Judge it!As for a "Not at THIS Moment in History", I have not heard others say that in reference to Ms. Clinton. Anytime would be a great time for a woman president, providing she would not polarize the country even more.
Not THIS Woman - Not at THIS Moment in History!
----------
Gender bias is very acceptable all around the world, and it's been rearing it's ugly head in the democratic primary.
Generally, I think it's a good thing for the most part, that our society has an open, friendly, often humorous dialog about gender. It's better that tip-toeing around our differences, as we often do on racial and religious issues, afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing offense. Most of the time, I wouldn't find a lot of this stuff offensive.
On the other hand, we have allies, such as Saudi Arabia, where women are beaten for being raped, aren't allowed to drive a car, or attend school. There are practices like arranged marriages, honor killings, forced abortions, sexual slavery, and female castration that we, as a world power, should be more outraged about, more proactive to end than we are.
I wonder how many people know the percentage of women who are raped and/or victims of domestic violence during their lifetimes? 1 in 3 women will be victims of sexual assault during their lifetimes. Women in some countries are still treated as property.
Women have had to fight for the right to vote, own property, and a lot of other rights men took for granted and still do. You can say a lot of things about Hillary Clinton, but you can't say she hasn't been an advocate for women and children her entire life.
So, yes, I take gender slurs against the first woman to have a serious shot at the presidency of this country seriously. I don't think they have a place in the discourse any more than racial slurs against Obama. Denigrate her for her policies or her integrity, but not because she's female. Not this women - not at this moment. It denigrates all women. Like her or hate her, all women deserve this one small concession in the dialog. Women's suffering is usually the last to be acknowledged or addressed.
I'm not some rabid feminist, but I am extremely proud that a women has broken through and come so close to leading this country, but just like there are ignorant people who won't vote for Obama because he's a black man, there are people who won't for for Clinton because she's a woman, and I've encountered quite a few of them. They call me "honey" and "babe" and tell me not to get emotional, while lacing their remarks with references to shrillness, pantsuits, and crying for votes.
In this election, for once, we should be as sensitive to gender slurs as we are racial slurs and be proud of these historic candidates we've selected.
Aquarius
Most Popular
