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Loading...Why 2010 Really Isn’t the Political Year of the Woman
“2010 is the year of the political woman!” People have been saying it so much that even I was starting to believe it. But a funny thing happened after yet another annoucement that this was “Year of the Woman.” I realized that really, women won’t be making much of a net gain at all.
I really started losing my enthusiasm for this “Year of the Woman” poltical talk when The Susan B. Anthony List basically turned on me. Well, not me exactly, since, as an anti-choice political fundraising machine they were never really going to be my sort of folk. But something happened a few weeks ago that really started to make me lose my enthusiasm for this alleged women’s wave, be it liberal or conservative.
The Susan B. Anthony Group started endorsing male candidates.
Now, I was willing to forgive them the remythology of Susan B. Anthony as an anti-choice champion for Republican women. At the very least, the group, as a conservative version of EMILY’S LIST, was working with the historic line that women should have the same equal rights, especially in the political sphere, as their male counterparts.
First they endorsed a male candidate in Pennsylvania to take out a female congresswoman, and now they have endorsed another male congressional candidate in Indiana. How is this the legacy of an icon who gave everything to get women the vote?
The switch to basic “we don’t care about women, we just care about stopping abortion,” tactic from the List may have started the process to dampen my enthusiasm, but I became altogether jaded when I saw the latest “Women Candidates to Watch” List, and noticed that woman aren’t really gaining, and that the writer has picked up on this, too.
Headline writers across the country declared 2010 “The Year of the Woman” on the day Nikki Haley, Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina made history in their primary races last month. But with plenty of primaries, runoffs and general elections still to come, the Year of the Woman is just getting started.
The list below should serve as a guide to the women you’re sure to hear about in 2010. They’re a combination of rising stars and dragon slayers, mischief makers and even a sacrificial lamb or two. Some are dyed-in-the-wool feminists, while others – many in fact — are mounting races to knock off other women in their races to the top. So much for the sisterhood. [my emphasis added]
Of the ten women that are highlighted in the piece, not one woman is running against a sitting male incumbent. Three are running against sitting female incumbents, one of which is challenging an incumbent in her own party via the primary. Of the five races with no incumbent, one will be a female gain regardless of which candidate wins. And one of the woman mentioned in this list as a politician to watch isn’t even in a race at all.
All in all, it’s a rather underwhelming “women’s wave.” Throw in a few other highly anticipated races like Fiorina versus Boxer (again, no gender gain) or the super-star race that was supposed to be Angle versus Reid in Nevada (before Angle started both talking and self-destructing), and you kind of have to wonder if the year of the woman isn’t already on the way to completely fizzling out.
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I am very proud to have this man as our President.
These are the muddied actions of a group of right-wing fascist wannabes who did everything they could…
thank you for the two videos!
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+ add your ownI used to think seeing women in politics was helping women see progress. My mother would argue with me that they were woman that thought "like men" so they didn't count. I didn't understand until recently. Most of the women I see are not thinking like the women I know and respect would make decisions. Lets hope some progressive women start bubbling to the surface of this political landscape.
i answered no because we as women are not going to get treated better unless we demand it plain and simply i don't let any one walk all over me and i sure as hell ain't gunna start now
With Hilary Clinton coming so close to getting the democratic nomination along with Sarah Palin being a contender as the Veep... I think we will be able to push forth more, and to equalize the playing field more.
The sex of the candidate is indeed important.
What is alarming is that women are opposing women!
Come on ladies you should work together, not oppose each other.
Let the married ladies put lots of pressure on their husbands. They should propose and support women standing for congress!
If they do not want to listen, withhold sex from these recalcitrant husbands, maybe that will work?
(joke) well....maybe not
Thanks for the information. The sex of candidates should not matter as long as they will work to the best of their abilities and do a damn good job!
Please help out these women and sign this petition, we all need to live in a world without domestic violence and a world where everyone has human rights!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/women39s-rights-in-saudi-arabia
There are just too damn many meatheads out there in congress as it is... Gotta save room for the tacos too!
"2010 Isn't the Year of the Woman!" Thanks for the insite.
Not good news
It is difficult for women in politics when state and local parties don't get behind them. Women, even, don't get behind them often times. KY desparately needs representation and a voice for women.
interesting read thanks.
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