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Is Obama Man Enough To Be a Feminist Too?
In the vitriol over primacy claims to victimhood between females and blacks, we see our two candidates draining the pustulous boil of the once-silent liberal majority. That in the end, is going to be a good thing. It might not get either of them elected against the rich white guy with the snappin' salute.
Then again, it just might.
The kids recently pulled my junior high school yearbooks off the book shelf. Ellis Junior High, 1974, was the kind of mixed-race, mixed-class public school I don't think exists anymore. Hard by the crumble-down projects in Elgin, Illinois, it served black and Latino kids on welfare, and lower middle class white kids like me, but was close enough to country club suburbia to draw students who fox-hunted and would soon head off to East Coast prep schools. The black guys came to school with picks in their huge Afros, and joints in their pockets, and we danced with them to Bootsy's Rubber Band, in parentless, pot-scented, subsidized living rooms.
We never imagined that in our lifetime, we would someday be competing for the spoils of dying-Empire America.
Looking at those yearbooks, I realized I have no idea what happened to any of those young black men. Did they get lucky, draw the affirmative action straw and get into private colleges and law school, get promoted up the EEOC ranks of a multi-national? Or, are they delivering mail, pounding nails, in jail?
Whenever I start to think about the competing victimhood claims between blacks and women, I think about those guys. The fact is, for all the "glass ceiling" and sexual harassment crap I endured, those guys started off a long ways behind where I was.
Like others (including Erica Jong, under attack on this page right now for referring to Obama as a boy) I think Obama looks boyish. And by that I mean young - not "bwah!" With his infectious grin and stick-out ears, he looks like a kid, and that's a good thing and a bad thing. I like that he's my age, he's new and fresh and he's going to negotiate with our enemies (yes! Long overdue!), say things the old fogeys would never say, and try new ways of doing. But he doesn't exactly look grizzled or "seasoned," and it's not because of the color of his skin. As we all know, in our generation, fifty is going to be the new forty.
Like many women, I feel the visceral draw to vote for a female. The nasty sexist crap Clinton has had to endure only makes me want to support her, even though I don't even like her, and I don't think she's a good leader. She doesn't have that warm, follow-me, sun-god quality that leaders in a democracy must have. In politics personality does matter, and it doesn't matter how many disastrous frat boys we elect, that'll never change.
I have a white female friend so passionately supportive of HRC that she screams the Tina Fey line "bitch is the new black" after a few glasses of wine at dinner. And accuses me of being a bad mother and sister for not feeling the pain of our not getting a female president elected this time around.
The fact is, as the UN reported some years back, women world-wide are five hundred years from parity with men. So why should we expect to get a female president right now? Furthermore, and not to make the perfect the enemy of the good, this particular female is not the best candidate anyway - she de facto offends many working women because, even though she did work herself, she really did get to where she is thanks to her husband. And, as has been repeated countless times, she's playing the game the old way.
She's phony Beatlemania in the age of the Clash.
That said, it would be nice to see some glimmer of feminism coming out of our presumptive black male candidate. I'd like to know what he thinks of OJ Simpson, for example. Would he, law professor, stand up in front of a black crowd and admit that he thinks OJ got away with murdering a white woman - unlike the countless black males who actually didn't murder the white woman, but were hanged anyway? In all cases, remember, the woman was actually dead.
More importantly, will Obama repudiate the misogynistic undertone in rap music, the tidal wave of bitch and ho vulgarity that does nothing to move young black (and white) women an inch closer to parity with men?
Calling female reporters "sweetie" is not - ahem - a step in the right direction.
Every day in America a woman gets the crap beat out of her by a boyfriend, every other day, in New York anyway, a man kills his wife or girlfriend. That's feminism 101, friends, it's where we really are on a planet where whole nations can still deny women the right to drive, use birth control or go to school, and force them to wear black blankets over their heads.
All we can do is hope this new kind of man leader cares enough to speak about it.
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Obama does address some of the issues you raise, in his book "The Audacity of Hope". He states clearly, for instance, that he thinks black men should not use the oppression they have suffered as an excuse to fail as fathers. He talks about his own struggle to balance fatherhood and ambition, marriage and politics. If you want to feel more comfortable with Obama's attitudes towards women, spend more time reading his own words, watching him with his family, listening to his wife.
The larger issue is which candidate can truly see the good in any person, bring out the best in every person, and move past the superficial differences of race/gender/religion? The appeal of Barack Obama is that many of us feel he has that special gift.
When are people going to get it?
It's not about being a Feminist, it's about electing someone who will fight and uphold the integrity of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and values of Americans in this country and abroad.
Do I think Obama is Feminist enough... Personally I am not that sexist, but he is American Enough.
Thank you, I agree.
Let's not lose sight of the greater issues facing American right now.
