Hillary Clinton and Sexism

Not everyone loves Hillary. That is fine. Not everyone has to love Hillary. What would be nice if everyone could just turn off the sexist dialogue for one whole day. I don't think the sexist media coverage of Hillary can be denied. It is extremely common to use descriptives for Hillary that would never be used to describe a man.

Hillary has been called hysterical, a bitch, emotional, ugly, witch, vindictive, a castrating shrew, an ice queen, screechy, a manipulative weeper, Tracy Flick, a white bitch, a ball-breakin' bitch yet she also has balls of steel. They say she both controlling and a cry-baby. Just by Chris Matthew she has been called witchy, a she-devil, a strip-teaser and an uppity woman. Just imagine the uproar if he called Obama an uppity black. She doesn't make a valid point, she "whines". She doesn't laugh, she "cackles". She has been asked to "iron my shirt". They criticize her figure, her clothes, her hair, her wrinkles. There is a Hillary hating group called Citizens United Not Timid (read the caps - nice, huh?) There are campaign tshirts that read "if only Hillary had married O.J. instead". David Shuster of MSNBC said Hillary was "pimping" out her daughter. A Fox news contributor says "When Barack Obama speaks, men hear, 'Take off for the future.' And when Hillary Clinton speaks, men hear, 'Take out the garbage.'"

Yes, Hillary Clinton is a woman. She is a capable, experienced, knowledgable woman and she should be treated as such. So here's my challenge, can you respond to this article without using one sexist term that you would also use to describe any of the male candidates. Therefore if you would not call McCain a white bitch, don't call Hillary a white bitch. If you would not call Obama a whiner, dont' call Hillary a whiner. It's not hard. You can say assertive or a critic. If it's too hard, use the thesaurus.

Referrals: 5

Tags: hillary clinton sexism election woman women feminism equality

Comments 1 - 25 (72)

Actually, I find most of it kind of funny. But I got to ask.............

Tracy Flick?

Tracy flick is a character played by Reese Witherspoon in a movie entitled "Election."

"Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is an overachieving senior with a secret vindictive and sexual side."

Wikipedia, I didn't understand the reference either.

Who has referred to her as these things? I mean, besides normal people? Is it in the press?

I know she's your girl Loca, but I don't think she's gonna beat Obama. I think he's really going to get the Dem bid. Which AMAZES me.

But its not all bad news for you. Hillary would have pushed conservatives (most) into voting for McCain...but now I am reading about OBAMIKANS...Republicans who are voting for Obama..for various reasons. None of which I will pretend to understand.

Wikipedia, I didn't understand the reference either.

I did not even think of Wikipedia. Oh well.....

Are you saying that any gender specific insult thrown her way is being sexist?

Well would throwing any race specific insult at Obama be considered racist? Yes, I think those names she was called were sexist. A woman can't be a strong woman without being called a bitch and in my book that's wrong and sexist. So I say, insult her all you want but don't use sexist labels.

I think he's really going to get the Dem bid. Which AMAZES me.

I know I keep telling myself to keep my eyes on the prize which is November not the nom. but I still think Hillary would make a much better candidate. She knows policy and she would get things done.

Tracy flick is a character played by Reese Witherspoon in a movie entitled "Election."

Tracy Flick?

Actually, Tracy Flick won and I think she would have made a fabulous class president. You'll have to watch the movie. I don't think it's the biggest insult but definately one that they're only going to throw at a woman never a man.

I mean, besides normal people?

Now, tova, that's just mean. Yes people in the press. Most of those were from mainstream news sources.

I don't recall Margaret Thatcher being referred to routinely as a bitch, nor Indira Ghandi, nor Golda Meir, nor German PM Merkel. They appear to have been fairly strong women.

The problem is that Hillary has used the feminist angle as a means of political persuasion and demonstrably been a bitch.

LOL Loca, I love the fact that you don't want anyone to use "sexist" insults towards a woman who has done everything within her power to remind us that she is a woman, a feminist and (considering she wants to obligate people to have healtcare) a bitch.

I'm sorry, when it comes to Hillary, it's impossible not to insult her. Even if you think it's a sexist insult. The real problem here is that you, people like you and Hillary have tried to take advantage of the fact that she is woman to get the easy street to the White House. You expected everyone to back off because she was a woman. You expected respect because she is a woman. You expected doors to be open for her, chairs to be pulled out, men to let her pass first. But instead you found out that politics is like a pool full of sharks, they will eat you regardless of you age or sex. Now here you are crying boo hoo because little old Hillary girl is being pushed around by evil men.

Face it darling, if a woman wants to join the ranks of men your gonna have to sweat like a pig, eat like a hog and rough it up before you can pink it up.

You expected doors to be open for her, chairs to be pulled out, men to let her pass first

absolutely NOT

You expected respect because she is a woman.

No I expect her to be treated with the same respect that is given to the male candidates. If these comments were about race people would be howling because it's just sexism no one cares.

I'm sorry, when it comes to Hillary, it's impossible not to insult her

That might be true for YOU but that's not a true statement.

(considering she wants to obligate people to have healtcare) a bitch.

Charles can't do it either. What a horrible person wanting people to have healthcare!!!! I'm shocked at her cold uncaring heart.

