, but it's up to you to flesh out the rest--because only when we all contribute our voices and visions to this monumental task of closing the gender gap, will we finally be able to create that "more perfect union" we've been striving for for so long.

Follow Marie Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/twhp

Comments

[SaintJimmy]

Here's a good gender speech for Hillary to give:

" It is important for us to focus on the gains women have made over the last few decades.
We must fight to improve on these gains, and not have any of them taken away.
Therefore, we must do all we can to avoid a Republican presidential win in November. I ask you to join me in pledging to support and vote for the Democratic nominee in November, no matter which of us it may be. In addition, from this day forward I pledge to dedicate my energies toward battling the Republican candidate rather than limiting myself to simply attacking a fellow Democrat."

[legalclubs]

Race and gender discrimination are not on the same playing field, not even on the same planet. Discrimination regarding race is based upon seeing someone as one of "them" and if you are someone of such thinking you probably don't interact with "them" at all and may go out of your way to do so. On the other hand, at least 90% of the population activily attempts to associate on the most personal level with the opposite gender. So any such discrimination in this area is not based on pure hatred of "them", but on something less, something more like a superiority complex and a level of comfort. Yes both are bad, but they are not the same.

[legalclubs]

Additionally, I'm a 35 year old professional and the level of gender discrimination against women appears to be matched by the gender discrimination against men and both appear to be relatively rare at this time. The fact that Hillary Clinton was the preemptive next president of the United States as indicated in the press and opinion polls until she mangeled her campaign is evidence of this. But what about the pay differential or the fact that so many more men then women are in certain positions of power? These statistics are bunk. You can only compare a women versus a man if they are in the exact same field, same company, work the same hours, and have taken similar time off. The simple fact of it is that many women elect to take years off work (or not work at all) in order to raise families. Additionally, many women elect to work at jobs with known lower salaries in trade for additional time these jobs allow them to be with their families (think public school teachers). This is there choice, just as men could make the same choice, but most often don't. In fact, who really is being discriminated against in that men don't feel free to make the same choice? Women who step up and make their career their main focus, just as most men, succeed just as well and often more so then men.

[Sloane7]

Obama wrote his own speech, just like he wrote his own books. Hillary had a ghostwriter for her book and she needs to write her own speech.

[kardwell]

In light of the results on the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act today, I think we should start by asking the GOP, why they hate women, equality, fairness and worker's rights so much.

[nellie]

I think any speech on women's right should start from an international vantage point. We in the United States are fairly lucky when it comes to the way we live as women. There are too many issues to list here, but looking at the lives of women in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other places around the world will show the burden that so many people carry simply by virtue of being female. When we have a better knowledge and understanding of the daily lives of women around the world, we will have a better understanding of our own lives as women here in the United States. And we will be able to put the issue of women's rights in a more powerful context.

[banats]

I think that we should speak to the value of women in the world. I have been reading that in Asia, especially China, the populations of some countries are becoming lopsided gender-wise. Many parents still value boys over girls, even in the rising middle class. Ultrasounds are used to determine whether the child should be aborted on the basis of gender. I'm sure that this happens to some extent in the US and the Western world. It's scary to think what would happen to the rights of women in these countries that have such a preponderance of men. The same would be true if women far outnumbered men. Somehow, nature has ensured that there was a pretty good balance between males and females. Then there is the whole sexual exploitati­on/slavery of women throughout the world. And yes, in the US. (One good thing that Bush did was draw attention to this.) Cultural attitudes need to be addressed.

I didn't see Clinton's name mentioned in Marie Wilson's posting. I think that she is calling for a general discussion and is not asking that Hillary be a spokesperson.

[legalclubs]

The lopsided gender ratio in China may actually lead to a different result then expected. When all those little boys grow up and find there are insufficient women the "worth" (not monetary) of a women should sharply rise and those families with daughters and the women themselves should find themselves in true positions of powers and ready to dictate society terms. It's all supply and demand. Either that or China will start a war to kill off a large portion of their male population. Either way, not good for the boys.

