Feminism: good for losers
by Morra Aarons Mele

Have you noticed that now that now that Hillary is presumed out of the race, the gender meme is huge?

Barack Obama thanked Clinton last night:

No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.


I suppose, as the AP writes, "it's time to focus on candidates' legacies," and I'm hearing a lot of woman on the street pieces on TV and NPR from women who cite Hillary's "barrier breaking." Listen to this clip from NPR's Mara Liasson.

But when Hillary was viable as the Democratic nominee, or even winning, we avoided praising her "first" status. We didn't want to single her out, or even address the fact that she would be the first woman president. Now that it's time for eulogies of Hillary in 2008, her femaleness is loud and clear, praised, but in the end, certainly not enough to make her the nominee.

The nice thing is that the candidate herself is now finally talking about sexism. It may be a day late and a dollar short, but she's being pretty honest. Gone is the aggressive talk of "piling on politics," now, the tone is serious and, well, feminist:

"It's been deeply offensive to millions of women," Clinton said. "I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways. But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press, and I regret that, because I think it's been really not worthy of the seriousness of the campaign and the historical nature of the two candidacies we have here."

Why do you think mainstream media is openly talking about gender and 2008 now that it's pretty much over for Hillary? Why are we hailing Hillary's femaleness with great acclaim? Why is it only safe now?

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele (view blog) on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:06

Comments

 

That is an EXCELLENT question ...

... with only a bad answer. 

Much of the MSM is responsible for negative coverage of Clintn's campaign that surely contributed in some way to what seems to be her loss of the candidacy. If the MSM can now turn everyone's attention away from their role and get people to focus on sexism in general, maybe they'll get away with being blamed or having to take responsibility for their biased coverage.

PunditMom, Contributing Editor, Politics & News

Also at MOMocrats & MomsRising

Submitted by PunditMom on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 07:12
 

Well said Joanne- Arianna's take

Did you see Arianna Huffington's piece?

But the greatest triumph of Clinton's campaign -- a complete triumph
-- is the example she has set for the next generation. And not just for
young women; her dedication, perseverance, and indefatigable drive make
her a role model for young men as well.

Why only now can we talk about this? 

 

 

Submitted by Morra Aarons Mele on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 07:51
 

Keep Talking

I think we have a responsibility to keep talking about this and working to get the ssexism and gender bias in the media to end.  I know my friends at the Women's Media Center are on board with that!

Submitted by PunditMom on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:12
 

I hate to say it

But because, in part, it's politically expedient: they want her supporter's votes. They want to sound sympatico - some of them may in fact be sympatico.  But I think you are right, Morra - it's a day late and a dollar short, at least for Hillary.  And we learn well - it's extremely unlikely that so many of the things that went by this cycle will pass easily if even happen in 2012.

The trick now is how to sustain the momentum of the emotion behind wanting to eradicate these isms. 

Jill
Writes Like She Talks

Submitted by Jill Miller Zimon on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:22
 

I wrote about this too, I can only say I feel
very sad

Here is the post. I don't have Arianna's optimism. But I do have my very own rightwing troll, better yet, we went to high school together.

Elisa Camahort
BlogHer
elisa@blogher.org

Submitted by Elisa Camahort on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:22
 

Like it or not...

she did open doors. The question is, will they be slammed shut behind her?

Hillary took an abstract concept largely only seen before in playing make believe and gave it plausibility - we could picture her running the country, and running it capably. 

For those of us who wished to finally see that 216 year old ceiling come down now have to wait longer. So who is going to be next? Will a woman run in 2012? I surely hope so.

If McCain wins, someone talk Catherine Crier into running for governor or something so she is poised to go for the big office in four years.  

 

 

 

nelle

Submitted by nelle2nelle on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 16:48
 

Well, I'm pretty proud of

Well, I'm pretty proud of this primary race.  Regardless of what happens, it did break the seal.  I think people who have been following this race since last summer are tired. It's been a long road.  There are women leaders in Europe, there are women leaders in the USA too.  There will be more. 

 

Submitted by KatieBeez on Fri, 05/23/2008 - 06:54
 

Hillary did more for women than Barack did
for blacks...

Hillary Clinton ran as an unrepentent tough women.  She paid the price, but I think will make it easier for women.  Barack Obama ran as a "safe" post-racial/nonracial black man. This does not benefit antiracism whatsoever.  Instead, it fuels people who are so desperate the say that the US is "over racism" (unless, of course, if affects Obama). 

 

 

Educated Black Man!

Submitted by TonySmith on Fri, 05/23/2008 - 20:02