Posted by Clinton School student AMANDA HARRIS – After some pondering on the Democratic Presidential Primaries and after reading a wonderful New York Times article by Gloria Steinem, I tend to believe that a lot of young adult Obama supporters are misguided and perhaps participating in oblivious, subtle sexism. Of course, not all… but some.
Both Obama and Clinton have called for their respective race and gender not to be discussed during the election. As someone who has spent her entire undergraduate and graduate careers studying and working for minority and women’s rights, it is impossible to pretend these two factors are not at play. Race, class and gender are clearly evident in the language of the people and the media.
Steinem’s article discusses how Americans would feel about Obama if he were a woman.
Would Americans (and youth) support an inexperienced, biracial, married to a corporate lawyer… woman for president?
Honestly, I think not.
The obvious asymmetries between women and men in the U.S. are appalling, yet often taken for granted. I think youth and Americans of all ages, races and classes need to take a harder look at the candidates and their years spent working for justice. Hope ideology sounds nice, but if that hope ideology were coming from a woman, I don’t think most would give her a second chance.
The ability for Americans to somewhat grapple with the atrocities of racism yet still look past the inequalities of women is proof that sexism is still the hidden oppression, often taking a backseat to men’s movements and causes.
In fact, hardly anyone is batting an eyelash at the language used to discuss Clinton and her campaign. Reading through facebook blogs on politics leaves me disheartened and ashamed of my peers. Comments such as Clinton is “Hitler in a pantsuit” and a “rigid Neoconservative” give light to the fact that even youth are not ready to confront their own internalized sexism. Would we ever characterize any of the male candidates as rigid? Would we ever acknowledge that these men were wearing pantsuits? Clinton’s masculine behavior is not unlike most of the candidates running in either party, yet she takes the heat for being a woman with a passion for politics and people.
Obama young adult fans are often at the front of these comments. Considering both candidates’ platforms on issues are very similar, we are essentially called to look at the candidates’ personalities, experience and proposed execution of policies.
Again, I am perplexed as to why so many Obama fans feel confident in him. If he were a woman, I am convinced most of these same supporters would look the other way, as she would be considered a joke.
Amanda Harris is a Clinton School student working toward her Master of Public Service Degree. This column represents her personal views.