All that I have heard from the main stream media lately is how Joe Biden must be very careful in his debate with Sarah Palin. He must be careful not to offend her delicate feminine sensibilities. I have heard at least twenty pundits on television say basically this. I say that this is incredibly sexist.
Needing to speak to a woman, who is competing for the same job as you, differently than you would a man in the same situation is imminently unfair. To me, this is the definition of sexism. How can we compete equally if we are speaking two different languages. You see, I believe there is a real double standard at work here. If a woman can speak freely yet a man can't, no one can claim this is fair. And before you call me a hypocrite, let me sight an example.
How many times in your life have you heard women say " well, that's just like a man"? This is considered somehow witty or at least it usually gets a chuckle. And it must be alright in mixed company because I've heard it thousands of times. Yet, let a man say "well, that's just like a woman" in mixed company, and not only are there no chuckles but dirty looks abound. Because this is not considered alright in mixed company.
Now, this is just one example of how the double standard works throughout society. And the double standard is not only unfair to men, but women also. I consider myself a liberated man. And for years, the scales were tilted the other way, where women bore the burden of an unfair double standard. And in the late sixties I was a bit of a woman's libber. I plainly saw the reason that women rebelled. And I understood when women were frustrated.
But far too many reacted with spite. Man hating was somewhat in vogue which naturally resulted in bad feelings from men. As of today, these feelings still smolder in some folks my age. And therein lies my problem. These pundits that I have mentioned are usually at least in their forties. I see a clear age gap in the way both women and men address this issue. And astoundingly among this age group, generally speaking the twenty somethings, I see very little evidence of a double standard. Yet, the double standard is front and foremost in the comments of the over forty punditry.
I am very encouraged with this younger generation in so many ways. I remember my generation tried to become involved in politics and it ended rather badly with blood and protests and a big time lack of understanding by the "greatest generation." And I certainly hope that history of this type does not repeat itself.
Which brings me to the main point I'd like to make. I hope that my "baby boomer" generation can put our old conflicts on the back burner where they belong. Men and women don't have to walk on such thin ice. If this younger generation does not suffer from our double standard, then have we not accomplished the goal of the women's movement? If our sons and daughters can converse easily among the sexes, and races for that matter, shouldn't we be able to bury the old hatchet?
And if you agree, aren't we in danger of alienating our younger generation? These young adults are the most politically engaged in four decades. When the build up to this vice-presidential debate is so steeped in questions regarding relations between the sexes, we lose track of the issues that really matter. Such as, how do we lead by example to help these young folks compete in the world? How can we enable this energy and channel it into the greater good? I'd like to hear these very intelligent television and radio personalities discuss something that would truly make use of the airwaves. Rather than get hung up in more mundane triviality.
And in tonight's debate, and in the aftermath, let's try to listen to more than just the language, and whether it is appropriate. Let's listen to the ideas of these candidates. After all, no matter what these pundits choose as their focus, they only have one vote each. And so do we.