There’s an absolutely brilliant article on newsweek.com entitled Obama: The First Woman President?. The article showcases a lot of the lessons learned in WST 100. Much of Barack Obama’s appeal is his break from the past – a sort of political modernity. The article posits that Obama is able to stray from prescribed gender norms (doing gender) and embrace stereotypical “female” gender characteristics. Because of this trait, people vote for Obama. Ironically, Hillary Clinton is almost forbidden to display “female” gender characteristics and just about required to assume predominantly male stereotypical qualities. You figuratively have the next Democratic candidate for the President of the United States jumping through the hoops of gender socialization backwards.
At first glance this article smacks of sexism. The author is restating the same stereotypes our class has gone over for the past several weeks. The author states “he is pushing against conventional…wisdom in five important ways, with approaches that are usually thought of as qualities and values that women bring to organizational life: a commitment to inclusiveness in problem solving, deep optimism, modesty about knowing all the answers, the courage to deliver uncomfortable news, not taking on all the work alone, and a willingness to air dirty linen.” This statement is clearly sexist. However, I do not think it is the author’s intention to advance sexism. I think the author is simply stating key components of gender socialization and how both candidates are stepping outside of stereotypical boundaries in ways never seen before in politics – especially during a Presidential election.
The other interesting point the author brings up is the gender double standard that Senator Clinton displays. We also discussed this topic in class imagining Senator Clinton in the back room smoking a cigar with the boys. The author states, “As a woman, Clinton feels constrained to portray herself as tough, competitive, willing to take on the bad guys. She has to be more male than men.” Overall, Clinton is not able to be herself, and Obama is free to embrace changes in attitude.
Last thing, the author of the article is Martin Linsky, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard University since 1982.
one point here – ‘doing gender’ does not, most emphatically, refer to only people conducting themselves in accord with gender norms or stereotypes.
also – the author’s reinscription of gendered norms is inversely sexist. its a subtle reading to understand the aggressiveness of this characterization, i am impressed by your acumen. but don’t dismiss your original thought on the basis that his inquiry warrants such a set of claims… remember, who is the audience here? perhaps if everyone could read between the lines like you have then we might excuse his culpability… my guess is the typical NEWSWEEK reader is not going to bring such a critical eye to the matter.
nice work… i enjoy reading your posts!