Women candidates need to fight back against innuendo

[alp227]

Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star, 6/9/12

Adoring parents of this generation, intent on uplifting their young daughters, tell them that no goal is too high. No profession, no position of power, no political office is off limits to them.

Nevertheless, these well-meaning parents probably don’t think to coach their little girls on what to do when, in their climb to the top, they meet with the inevitable innuendos comparing them to a pole dancer, prostitute or “ice queen.” Think I’m exaggerating? Each of these has been made against a female candidate recently seeking political office.

(...)

Many female candidates and their supporters are choosing to push back. One powerful new voice is the website NameItChangeIt.com, a place for women candidates and their supporters to learn how negative gender-based commentary undermines campaigns — and what to do about it.

The non-partisan site is a project of the WCF Foundation, Women’s Media Center and Political Parity. Nancy Pelosi, Michele Bachmann and Elizabeth Warren are currently featured on the homepage.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/08/3648756/women-candidates-need-to-fight.html

Found via the twitter of Talking Points Memo assoc. editor Sara Libby.

[seabeyond]

1. by confronting the sort of scurrilous rhetoric that sets women back.

yes. lets. and when the back lash is a group of people then attacking the womans sexuality to insult, shame... shut her the fuck up, as a whole, we need to say NO MORE.

it doesnt do much good if a woman does speak up only to be shouted down as being too sensitive, a pearl clutcher, ect.... it only reinforces she shut up.