PRESS RELEASES
Talking Back
March 3, 2008 |
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By Marilyn Fitterman, NOW NE Regional Director & Past President NOW - New York State
In 1964 Shirley Chisholm won a seat in the New York State Legislature. In 1968 Chisholm became the first black woman to serve in the United States Congress; and in 1972 she was the first black woman to run for the United States Presidency.
It was in a speech shortly thereafter that Shirley Chisholm remarked "of my two "handicaps" being female put more obstacles in my path than being black." On another occasion she said that she "always felt more discrimination being a woman than being black."
How many ways must the vile misogyny of our culture be stated and restated until we acknowledge the injustice and reach gender equality? That question has lingered in the minds of too many women for too many years. As the innovative feminist Mary Daly wrote "Even while we struggle to escape the mindset of patriarchy it still exerts a firm hold over our consciousness."
Whether we call it sexism or misogyny, the results are the same; for both are so universal, so deep-seated and internalized, that they are invisible because they are so normal.
What better evidence of this bias could there be than what is happening right now on web sites, in the presses, and in the media? While we see a charming, charismatic, but inexperienced black man getting a free ride to the White House, we witness, perhaps for the first time, such overt, vicious and callous treatment of a woman who dares to aspire to the presidency. And the saddest aspect of this historic moment is that because of this-deep seated, unconsciousness, sexism, most people, including too many women, just don't see it. They don't see the difference in the kinds of questions that Tim Russert asks Barack Obama, as opposed to the "girly" questions he asks of Hillary Clinton.
At this time in our history, the United States is perhaps the most educated it has ever been. Therefore, this would be a good time to examine the thousands of years of internalized misogyny.
If we can examine our views of racism and sexism, even at high emotional risk, perhaps through feminism we will find and use our commonality and diversity to the advantage of humanity.
One way to make up for the injustice of thousands of years of sexism would be to elect the first women president of the United States. At least twenty-six industrialized nations have already elected women leaders and the world did not come to an end. And, at this time in our history we have one of the most qualified and experienced woman to fill this job.
Mr. Obama's experience and education can't hold a candle to that of Hillary Clinton, who has had the opportunity to actually live and work in the White House for eight years, and to work in the Senate for six years. Damn it, how much more should one have to know to be able to run this great nation of ours?
As educator, Dr. Eleanor Schetlin said in an article long ago: the functions of government are now primarily those that within the home are considered to be women's work, among them: feeding the hungry, managing the budget, caring for the sick and aged, planning for the education of the young, maintaining order, controlling noise, refereeing disputes, overseeing transportation, maintaining peer and diplomatic relationships, keeping peace with neighbors, preventing disease and accidents, promoting health and safety, maintaining sanitation, occupying the unemployed, preserving resources, cleaning up and beautifying the environment. As Dr. Schetlin so succinctly surmised, "perhaps we are engulfed in pollution because there are no women in government to tell the men to take out the trash.
As Shirley Chisholm asked in a 1972 speech, could it be that woman's supposedly biologically-determined role as nurturer and homemaker is to run our national homeland? Although such gender-based stereotypes should not be perpetuated, perhaps in this instance they should be followed through to their conclusions. Logically in terms of the stereotypes, as Dr. Schetlin wrote, women should be running the government. Men have been in power since recorded history and the world is about to blow up. What better reason than to elect Hillary Clinton the next president. And, let us not forget the words of activist and author Sonia Johnson: "They can't do patriarchy without us." Therefore, rather than aiding and abetting the patriarchy let's talk back, do the right thing, and send Hillary Clinton to the White House.
The author can be reached at MarilynFitterman@aol.com
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