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Feminine Politics and Palin
In the past two weeks, Sarah Palin has changed the scene of the presidential elections. As only the second woman to run for vice president of the United States that is a remarkable achievement. Yet, there is one thing she has not changed: The masculinity of American politics. To the contrary, with her tough talk attacks she’s adding something quite familiar to the debate.
First of all: There is no doubt that there is a need for more women in politics in the United States–and, for that matter, in the world. Our world is still very much ruled by men and that’s neither right nor a good thing. But, as far as I can see, the main reason why we would like to see more women in politics would be because they would present a different, more feminine, perspective.
Today’s complex world with many contradicting and opposing objectives favors feminine leadership. As heads of the household women traditionally have been better than men at bringing together conflicting elements. Women are naturally inclined to find the solution that works best for everyone. They want to avoid the macho response that isolates a party or an interest. Women tend to involve more people in the decision-making process and they are natural negotiators. They will focus more attention on matters involving personal safety in their immediate vicinity–family, education, child care, health–and they are not so obsessed by the far less clearly defined concept of international safety.
So, yes, our world would be a better place with more feminine leadership. But the interesting thing is that feminine leadership doesn’t have to come from women. The Chinese have that wonderful concept of the importance of the balance between yin and yang. While women are more yin and men more yang, in both genders there is an ongoing dance between the feminine and the masculine.
And, from what she is showing the world so far, Sarah Palin, a lifelong hunter who goes ice fishing, is not necessarily a woman that will bring a lot of feminine leadership. She reminds me more of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, another social conservative. Thatcher was widely seen as the “best man in the cabinet.” She tightened welfare laws and did away with a school program that provided children with free milk. And she was not a great supporter of the cause of women. As it has been said: “The only women for whom Margaret Thatcher paved the way were the Spice Girls.”
To the defense of Thatcher, Sarah Palin and many other women, it has to be said that it’s not easy as a woman to show your feminine side. A woman politician who appears feminine is soon regarded as a “little mother.” She is not regarded as being decisive. In today’s masculine world a woman leader must be extra tough and strong. We saw that Hillary Clinton in her campaign always stressed her readiness to be the “commander in chief,” not exactly a feminine thing. Yet, one of the best moments of her campaign was when she showed her vulnerability in response to a caring question of another woman.
One can easily argue that her husband Bill was more of a feminine leader. Bill Clinton had a talent for bringing people together. He found the balance between showing his feelings and showing power. Former Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme and former German Chancellor Willy Brandt were also good examples of feminine leaders. So were Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. And, interestingly enough, Barack Obama. Obama presents himself as a coalition builder, as someone who wants to listen first before he acts tough. Obama is more likely to bring more much needed feminine powers to our world than Sarah Palin.
What we really need is a world where there is not such a strange disconnect between homes and offices. So often fathers, who care for their children and their friends, as business leaders take decisions that do not reflect the same care for people and that they would never take at home. And as long as many people think that a mother as a mother is not fit for political office, our society will lack the necessary balance between yin and yang. We need fathers and mothers in politics and in business, because we need a balance between care and decisiveness, between listening and acting, between the feminine and the masculine. And for that balance to become healthy we need a lot more of the feminine. Bring it on Barack Obama and Sarah Palin!
Jurriaan Kamp is the founder and editor of Ode Magazine, the magazine for intelligent optimists.
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17 comments
add your comment »When you cast your vote for our next leadership in our upcomming election, don't take gender into consideration as your #1 ticket sealer. It is not important as to what the gender is, just the quality of leadership and decision making skills. You should be looking to elect the most eligable candidate based upon their qualifications for the task(s) at hand, not worrying about wheter or not you're casting the "trendy" vote. If you make a poor decision, it is your own fault. The vote you cast is "cutting edge" either way, if you're voting for either Obama(Biden) or McCain(Palin), because neither a black man nor a woman has ever been in a position of this much authority in our country's history to date. What I'm saying is this; vote not on race or gender, vote with the best interests of yourself and everyone else who shares this country. You are electing your representation.
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Which is why we don't need an idiot in the white house. Or anyone who will wilt when it comes time to make decisions.
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Isabel from England,
Just FYI, the U.S. is anything but "safe" right now.
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BLOGS AND EDITORIALS ARE NOT A CREDIBLE NEWS SOURCE-EVEN WHEN THEY ARE FOUND ON A NEWS SITE- Because ANYONE CAN WRITE WHATEVER THEY CHOSE WITH OUT REGARD FOR FACT. They are not news, they are personal openion and can mud sling and "spin" whatever, whoever, whenever they so chose and, in most cases, suppress facts that do not support their own agenda. You need to be looking for and suggesting a non-partisan NEWS source if you want any measure of credibility. Check your sources and facts.
