Which is a more potent force in the United States today? Racism or sexism?

[XemaSab]

The possibility that it will be Hillary vesus Obama for the 2008 nomination raises an interesting question.

We know that there are a lot of people out there who would never vote for a Black man (no matter how "articulate :P ), but how many people would never vote for a woman? Can we even begin to guess?

Racism is for the most part taboo in polite society, but sexism is, if anything, hidden in plain sight. Telling a joke with the "N" word is verboten. But telling a blonde joke is still okay.

Especially among liberals, sexism is a double-edged sword. I know I'm more likely to judge female politicians based on looks, but also I'm on the lookout for sexism within myself. Do I judge Hillary to a different or higher standard because she is a woman? How can I tell that about myself? Should I cut her more slack for being a woman? I mean, she's clean and articulate, right?

I don't like Hillary's war vote or her triangulation on important issues, but I also think she tries too hard to be all things to all people, and that's a less tangible character assessment. She tries to be a hardass, but kind and caring at the same time, and it doesn't work to her favor. Also I don't know what to think about the fact that her husband publically cheated on her and she just took it. Would I be scrutinizing that if she was a man?

Most white men are somewhat sexist, sure, but the word on the street is that Black men are, if anything, more sexist than white men. The unspoken reality is that women can be pretty sexist towards each other too. And that's the big unknown factor here.

It's like the vanishing white voters at the polls: we'll only know about it after the fact.

So what factor do you think sexism will play in the Hillary versus Obama dynamic?

[Liberty Belle]

1. Not much. Bigots and racists mainly vote Republican!

[XemaSab]

3. I am personally of the belief

that almost everyone is racist and sexist. To what degree is what differentiates, say, Jesse Jackson from Hitler.

[The Straight Story]

4. I think everyone may hay instead a stereotype they hold re: sex/race

I wouldn't call it an 'ism' as some things relating are based in stats and experience. people I think rarely believe 'all' but usually probably subscribe to 'many'.

I have known many pubs over the years who had ideal female candidates for prez, as well as those of other races (condi rice, powell as two examples).

[ChicagoRonin]

2. Classism

EOM

[MessiahRp]

5. Agreed

Besides we all know the GOP is the political arm of the KKK... just now they hide their disdain for blacks in public and scream about gays instead.

Rp

[lvx35]

6. Apples and oranges.

You can't really compare racism and sexism. For instance, many would be much more familiar, more comfortable, with a person of opposite sex of their own race, because it feels likes home: Mom, sister, brother Dad, etc. But many would give much more respect, be less likely to put down, a person of the same sex but different race. They would be more formal, less comfortable.

So which one is oppression? Being formal/distant but respecting, or being familiar but demeaning? I think they both can be, so its hard to compare the two!

[XemaSab]

7. I think you can compare the two when you go to the voting booth

It's the issue of what people will not vote for for president.

I'm also not sure your analysis is accurate: people may be formal with people of other races to their faces, but behind their backs, or when the voting curtain is pulled?