Go Read It: Misogyny I Won't Miss
Race and gender have gotten a lot of play in this presidential contest, but in different ways.
Plenty of outlets have discussed the inappropriateness of taking race into consideration when choosing our next president, as well as how the candidates are covered by the media. Many haven't quite had the same qualms about playing the gender card.
In today's Washington Post, Marie Cocco in her article Misogyny I Won't Miss, gives a round-up of the more blatant examples of gender bias in the press, some that she feels even border on outright hatred. of women.
The worst example of all? Surprisingly, it's not the Hillary nutcracker.
Cocco feels the worst of all has been the virtual silence of the DNC and the Democratic leadership to the running anti-woman commentary against Hillary Clinton. Next time guys, step up and speak out against all forms of bias, OK?
Thanks, Marie.
That's a great article. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Sarah Granger | May 15, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Actually, I love the Hillary Nutcracker. I bought one for my mother, she shares my twisted sense of humor. Nothing else out there speaks so plainly about the irrational fear that some men (and sadly, some women) have of her.
And yes, Hillary was my first choice.
Posted by: Lisse | May 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Great article. I won't miss the misogyny either. However, there are racist products out there too, such as the recent T-shirt in Marietta, Georgia, with a picture of Curious George peeling a banana and Obama's name below it. And while there media is unable to get away with being as overtly racist as they are sexist (though Jack Cafferty hasn't been punished, as far as I know, for his on-air derogatory remarks about Chinese people), we've already seen a lot of campaigning on fear happening based on Obama's race (think Rev. Wright), his name (the worst I've heard is people calling him Black Hussein Obama), or his supposed ties to Islam and Hamas. One thing I think we've all learned from the primaries is that both sexism and racism are still rampant in this country and that one doesn't trump the other--they go hand in hand.
Posted by: Zoe | May 15, 2008 at 01:27 PM
sorry for the above typo--the second line should read "the media," not "there media."
Posted by: Zoe | May 15, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Media misogyny is part of the reason I turned off my tv a long time ago. Especially when it comes to campaign coverage. Much as I'd like to, I can't force those people off the air, but I can do my part to starve them of my one tiny ratings blip. I suggest we all do the same. In-your-face girlcott, anyone? I'm always up for that.
Given that Clinton has 121 female superdelegates committed to her at the moment (http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/2008/05/clintonobama-fe.html), a good 90% or higher who are members of congress who announced their support of her at the outset of her campaign, I have to wonder why these accomplished women have been so quiet on the sexism issue. Especially in support of their candidate. I feel it's a mistake to look for a knight in shining armor...the DNC is not that knight. They've been very laissez-faire about everything.
Because I don't think it's been the DNC speaking out on Obama's behalf. I think it's been his surrogates, netroots and political blogopshere activists, and a few key allies in the media who have decried the racism directed at Obama, especially when the source has been the Clinton campaign. I can only speculate as to the extent Obama's surrogates' responses are organized by his campaign. (Keith Olbermann goes off without any help or encouragement from anyone else, it seems.)
Clinton's campaign doesn't seem to have the same close connection with the feminist political blogosphere or netroots as Obama's netroots supporters, who are able to collectively push a story 'til it gets coverage.
Something for the next woman who runs for president to avail herself of--us!
Posted by: cynematic | May 15, 2008 at 02:16 PM
"The next woman to run..." what a great thought. I love the idea that Hillary isn't just the first, she's the first of many.
Posted by: Daisy | May 15, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Funny, I made similar comments on how racism has been a "hot button" issue all along and how the constant misogyny has gone completely unchecked just the other day on your "Does it Matter To You how West Virginia Votes?" post.
Posted by: JayMonster | May 16, 2008 at 03:03 AM
"Clinton's campaign doesn't seem to have the same close connection with the feminist political blogosphere or netroots as Obama's netroots supporters..."
Which could either be a generational issue or that the Clinton campaign thought the "netroots" was just a Howard Dean gimmick.
I suspect that you are right about the next woman candidate not missing that particular boat.
Posted by: Gunfighter | May 16, 2008 at 10:09 AM
"Clinton's campaign doesn't seem to have the same close connection with the feminist political blogosphere or netroots as Obama's netroots supporters..."
Which could either be a generational issue or that the Clinton campaign thought the "netroots" was just a Howard Dean gimmick.
I suspect that you are right about the next woman candidate not missing that particular boat.
Posted by: Gunfighter | May 16, 2008 at 10:09 AM
JayMonster, Sorry I hadn't responded the other day. We need to get you hooked up with the Washington Post!
Posted by: PunditMom | May 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM
This is a great article, thanks for highlighting it PunditMom. It is a sick and sad state of affairs when people stoop so low to prevent women from positions of authority. While I never wholeheartedly supported the candidacy of Hillary because of various platform issues, I couldn't help but cringe every time she became the target of blatant sexism. You know a lot of people just really got their kicks out of it and will continue to. A woman president would have a profoundly different view of leadership and diplomacy, in a good way.
Posted by: Christine | May 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM