Gender Bias and the Media

I did indeed catch that this afternoon and was very disappointed ... I have felt he by far was more real and honest in his questions as an interviewer and not only asks direct questions but insists on a direct answer...regardless of the party affiliation - but he gave it away today and there is no doubt in my mind - he and most of the pundits are not ready for the female idea of President...and that is their choice...but on the positive side - the more he talks against her, the more he will strengthen the women's movement to support her and others with her ability and accomplishments...she is one tough woman and she knows how to play ball with the boys in the back room and quite frankly I believe that is a good thing or they will chew her up and spit her out before she can whistle Dixie...She has had what one might almost call street smart training surviving the Years her husband was in office and moving on to achieve her own accomplishments...and she did not do it with any help from him...THAT in itself shows her determination to get things done and done right....

Donna,

Thanks for the comment. I agree she's tough and has political street smarts but the subtle gender bias thing has me a bit concerned. Some if not all of it may be offset by the way it will strengthen the women's movement's support of her but I suspect that a large portion of her support from women will come from women who will acknowledge that support only in the privacy of a voting booth.

I have questioned the honesty of comments such as "I don't mind the idea of a woman president, but I'm not ready for this woman". I wonder how much hidden meanings are in those words? I have always felt a woman could do as well, if not better, than a man.

I don't judge capability by gender, but I'm surprised, not just by the occasional man that does so (and I don't find it often in men), but the hordes of women I meet that do so. I must know 20 women who don't feel like a woman is capable of keeping her mind on the job and not being affected by hormones.

I DON'T agree (though I don't feel strongly in favor - or against - Hillary Clinton at the moment). But I am appalled that women have not yet entirely broken away from centuries of perception. We're going to have to come to grips with our own equality or we'll never really obtain it.

Thanks to all of you for your comments. Glad to know I am not the only one who is detecting this bias and that it is also being recognized as bias by those who do not necessarily support Hilliary this early in the campaign.

Gender, racial and religious differences among the candidates gives this campaign greater potential for subtle, bias and nastiness than we have ever seen and regardless of who we support we need to be aware of it and call it for what it is when we see it.

Stephanie,

I hope that many of the women of who you spoke will be among those express their support of women in the privacy of the voting both. I suspect some of them are only saying what other's expect them to say. As for the others that truly believe a woman will be any more affected by their hormones than a man would I too find it appalling. Despite obviously being distracted by his hormones, Bill did a darn good job in my opinion.

I think that's an excellent point, Carol. I think there is plenty of historical evidence that hormonal decisions are not just a girl thing (if they're even a girl thing).

I suspect you're right about some of the women. Sometimes I'm surprised at what comes out of the mouths of often capable educated women. Unfortunately, I've seen that kind of bias from women against women on more than one occasion in the male-dominated world of high end engineering, including assumptions that a woman's success is inversely proportional to her morals.

I can't wait until we all grow up and stop thinking that anyone's outside appearance determines who he/she really is. And, around the world, women have demonstrated considerable skill and acumen in positions of power. Must the US always come behind everywhere else when it comes to recognizing things like this?

One thing for sure and two things for certain: the enemies of the Clintons have not found enough dirt on either of them to plant a geranium. And politically correct speech (person, candidate) has been around long enough for any TV personality to use it unconsciously. Lots of people are afraid of any woman in power, but one who is smart, who has lived in the glare of public life (and kept her child out of it--ala Mrs. Onassis) has the skiills to represent us. She has the knowledge, both from training and first hand experience, and it's time that American women got off our nether parts and voted her in. tHere are more women in this (and every other!!!) country than men.

Ladies, women, girls, tarts, birds, harpies, witches, bitches, chicks, c*nts, *ho*s, and the rest of us female type hu-wombyn, perdaughters and gyno-sapiens, let's make it happen.