Larry Womack just published a damning piece that any American voter should read, regardless of political beliefs. Stop Pretending You Don’t Know Why People Hate Hillary Clinton provides a long list of double standards that Hillary Clinton has battled her entire career.
Bad news for the haters: History is decidedly unafraid of “the woman card.” It doesn’t care how many people will stand on tables today and swear they’d feel the same if she were a man. It will see us for what we are—a sick society, driven by misogyny and pathetically struggling to come to terms with the fact that women do not exist solely to nurture.
I am not voting for Hillary Clinton in November. Even if a libertarian candidate weren’t running, I still wouldn’t support Hillary Clinton.
But I absolutely agree that she has dealt with so much sexist bullshit during her entire career.
People Hate Hillary Clinton Because She Didn’t Stay Home and Bake Cookies
Before we had the Internet immortalizing our every stupid thought, we still had the media selectively editing video footage to perpetuate sexism against powerful women.
This video gives a great overview of the ridiculous overreaction to Hillary defending her career. Bill’s opponent accused Bill of unethical behavior regarding state work given to Hillary’s law firm. A journalist then asked Hillary about it.
According to this Nightline transcript, Hillary went on to say that feminism means the right to choose work, or home, or both. But I have yet to find a video that includes that part of her answer.
According to snippets in the book Beyond the Double Bind: Women and Leadership, Hillary’s entire answer ties back to the accusations of a conflict of interest. Reporters asked her directly what she thought of the criticism.
“I thought number one [Brown’s attack] was pathetic and desperate, and also thought it was interesting because this is the sort of thing that happens to the sort of women who have their own careers and their own lives. And I think it’s a shame, but I guess it’s something that we’re going to have to live with. Those of us who have tried and have a career, tried to have an independent life, and to make a difference… And certainly like myself who has children, but other issues uh you know… I’ve done the best I can to lead my life, but I suppose it’ll be subject to attack, but it’s not true. And I don’t know what else to say except it’s sad to be me.
The next question asked whether there was a way to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
I wish that were true. You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life. And I’ve tried very, very hard to be as careful as possible, and that’s all I can tell you.
Honestly, I recommend reading this whole section “Cookies and Tea.”
Then watch her follow-up interview with Katie Couric. I’ve queued it to the “cookies and tea” remarks, but the whole thing is worth a listen.
And keep in mind, jabs at Hillary’s career were nothing new.
To this day, in real-life conversations I’ve had with people in my parents’ generation, they refer back to this moment as justification not to support Hillary.
Hillary broke the politician’s wife mold by having her own successful career. To this day, people still judge her for it.
People Give Bill Clinton Credit for Hillary Clinton’s Success
It’s one thing to point to Hillary’s political experience as First Lady. Absolutely, those 8 years prepared her to run for president herself. But claiming that all of Hillary’s political success is due to Bill?
Even I am forced to conclude that Bill and Hillary are a power couple. They both have long, successful careers. Just a few paragraphs above, I gave several examples of Hillary facing criticism for her career. But once she entered politics herself, the narrative switched. Apparently she only found political success because of her husband.
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/740965046084329472
These claims aren’t new. Back in 2008, Chris Matthews said on MSNBC’s Hardball:
Well, I don’t know if they read the NY Post. I think the Hillary appeal has always been somewhat about her mix of toughness and sympathy for her. Let’s not forget, and I’ll be brutal, the reason she’s a US Senator, the reason she’s a candidate for President, the reason she may be a front runner, is that her husband messed around.
That’s how she got to be a Senator from New York. We keep forgetting it. She didn’t win it on her merit, she won because everybody felt, “My God, this woman stood up under humiliation, right? That’s what happened! That’s how it happened.
Matthews later backtracked a bit. Regardless, he still credited Hillary’s accomplishments to her husband’s infidelity.
Steve Chapman wrote in the Chicago Tribune:
Much of the support she has comes from people who wish her husband could serve a third term. But weak nostalgia is a poor campaign theme.
The Media Uses So Much Sexist Language
From that Chicago Tribune article linked above?
