Column shows stereotypes of campaign behavior it criticizes
I was very disappointed after reading Catherine Fish’s column Sexism big part of primary season (SN 3/24). She had a great opportunity to rise above the stereotype she claims is plaguing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign by writing a column about why Clinton should be the next president and focusing on the issues at hand.
Instead, she reiterated the media’s fascination with race and gender in this campaign. Her use of sarcasm was alienating and embodies the sexist stereotype of the “cold” and “bitchy” woman. She calls on us to “substantiate your opinion” on the candidate of your choice, yet she does not do so herself.
No matter the outcome of the Democratic primaries, either candidate would make history in this country. But in contrast to Fish, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., calls upon this nation to end the practice of using race, gender and partisan politics to divide this country. The next election should not be groundbreaking because of the possibility of either a woman or black candidate, but because we come together to forge a new America that works as one to try and solve issues with the economy, health care and education.
Shannon Regan
American studies junior
Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Comments
Joe
03/26/08 @ 8:23am
Well said.
Agent5
03/26/08 @ 11:25am
Agreed.
Brutus Hobbes
03/26/08 @ 12:09pm
Wow, I actually read something intelligible here, which is something I would never have expected.
Good job.
Erin
03/26/08 @ 3:44pm
The sexism of the stereotype of a “cold” and “bitchy” woman comes from stereotyping and the way the same actions in women are describe differently (negatively) compared to in men. Not from women fitting it.
Cuts both ways
03/26/08 @ 4:18pm
Erin,
Stereotypes exist for a reason. Do they accurately represent everyone to which they are applied? Nope. Do they apply to some? Yup.
And it cuts both ways. A man running for president who displays any stereotypical female traits would face every bit as much criticism and scrutiny as a woman displaying stereotypical male characteristics.
Birdcage
03/27/08 @ 12:11am
Of course stereotypes exist for a reason. Sexist stereotypes exist because we live in a sexist society. Stereotypes are caused by oppression, not people.
One stereotype may be that men are more interested in sex than women. Is this true of some men and some women? yes. Is the opposite true of some men and some women? yes. I’m thinking you don’t understand what a stereotype is. If stereotypes existed because some individuals have those charateristics every stereotype would be for every group of people.
And yes, a man running for president who display charactersitics which would be stereptypically associated with women, would get a lot crap running for president. But then, we are not told stereotypically feminine characteristics are necessary to be a president. Feminine characteristics are considered negative, and masculine ones positive, we are told that is what it takes to be a good leader, yet women cannot win because even if we exhibit stereotypical masculine characteristics that supposedly make a good leader, we have crossed the gender role and behavior assigned to us and so we get crap for it.
birdcage
Not the point
03/30/08 @ 4:01pm
Looks like some people need to go back an reread Fish’s article (here). Her point was to ask people to look into the issues and form an intelligent opinion on the candidates.
Why should Fish take a position on one of the candidates? You can make a valid point without saying “yea” or “nay” to any one candidate. And she did.
What’s so wrong with her imploring people to use their heads?
I can’t count how many times I’ve heard “Hillary’s a bitch.”
Regardless of how true or untrue you believe that statement to be, you need to back it up. Just like you need to back up “I support Obama” or “I hate Bush.” Why? Why do you like and why do you hate? There must be reasons. If not, then be prepared to be called a sexist, a racist, a bigot, a moron.
So answer this: Why is Hillary a bitch?