It is hard to believe that FOX news pundits questioned if Hillary Clinton’s becoming a grandmother is a planned campaign strategy, to give her a “bump” in the upcoming presidential election. Are they serious? It is ridiculous how they describe and treat women vs. men. Mitt Romney became a grandfather during his presidential campaign. Were his children’s pregnancies planned to help him get votes?
There are so many examples of how women in politics and women in general are treated differently than are men. When Hillary Clinton had tears, Fox news reporters said that she was close to a breakdown. When John Boehner cries, he is passionate, concerned, not facing an emotional collapse.
Bridget Kelly is characterized in the Chris Christie Bridge-gate scandal as being too needy of and dependent on her lover’s approval, whereas when Elliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, and John Edwards destroy their political lives by their romantic or sexual liaisons, they are just being men. Just men who lie, cheat, or who are so dependent on women (or sex) that they self-destruct.
Jon Stewart satirized this tragic dilemma (see The Daily Show, April 22, 2014) by calling his segment, “The Broad Must Be Crazy!” What is OK behavior for men is not OK for women who look unstable when displaying the same behavior. You know women, with their hormones and all.
If Hillary Clinton speaks with a harsh tone of voice, she is seen as rageful, too emotional about the subject. When men use a similar tone, they are being forceful, assertive, even presidential. When Chris Christie yells at reporters or talks to them in a condescending and nasty tone, some say he is being victimized, bullied by the media. Whereas Christie himself has been known for years to act like a bully.
But, women are crazy, too emotional, too unstable to serve effectively in political office, much less as President. What an absurd thought.
Women support families, businesses and this country, taking care of many tasks, managing households, children, and husbands while they also work full-time. Many men succeed in their careers partly because of women’s taking care of their needs behind the scenes. Now it is time for women to take more of the spotlight and men can also be the supporters of their careers. Women are often stronger emotionally than the men around them, taking the blows and batterings by men. A Florida woman gets sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting a gun at a wall to prompt her abusive partner to leave. George Zimmerman and some white male Americans suffer no such enormous penalty when they have actually shot and killed children.
I could shout my discontent but I might be seen as too emotional. Perhaps one day, men and women will be seen and treated as equals regarding their skills and productiveness, irrespective of their gender, who they love, or how they act.
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