Why does every men on the liberal side have to be a feminist? Why not just equal rights? I tried feminism, it clearly screwed me up and brought much grieve, because it reverted to "you are the son of your fathers who suppressed and demeaned us for centuries and now you have to pay you dick less little weasel." It gave some latitude to the woman in my life and made for some very non productive fights. It wasn't enough to be for equality or for programs promoting women, it was an open door to humiliate my feelings (until I had none left) and question my sense of logic. Thank you very much. So I turned from chauvinistic pig into a spineless subservient. I don't know whether that was really necessary. Of course there are honest believers, but when I saw the feminist a bomb being dropped as a tool to facilitate ambition, I just wanted to puke. Do I have problems with women bosses: No. Do I have a problem with equal pay: No. They don't pay much, anyway. We are not talking about everyday people. We are talking about the deciding elites. The subject would rather be: You are fighting the white upper class elite: then all power to you.
Let's see... Obama promptly called and apologized to that reporter he called "sweetie" (hardly an undeniably misogynistic term).
I'm still waiting for Bill and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton to apologize--even to acknowledge--the clearly racist tactics both they and their supporters used throughout this campaign.
How come the people most likely to question Obama's positions on feminism and women's issues are the ones least likely to have studied them? I found this to be borderline-insulting, and more than a little pathetic. Politics is a rough business, and the female candidate, this time around, just couldn't hang -- and it wasn't because she was a female. Take away her double X chromosome and Hillary would have packed it in the same time Edwards did. The question is not why more women didn't back Hillary -- it's why the female candidate was such a poor choice as a candidate.
Let's move on.
The equal rights movement - whether it applies to feminism, racial equality, sexual-orientation or anything else - will have come of age when race doesn't matter (i.e. we're color blind), gender doesn't matter (i.e. we're gender blind) or sexual-orientation doesn't matter (i.e. the person working in the cubicle next to us or doing our taxes is a guy or gal and not a gay guy or gal).
Just because Sen. Obama isn't talking a lot about gender-equality doesn't mean he doesn't "get it." The sense I get is that he is so comfortable with these issues that they've essentially become non-issues for him.
Don't blame him for being color blind, gender blind or gay/straight blind.
It's all but assumed that he's on the appropriate side of these issues; so he doesn't have to bring it up all the time.
What a ridiculous question. Look who he's married to (strong, intelligent woman). Look at his record in the Illinois Senate. Grow up, sweetie.
I was going to post a comment, but you already did it for me!
Echo: check his record in the IL senate - Illinois, and particularly the City of Chicago, has one of the best domestic violence advocacy programs in the country.
I am most definitely a feminist and he is my choice for president.......sweetie.
He is a feminist because his wife is intelligent? That is the most ridiculous thing anyone has bothered to write. Michelle Obama's comments about Clinton's "family values" is what set off this "interesting" primary. Her comments were offensive to women all over the world. Furthermore, your use of the word sweetie in this context is incredibly childish. Time for YOU to grow up!
Men AND women are still coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan in body bags. Men AND women are facing skyrocketing gas prices. The U.S. continues to lose respect throughout the world.
This is the crap you want to fight about?
Maybe Michelle Obama will have some influence on Senator Obama. They seem to have a strong and equal relationship. From what I have seen of Senator Obama he listens to different sides of the issue. I can really see no reason he woudl not understand womens issues. Michelle Obama I am sure will be a strong advocate for women.
I like your thesis but I don't like your examples. The OJ trial??? We're going to start judging politicians based on their opinion of murder trials? (In which case, I think the Rosenbergs were more significant... ) I suppose rap music could be something of a political discussion, but that borders on censorship of art and the dictation of morality by the government rather than feminism. I'd rather Obama discuss the abolition of funding for abstinence-only education, twice as much funding for social services across the country, supporting equal opportunity in employment, family planning, and speaking out against violence against women in society in general.
Check out that John Lennon double album "Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon" disc 2, the 8th cut. It says it all. I've worked for almost 40 years now, fighting for liberal causes. The viscious sexism and misogyny routinely displayed by Obama supporters all over the blogosphere, here, Salon, Talking Points Memo - everywhere, AND THE WOMEN WHO SIMPLY DISREGARD IT, excuse it or find ways to not see it has been very painful to watch. I don't have a problem with the legitimate differences between the two candidates. It's true that because Obama is black a significant portion of the population who will not vote for him because of THEIR racism (observing that doesn't make me OR Hillary racist). I also don't have any problem pointing out that a significant if not greater portion of the population will not vote for Hillary because of their sexism. But the hatefulness and pettiness of the Obama supporters is stunning. They have so insulted and offended me and other feminists there is no way in hell I'll support his campaign. I'm not even sure I can bring myself to vote for him. If this had been a concerted effort to sabotage him in the fall, his supporters couldn't have done a better job.
Thank you, Nina, for daring to speak up.
