Empower Yourself
I am on the fence about voting for Hillary Clinton, but her supporters are pushing me towards Sanders.
Gloria Steinem--yeah, one of the most famous feminists--just said on the Bill Maher show, "When you’re young, you’re thinking: ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie,’” Steinem said. Steinem walked back her comments after the understandable backlash, then she apologised, and made a statement about how young women are passionate and involved, etc., etc., but her true thoughts were already exposed. You would think someone as smart and accomplished as Madeleine Albright would have learned from Steinem's stupid mistake, but yesterday, Albright says, “We can tell our story of how we climbed the ladder, and a lot of you younger women think it’s done. It’s not done. There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!” Well, I hope she gets as much backlash as Steinem, but for me, the problem with both of these comments is that they are so belittling to women! From women! From feminists! Despite her apology, Steinem must believe, to some degree, that young women who support Sanders are not involved in the political process and don't have valid reasons for their support. If that is not one of the most denigrating, arrogant comments, then I don't know what is. And Steinem should know better. But Albright's comment incenses me. She dares to suggest that supporting a candidate whose belief system matches a woman's own belief system is less important than supporting a candidate whose genital structure is the same as the voter's. Really? How about Phyllis Schlafly? What if she decides to run for office? Phyllis Schlafly who successfully campaigned against passage of the Equal Rights for Women amendment, which is still not in effect because it needs three more states to ratify it. Or what about Jean Schmidt, the Republican from Ohio who has no compunction about lying to push her agenda that would take away the right for women to access abortions? According to Albright, we are obligated to support those women, too, simply because they are women. Of course, Albright would counter that we have to support women who would advance the rights of women; in other words women who have the same belief system as ours. Oh, right, but that argumentation doesn't apply if Sanders is the one whose beliefs match your own. I'm so confused. I need Albright to help me out. Or maybe I really need a man to tell me what to do. No. I am a woman. I have my own way of making decisions. And my message to Steinem and Albright is tell me why you think Clinton is the better candidate. Tell me something that I don't know about Clinton. But don't insult my intelligence by trying to shame women into supporting Clinton. It might just backfire, because your tactics are pushing me towards Sanders.
3 Comments
Gloria Ishida
2/8/2016 06:20:54 pm
I am devastated by Albright's stance and remarks. I have respected her so much so far. I have liked Steinem for a long time but am not totally surprised.
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Linda
2/9/2016 04:22:02 am
Thanks, Gloria. It is kind of astonishing. I guess for a long time, people thought Clinton was going to be the nominee, and they are desperate now that another challenger is threatening her, like in the '08 election.
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Sue Frost
2/9/2016 04:35:20 am
I must agree. I was so disappointed with Former Secretary of State Albright’s new spin on what was a favorite quote, “ There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support Clinton.” Is this a new form of lazy feminism? Shaming women into support out of loyalty without using their brains. Don’t select a candidate based on your principals, beliefs in what the country needs, simply choose a female. OMG that includes Sarah Palin, whom I believe confidently approaches a podium without the burden of facts, a plan, only blame.
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AuthorI am a yoga instructor, author and activist. I wrote The Diamond Tree to inspire women to take chances. Even if the outcome of any given risk is different than expected, there is something for the community and the individual to gain from it. Archives
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