Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for president. As promised, I will support him because the party has spoken and the majority rules. Regardless of my lack of enthusiasm, I cannot stomach the idea of another Republican administration, and I believe John McCain will make a lousy president (for example, he supports the Bush Administration’s position of what amounted to illegal wire-tapping on American citizens – shudder), but I am still harboring resentment, despite not being the tiniest bit surprised, about the blatant sexism that was not only allowed but condoned and reveled in by the media during the campaign.
CNN talking heads actually had to discuss whether or not it was okay to refer to Clinton as a “white bitch”. They needed to discuss it?
Personally, I think the word “bitch” should be completely taken off the table in terms of women. It should be as wrong to refer to us using that word as it is to use the word “nigger” when discussing blacks. Both words are pejoratives meant to degrade and remind us of our “places”. They are hurtful, hateful words, and they are intended as such.
There were the endless stream of cracks about Sen. Clinton’s looks. From novelist Kurt Anderson’s observation in New York Magazine that the Senator was connected to the working class by her “Wal-Mart shopper’s hair and big bum” to that misogynist Chris Matthews endless running commentary on the physical appearance of not just Sen. Clinton but Sen. Obama’s wife as well.
And there is still this idea among both men and women that while it is okay, expected even, for a man to be ambitious and aggressive in the pursuit, women must still ask permission and go about attaining their goals through “nice girl” means. Smiling and perfectly coifed and impeccably coutured. We can have our ambitions as long as we are ladylike about it. Reminds me of Sr. Marilou telling me that it was okay for me to play basketball as long it was 6 on 6 play.
I think Sen. Obama said it best at a rally in Iowa last month.
“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age.”
Huh? How can myths and barriers that women are being told don’t really exist be shattered and broken?