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I have yet to see Palin beat a dog, kick a puppy, drown a kitten or any other "cruel" act towards animals for sadistic pleasure. Furthermore, if we drilled for oil on our own turf, we'd be less dependant on foreign oil and more in control of our finances. We're in the middle of a crisis, people! If you all have a credible and- more inmportantly- DOABLE solution to all the problems we are facing, I'd like to hear your plan. If it is a good one, it may just work. The problem you are going to face is that it has to be something that can accomodate all of us. You have to give a little to get a little, nothing is free and everything has a downside. When you are faced with feeding your family and basic survival, things are a LOT different. Those of you who live in big cities who aren't faced with starvation and threat to livlihood don't understand the problems that simple people have who actually forage for their food. Not everyone has the privelidge to grow or buy tofu year round because they don't live right by a supermarket or bus line. Those who live off the land legitimately (non city dwellers) are very different from the "benifit event seekers" who want to "do- good" everyone elses life.
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She's really scary. For more on her and her running mate, please visit the following blog, and pass the web address on to as many people as you can, especially in battleground states: http://planetpalin.wordpress.com/
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To PhoenixFlame:
I resent your comment that Palin could be "little else than a housewife"! Being a homemaker and a stay at home mother raising her children is the hardest job in the world! Who do YOU think you are putting homemakers down like we are stupid and unable to hold a job! Most of the mothers I know are college graduates with a higher IQ than Sarah Barracuda Palin. People like you are the ones that try to make those of us fortunate enough to stay home and RAISE OUR CHILDREN feel less than those women that work outside the home. Well, I don't feel less than someone working outside the home because I do it all!
I do not care that Palin hunts. I do find it disgusting that she hunts from a HELICOPTER after they RUN their kill until they are nearly dead. This is TORTURE! But then, I'm sure Palin agrees with TORTURE. Is she Bush in DRAG or is it Cheney?
Sarah Palin is unqualified to be VP to a man that is 72 years old! John McCain will not release his medical records, and he has had type 2 melanoma 4 times! This is a cancer that cannot be cured. I don't want a mayor of a town of 7K to 9K running MY COUNTRY. Nor do I want a Governor with less than 2 years experience leading a state with a weak governorship. I watched while people elected the same kind of person to be President...George W. Bush. He was the Governor of my state. Our legislature runs Texas. He had no experience running anything except running companies into the ground! NOT AGAIN! NEVER
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The fact is we really don't know much facts about her beyond what the media feeds us. She has not allowed herself to be scrutinized, seems anytime she's interviewed, once or twice, she has had very general, somewhat rehearsed answers. I have nothing against her as a human being. She has done what she needed to do to live, and her decisions in politics are hers to live with but please, stop acting like she's the mighty Goddess who will take women to the next level. We don't need a women in office that bad.
Look at what the candidates have to offer-- both the president and VP candidates. And please, stop sharing false information about the one you don't like. I get emails almost daily about one side or the other and half the time the information is false and made up to sway me to the other side, whatever that may be.
Let's vote responsibly. Our children deserve better!
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I am English and live in Dorset. Please, Americans, when voting, do not be swayed by the fact that you have not yet had a woman in the White house. Margaret Thatcher brought us to our knees and we are still feeling the devastating losses of Thatcherism and its legacy. Politics is not about personalities! She believed that there was no such thing as 'society'. Today we are still struggling everywhere, to reinstate the principal that there is indeed a society and that we all belong to it, and that we have the responsibility to maintain it for the common good. Barak Obama seems to us to be the perfect and most intelligent choice you have had for many long years and we all need him, not just y'all tucked away safely in the land of milk and honey, across the pond!
Isabel
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I am saddened by the comments regarding Sarah Palin --particularly since most of them come from women.
Hunting: Is a way of life in many areas of America. I grew up eating food we caught and grew ourselves. How do you think the meat and produce on your table get there. Someone grew, caught or slaughtered it.
Compassion: The woman gave birth to a child with special challenges -- considering that 90 percent of people with downs syndrome are aborted this speaks plenty to her compassion and character. Mr. Obama voted thee times against a bill that would give lifesaving treatment and food to a baby that survived a botched abortion. Do you mean to tell me that killing a moose that will feed a family of four all winter is worse than letting a human baby die because it is not wanted?
Lastly, moral individuals can disagree with someone's ideas without slandering their character. I'm not saying I agree with her 100 percent, but I am proud to have Sarah Palin as part of the sisterhood of women.
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