The problem is that Hillary has used the feminist angle as a means of political persuasion and demonstrably been a bitch.

So I guess that's a no on Daiwa being able to comment without using a sexist term.

You expected doors to be open for her, chairs to be pulled out, men to let her pass first.

To clarify, I have no problem with a man doing that out of courtesy nor do I have a problem with a woman doing that as a courtesy. I just don't expect it.

Loca - kitchen, heat, all that. Would it have changed the meaning if I had said "demonstrably behaved like a bitch"? Come on, you write an article about sexism and demand political correctness?

I don't have anything to say, really...but I'm laughing my ass off reading these comments.

Especially this one:

The problem is that Hillary has used the feminist angle as a means of political persuasion and demonstrably been a bitch.

~Zoo

I have cred here. I know bitches: I own one (bloodhound).

Loca - kitchen, heat, all that. Would it have changed the meaning if I had said "demonstrably behaved like a bitch"? Come on, you write an article about sexism and demand political correctness?

I wrote an article asking specifically if everyone could refrain from commenting without a sexist term and the answer was a BIG NO. Would you ever say that McCain or Obama ever "demonstrably behaved like a bitch"? Um...no? I didn't think so. I'm not demanding political correctness, I'm trying to get people to see how sexist they are in their response to Hillary.

Just remember that in sexist terms bitch equals "powerful women scare me".

I would absolutely say that McCain has demonstrably been an asshole. Demonstrably been a dickhead. Demonstrably been a prick. Are those not sexist?

The whole 'sexism' thing is nothing but code for political correctness. I refuse to acknowledge its legitimacy. Bitch means bitch, and nothing more. And I absolutely refrained from 'commenting without a sexist term' as requested.

Is she crying? There's no crying in the White House. There's no crying in the White House!

For the record, my revulsion for Hillary stems from her political philosophy, her ethical blindness and her mean-spiritedness, not her gender. I have exactly the same gut reaction to her that I have to Ted Kennedy - they both make me want to puke the same bile.

Is she crying? There's no crying in the White House. There's no crying in the White House!

She didn't even cry!!! She teared up. No tears spilled on her cheeks. She didn't boo hoo and then have to blow her nose. Obama gets cheered for blowing his nose, amazing St. Barack of Obama is human with mucus just like all the little people. lol.

I have exactly the same gut reaction to her that I have to Ted Kennedy - they both make me want to puke the same bile.

but she didn't even get teddy's endorsement therefore you have to like her more than Obama. I'm just saying.

I would absolutely say that McCain has demonstrably been an asshole. Demonstrably been a dickhead. Demonstrably been a prick. Are those not sexist?

Okay, I guess you made a point there but anyone can be an asshole regardless of their gender. I think that should become the official approved put down for all politicians regardless of gender. It's an equal opportunity insult.

_*_

Hillary the victim. One of the reasons she's in her position today.

This is the how the election is going to be handled folks. If Hillary is the nominee, anything against her is going to be "sexist". If Obama is the nominee anything against him will be "racist". Don't ya just love how democrats work?

If Hillary is the nominee, anything against her is going to be "sexist". If Obama is the nominee anything against him will be "racist".

No only sexist tihngs will be considered sexist and only racist things will be considered racist. I will also condemn the ageism, I've already seen against gramps oops...I mean John McCain.

Okay, Loca - would it be fair to say that Hillary's an asshole? 'cause I more than say the same thing about Obama AND McCain AND Romney AND Guiliani (when the last 2 were still effectively candidates). Does it make it any less accurate to say that Hillary's ALSO, deliberately gone out of her way to make sure that her gender IS an issue? So, since Hillary's been the biggest one to point out the fact that she's female (as if the rest of us are too stupid to notice that one little fact), is it unfair to use terms that describe her as such?

Like Daiwa, my ... animosity... towards Hillary isn't the fact that she's female (and in the vast majority of my commentary to friends/family on the subject, the fact that she's a woman doesn't even come up). My animosity stems from the facts that I abhor 95% of what she stands for and can barely tolerate the other 5% of her stances ... when I can pin down a particular stance on a specific topic. I'd say similar things about Senator Obama ... except he goes out of his way to NOT say what his plans are or even a good part of what he believes (outside of particular talking points).

I guess I better stop here before I need to start my own article on this ... Hmmm... that's a though.

So, since Hillary's been the biggest one to point out the fact that she's female

So what has she done that I missed. Does she walk into debates and say "I am woman!" I must have missed that.

Hillary and Obama are really not very far apart policy wise. He would push for a quicker withdrawal from Iraq and their health plans differ.

I don't recall Margaret Thatcher being referred to routinely as a bitch, nor Indira Ghandi, nor Golda Meir, nor German PM Merkel. They appear to have been fairly strong women.

They were not. They were women who made it on their own, and not because of their gender. Say what you will (and I know many will disagree with me, some even violently), but Hillary has only gotten where she is because of who she married, not what she did. Even today, the joke not mentioned here (but a popular forward on the internet) is she is just Monica Lewinsky's boyfriend's husband.

And there is a lot of truth to that.

You missed the reference. It was from A league of Their Own. Not a bad quote for the situation either.

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