If your anger causes a man like McCain who:
vows to appoint conservatives to SCOTUS (which will end Roe v. Wade)
doesn't think there's any real problem with pay disparity between men and women (he said women just need to be trained and educated)
thinks 100 more years of war in Iraq is just fine
publicly calls his wife a trollop and the c-word
to win the WH will you feel that you've helped American women, the country or the democratic party?
What do you think the consequences will be if large numbers of white women are seen as the reason that Obama loses?
What might african americans do when the next white woman runs as a democrat? Might black people stupidly seek revenge and refuse to vote for the next viable white female candidate? What events are you potentially setting in motion? Will your willingness to refuse to vote for a candidate based on what a minority of his supporters say still seem like a good idea?
So you're not going to support Obama because some of his supporters are jerks? If that's true, then how could you support Sen Clinton? In my opinion, the hatefulness and pettiness was stirred up by your candidate and her surrogates, and to me it's stunning that you can't see that.
I have seen plenty of obnoxious and racist comments from HIllary supporters on here. But I am mature enough to realize they do not represent all, or even most, Hillary supporters. I do not hold ALL HIllary supporters responsible for the irresponsible few.
I am sorry you are bitter and angry. I hope you are able to get past that and think about which candidate in the general election will be better for the future of the country.
"They have so insulted and offended me and other feminists there is no way in hell I'll support his campaign. I'm not even sure I can bring myself to vote for him. If this had been a concerted effort to sabotage him in the fall, his supporters couldn't have done a better job."
I apologize for those remarks. But to make a decision based on some of his supporters and their OWN sexism is self-defeating. I don't need to repeat all the reasons why McCain is NOT a feminist's ideal candidate. So take a breath. Go to the movies and get past your own hurt feelings. It's about who is running this country, not personal feelings.
I, for one, am confident that if/when Sen. Clinton concedes, SHE will work hard for Sen. Obama's campaign. Ditto for Sen. Obama, if positions are reversed. Why not try to do the same?
I am having a hard time understanding the purpose of this post. Are you somehow suggesting that Obama is NOT "man enough" to reject misogynism in our society which is just as virulent as racism?
This post offers no evidence at all that he is not capable of addressing this issue, now or as president, so my question is why did the author choose to single him out?
Why not ask ALL politicians and our society in general to take a good look at themselves and address this blind spot, as well as all the other blind spots like racism, economic status, educational/regional differences, etc. and seek to make the necessary changes that will have the effect of uniting us rather than continuing to divide us.
But wait! Isn't that what the Obama campaign is and has been all about, all along? He and his campaign are light years ahead in this regard of EITHER Clinton or McCain.
Men and women are different by nature, its like asking if apples and oranges are equal.
Whites and blacks while different demographically, are still just people.
Men will always in some form or another objectify women, (even gay men objectify women) you can't undo our nature. We are visual linear thinking hunters. and we hate asking for directions.
Feminism should focus on equality where it counts, pay and opportunity, and not expect special ttreatment as a woman. Name-calling will never be undone... Sweetie? Bitch? You should hear what men call each other.
I think women will realize equality when they realize the differences between the sexes more than the similiarities.
As far as the "race card" its much easier to be color blind, and I think racial bigotry is more real and tangible than the idea the 21st century American woman is oppressed by the male hate machine.
Sure he is, sweetie.
Stop trying to wind people up.
I don't think you can equate the struggle of women for equality with that of African Americans or other minorities. The divide between men and women is inherent and multi-layered due to other factors such as religion. There will always be women who want to be taken care of by men and that in turn sometimes makes it tough to have a level playing field in the work force and otherwise. Even Hillary Clinton, for all of her accomplishments, stays with a man who has undermined her success and who, as a sex addict, does not treat women with the utmost of respect. That's very different than discrimination based on race - wherein people are immediately judged just because of their color. As others point out you point to one prominent black man who beat the system (O.J.) when there are countless upper class whitemen who have gotten away with murder. The lack of equality in the justice system is not an issue I hear HIllary Clinton or any other white politicians taking on. So to say Obama must not only fix our country in general but his own race is disengenous at best. Hopefully by example he will inspire kids of all race and color to aspire to their highest potential since Obama came from a humble beginning. The best way to help the feminist cause is to zero in on specific issues - and not worry about the words.
Obama was raised by a incredibly independent and a feminist forerunner in his grandmother and mother.
If the writer knew anything about Obama she would not question his committment to women and would know the interesting and trailblazing woman that was his mother.
This whining about sexism and all by Hillary supporters is getting old and it is sounding more like a bunch of 12 year olds not getting their way.
As a feminist I find it embarrassing and childish.
lafrance well said
Not only that - he is married to a very strong, accomplished woman and as the father of 2 daughters I am sure that he cares deeply about their futures and worries that, in addition to facing racism, they will face sexism in their lives. Moreover, he is a strong supporter of reproductive rights as well as other women's rights issues. I do not think that, given his life story and his record, he needs to come out and say " I am a feminist." Unless one believes that men cannot be feminists, I think his feminist bona fides are pretty clear.
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