[savethecountry]

And yet, banats, if Hillary had chosen to run a high-road campaign, she would have been the PERFECT person to speak to this issue, an issue that should be addressed and is just as repugnant as racism (two different cousins inbred from the same rotten parents, as are ageism, heterosexism, etc.). What a wasted opportunity! Instead of being inspiring on this issue, she instead has chosen to employ the Karl Rove playbook. Perhaps it's beyond her grasp to truly inspire people. I think that she could have done it. Obama has chosen to appeal to our better, thinking natures (when he's not forced to respond to the latest Clinton campaign distortion or lie). Clinton has chosen to denegrate and ridicule our better, thinking natures, tearing down a candidate and the millions of people who support him in the process. I support the fair and equal treatment of ALL people. I understand that there are differences, but I want to do all I can to learn about the differences and constantly remind myself and others that we have more in common than not. That is how societies move forward. I always thought Clinton understood that. Apparently she doesn't. At least not when she's running for president.

[RevMetheus]

Oooh, I got one based on a news story I read out of Europe about men, women, work, and life expectancy:

For decades now, women have striven to move in the same circles of power as men. They have made their way into the boardrooms, into the stock markets, into the financial centers. And what are they finding? Stress. Stress, a strain on familial relationships, a shortened life expectancy, more demands on their health. Women wanted all that men had, and they got it. The ulcers, the late nights, the weeks away from the family. Women can do everything a man can do in this world, but she may not like the results any more than men do.
When the gender roles have shifted and women fill the board rooms and the government halls of power, will they be happier with their lot? When contented men are enjoying the raising of kids and the leaving of the rat race, will women still strive to be the primary bread winners and run in the circles of power? When women have become as distant from their children as working men have become, will they still want that golden carrot?

[tedbear]

I am a woman of Hillary Clinton's generation. I am NOT a supporter of her. She is phony, a liar, and a cheat. Anything else she might pretend to be is just pretense for her own gain. Her husband is the same, that is why they are standing up on the stage together.

Believe me, since the 1960's I have wanted a woman President. Ladies, it must be the right woman. Hillary is not the right woman. God forbid. If Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman President of the United States it will set woman back thousands of years.

Ask yourself seriously, do you want a woman in the White House who will rent out the bedrooms to the highest bidder, or who has been prosecuted for fraud, or who used the adultry of her husband for her political gain, or who charges up massive bills during her campaign and doesn't pay them, or who gets up on stages and performs as whatever she must to get votes?

[MPeter]

I like your idea and the tone of the essay. But Obama has only been able to reach younger women and a small fraction of the older, most of whom have been played by the Clintons, the media and every gender-baiter ot there, it will take an extremely smart, older woman to write or speak up the way Alice Walker did, to help us take advantage of this opportune moment. This is what Martin Luther King meant in the first line of paragraph six of his "I have a Dream' when he spoke of the urgency of now. women, do your part. You know better how to speak to each other.

[lafrance]

As a woman, I have the perfect gender speech for Hillary:
I am withdrawing from the campaign now before I do more damage to my party.

[RevMetheus]

You want to start a conversation about gender?

How about at any point in your blog you mention that men can contribute, too.

I guess we cant be included in the conversation about gender because we arent the right gender?

[WorkingClass]

I was gonna bring this up too Rev. If I get it right, the idea is for Hillary to give a gender speech like Obama gave a race speech. Seems like a good idea. But what should Hillary say? Gee. I don't know. But I know what I liked about Obama's speech. Being a white guy, I was glad to hear him saying that my experience is valid and my views and/or grievances deserve to be heard. Like I might be part of the solution instead of just the designated enemy. That was just what I wanted to hear. Forgive me if I am intruding. Blame the moderators.

[colbertnationfan]

Sure, I will give you my ideas of such a speech might sound like, predicated with thought that the time for Hillary to have given this speech is already over.. she has momentum now "in spite of" the unfair media treatment she rec'd when Obama was on his big roll... it was the media who forced Hillary into "defense" mode with the fighting words. Ironically because she's a woman, she was forced into a "fighting" position, imho.

That said,this would be part of a larger speech on equal rights, and very "lightly" touch on things like equal pay, "stories" about women who have succeeded 'in spite of' various people or prejudices working against them.

