Women are Never Front Runners: Gloria Steinem on the Clinton campaign

[pnwmom]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08steinem.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

SNIP

But what worries me is that he (Obama) is seen as unifying by his race while she is seen as divisive by her sex.

What worries me is that she is accused of “playing the gender card” when citing the old boys’ club, while he is seen as unifying by citing civil rights confrontations.

What worries me is that male Iowa voters were seen as gender-free when supporting their own, while female voters were seen as biased if they did and disloyal if they didn’t.

What worries me is that reporters ignore Mr. Obama’s dependence on the old — for instance, the frequent campaign comparisons to John F. Kennedy — while not challenging the slander that her progressive policies are part of the Washington status quo.

What worries me is that some women, perhaps especially younger ones, hope to deny or escape the sexual caste system; thus Iowa women over 50 and 60, who disproportionately supported Senator Clinton, proved once again that women are the one group that grows more radical with age.

SNIP

[Fresh_Start]

1. younger woman have been largely protected from the effects of sexism

until they are in the workplace.

they think its the older generations fight because they haven't been part of it
but sexism is alive and flourishing
they will see it (whether they recognize it or not is another matter)

[hertopos]

2. Wow, this is so good

I really appreciate this as a 53 year old working mother.
I am lately frustrated by young women who love to bash Hillary.
They act as if there are no sexism.

Thank you for this

Hertopos

[pnwmom]

7. You're very welcome. It's nice to have a place to share things like this.

Besides spamming my mother and sisters.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. K&R

[midlife_mo_Jo]

4. Her words "women...grow more radical with age"

In my case, that's true. I'm much more liberal than I was ten years ago.

Which is why I'm VOTING FOR EDWARDS!

[incapsulated]

5. K&R

Excellent Op-Ed by Steinem.

[mzmolly]

6. Excellent article.

If you answered no to either question, you’re not alone. Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life, whether the question is who must be in the kitchen or who could be in the White House. This country is way down the list of countries electing women and, according to one study, it polarizes gender roles more than the average democracy.

I am not supporting Hillary - but I think Ms. Steinem raises excellent points.