Some find her as irritating as fingernails on a chalkboard… She’s an arrogant busybody… Hillary rouses an exceptional amount of dislike.
Can you imagine anyone writing this about a male politician?
From another episode of MSNBC’s Hardball, Matthews attributes dislike of Hillary to:
…a lot to do with her personality, her scolding manner in terms of her public speaking…
Media Matters put together a long list of unfounded criticism leveled against Hillary during her 2008 presidential bid. (Links below are all from Media Matters).
Conservative media figures are not shy in expressing their negative feelings toward Clinton. Time blogger Andrew Sullivan recently referred to her “cootie vibes” and declared, “I just can’t stand her.” MSNBC host Joe Scarborough described her as “very shrill.” Glenn Beck previously labeled her the “Antichrist.” But the expression of such views is not limited to conservatives. The Hotline’s blog, On Call, posted excerpts from speeches by several Democratic hopefuls at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting. But, while Clinton was by no means the only speaker to raise her voice, she was the only one described by On Call as striking a “discordant note.”
Calling Hillary Clinton a Bitch
So many members of the media have called Hillary a bitch that I can devote an entire section to it.
Glenn Beck, March 15, 2007, The Glenn Beck Program
Neil Cavuto, February 18, 2008, Fox Business News’ Cavuto
Alex Castellanos, May 20, 2008, CNN’s The Situation Room
Even the pro-Trump merchandise routinely labels Hillary a bitch. Although, considering his crass language, is anyone surprised that Trump supporters are okay with misogyny? After a Trump rally in Raleigh this summer, one reporter wrote, “Hillary Clinton was called a “bitch” more times that I could count.”
Some Hillary supporters have reclaimed the bitch label.
In The Bitch America Needs, Andi Zeisler (founder of Bitch Media) embraces the slur.
The power of “bitch” to shame is, with a perspective adjustment, also its power to shine. All that’s required to reframe the word is to point out that the things bitches are often guilty of can be both unexceptional and necessary: flexing influence, standing up for their beliefs, not acting according to feminine norms and expectations.
Sexism in Politics is Nonpartisan
Hillary Clinton is not the only female politician to face sexist attacks. For a hilarious overview, watch my all-time favorite SNL skit.
Michelle Bachmann empathizes with Hillary Clinton.
Apparently being sexist is one thing that ties together liberals and conservatives.
We should all be better than that.
Additional Reading on Sexism Against Hillary Clinton
7 Sexist Attacks Hillary Clinton Faced in 2008 — and How She Can Combat Them in 2016
8 Sexist Hillary Clinton Comments From Members Of The Media Who Really Should Know Better
3 Ways to Tell if Your Distaste For Hillary Clinton is Sexist
Watch Hillary Clinton Endure 40 Years Of Sexism In Under 3 Minutes
The hidden sexism that could sway the election
None of this I write in direct support of Hillary Clinton. However, I do share this information to support women in politics. Hillary Clinton is the most prominent American female politician. The sexism she has endured is just a prime example of what most female politicians have faced.
If you don’t support Hillary, I feel you. I’m not voting for her either. But I highly encourage you to do a little soul-searching as to why you don’t support her. Your reasons could be perfectly valid. They could also be tainted with sexism.
If you do support Hillary, that’s your prerogative. I hope this blog post is a handy source for any Facebook friends whining about the “woman card.”
If fighting for women is "playing the #WomanCard," what card is Trump playing?https://t.co/PRoFKATQAE
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 29, 2016
(I get feminist shivers when she responds, “Deal me in!”)
If you want to vote for a politician solely because she’s a woman, go ahead. Quite frankly, based on firsthand conversations I’ve had over the last decade, plenty of men still vote based on gender. So I have no problem with women voting based on gender either.
Side note: I find it HILARIOUS how so many people suddenly care about “sexism” the second women want to vote for a woman.
The good news? Recent studies find mostly equal media coverage of male and female politicians. Times, they are a changing.
One day, I might even be able to blog about the lack of sexism in politics.
One day…
Do you notice sexism in the media coverage of politicians? How do you think misogyny has affected the 2016 presidential campaign?