Ask ?s, "Who among us hasn't had a mother, sister, daughter who felt discriminated against or lost out on an opportunity or passed over for promotion because she is a woman?" "Who amongst us hasn't had a female family member or friend who has been sexually harassed or raped?" "...hasn't had a family member or friend who didn't feel safe walking into dark parking lot at night?"
Summary, this is something worth thinking about but a speech like this need only be given on, say, "Equalpay day." Which ironically was date of PA's primary. Hillary's going to win in spite of, not because of, being awoman. Obama will be up to bat next election& meanwhile Hillary's going to be one of our greatest Presidents... &we should all be very happy.

[independentrepublicrat]

"Who among us hasn't had a mother, sister, daughter who felt discriminated against or lost out on an opportunity or passed over for promotion because she is a woman?" "Who amongst us hasn't had a female family member or friend who has been sexually harassed or raped?" "...hasn't had a family member or friend who didn't feel safe walking into dark parking lot at night?"

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I haven't.

[mildawalters]

You are either very lucky or very ignorant about the women around you.

[AjicNYC]

I dont think that speech should be made, If a speech is made it needs to incorporate all discrimination , WOMAN, foreigners ,class, gays, religion, SHE SHOULD TOUCH GROUND ON ALL discrimination issues not just on woman,

[SethBLiNK]

The "race" speech was important and needed because so many of us avoid discussing race. For many in the public sector, it is a no-win proposition. Witness how Obama himself avoided addressing race until he was forced to, and look at how much better his campaign was going before he was forced to address it.

Does the same problem exist in gender issues. Yes there is inequality, but is there any lack of conversation about it? Is there any forum where it is not acceptable to bring up these issues? Witness how easy it has been for Hillary to celebrate the uniqueness of her gender without fear of turning off voters (at least not any voters who weren't already hopelessly lost to the cause).

Perhaps the first step toward a helpful gender speech would be to NOT compare gender bias to race bias. They are not the same. They may share some characteristics, but comparisons lead to the inevitable "which is worse" which solves nothing.

[banats]

Good point about not comparing gender bias to race bias.

[RedDogBear]

I will be accused of being sexist, just for the record I consider myself a feminist, but I don't think the most important thing we need right now in the presidential race is a discussion of gender. I also didn't think that the issue of race was the most important thing either. I understood that Obama needed to give that speech to respond to the ridiculous slanders that has been heaped on him by the same right wing slime machine that Senator Clinton used to decry but now emulates and works with. I know racism still exists and is a big problem and that sexism still exists and is a big problem. But right now we have some even bigger problems that threaten everyone: Iraq, peak oil, global warming, the deficit, and healthcare for starters. Race and gender discussions inevitably get co-opted by the right to divide and conquer people and get them to vote against their own interest. For a change the left needs to stick together and create some real solutions to these very critical problems.

[ldvisavis]

Who would deliver the speech? We have a woman in the race who has stepped up to speak about gender--and she used her platform tto shoot accusations of gender bias and unfairness around like a rainbird watering the lawn.

Are we to write it for her? Because in the mad attic trunk of caricatures and personas she has not fumbled into that specific voice yet? Did Obama ask someone else to write his speech for him?

Hillary's conduct has set womem back, feigning vulnerability and making endless excuses to hide inability; alternatively showing up as low road bully boy and twisting truth beyond recognition. This is a wasted opportunity I find outrageous.

Before we get the speech, let's get the speaker.

[Endora]

We can speak for ourselves. We do not need Hillary to speak for us or her supporters demanding that we give up our brains and our preferences to vote for her. As a woman with my own mind, I will not vote for somebody who held her finger to the wind and voted for a war that has destroyed so many lives. There is no "gender speech" that will EVER change that.

[ldvisavis]

Nicely said!

[JanetF]

Ditto. And I'd add that I'll be very thankful when the "Hillary generation" is over. I'm stunned that so many women follow like sheep to elect a woman who may be intelligent, but has "distinguished" herself more as a pathological liar and panderer. Great role model.

[banats]

So, I guess you didn't vote for Kerry or Bush in 2004.