Gender issues dictate 2008 presidential race
Stereotypes may factor into candidates' images, but do not determine platforms.
Naira Kuzmich
Issue date: 8/22/07 Section: Opinion
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With jabs at John Edwards' debonair haircuts, the confusion surrounding Hillary Clinton's cleavage and surprise over Barack Obama's choice of campaign songs, recent media coverage has made the political field research and tabloid fodder for feminists and Fox News correspondents alike. The 2008 presidential campaign no longer centers on political issues, but has become a case-in-point study on gender science.
While gender is often used interchangeably with "sex," gender refers to social rather than biological differences. Gender is an individual's self-conception as being male or female, rather than his or her biological sex. Many feminists believe the conceptions of gender deemed typically masculine or feminine are socially conditioned gender attributes.
On the Democratic campaign trail, where typical gender roles seem to be swapped, voters are left wondering: Will we choose the first female president or the first feminine one? And furthermore, who will do more for women's rights?
Throughout U.S. history, Americans have tended to vote for men's men: cowboys, soldiers, hunters. Those who strayed from this testosterone-rich label were ridiculed as weak and have generally failed on the campaign trail.
Republicans have used this template in recent years, successfully attacking some Democrats as unmanly and have made a determined effort to brand the GOP as the dominant party.
Democrats, on the other hand, tend to take on the more nurturing role, taking on more feminine positions on helping the poor and exercising diplomacy over violence.
Obama embodies the latter role. His speeches are less insistent, more communal. Obama shakes each voter's hand with his right hand while placing his left hand gently on their shoulder. He seems spiritual, is inspirational. There's warmth in his eyes. He asks for the privilege to lead; Hillary Clinton demands it.
As the first major female candidate, Clinton is in a tricky position. While she is clearly benefiting from her status among Democratic women voters, she must be wary of gender traps. She needs to capitalize on the fact that she has a great chance to be the first female president of the United States, but voters need to remember that just because she is a woman, doesn't mean that she's the best advocate for women's rights.
While gender is often used interchangeably with "sex," gender refers to social rather than biological differences. Gender is an individual's self-conception as being male or female, rather than his or her biological sex. Many feminists believe the conceptions of gender deemed typically masculine or feminine are socially conditioned gender attributes.
On the Democratic campaign trail, where typical gender roles seem to be swapped, voters are left wondering: Will we choose the first female president or the first feminine one? And furthermore, who will do more for women's rights?
Throughout U.S. history, Americans have tended to vote for men's men: cowboys, soldiers, hunters. Those who strayed from this testosterone-rich label were ridiculed as weak and have generally failed on the campaign trail.
Republicans have used this template in recent years, successfully attacking some Democrats as unmanly and have made a determined effort to brand the GOP as the dominant party.
Democrats, on the other hand, tend to take on the more nurturing role, taking on more feminine positions on helping the poor and exercising diplomacy over violence.
Obama embodies the latter role. His speeches are less insistent, more communal. Obama shakes each voter's hand with his right hand while placing his left hand gently on their shoulder. He seems spiritual, is inspirational. There's warmth in his eyes. He asks for the privilege to lead; Hillary Clinton demands it.
As the first major female candidate, Clinton is in a tricky position. While she is clearly benefiting from her status among Democratic women voters, she must be wary of gender traps. She needs to capitalize on the fact that she has a great chance to be the first female president of the United States, but voters need to remember that just because she is a woman, doesn't mean that she's the best advocate for women's rights.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
R. Hyder
posted 8/26/07 @ 8:41 PM EST
I wonder of the time when gender suddenly becomes a small detail in the greater scheme of a candidate's qualitifications to run for a powerhouse position. (Continued…)
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