Misogyny---Laura and Teresa (Great Article)

[cally]

How can anyone prefer Laura over Teresa? Only 1/3 have a favorable opinion of Teresa! We live in a strange country.


http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/041023_Misogyny.htm

By David Podvin

Three quarters of Americans surveyed say they admire Laura Bush, while only one third have a favorable view of Teresa Heinz Kerry. The result is unsurprising because this is a misogynistic country that insists its First Ladies must play the role of June Cleaver, dutifully frying bacon while tastefully adorned with a string of matching pearls. The American people also exalt mediocrity, hence Miss Laura is cherished for being uninspiring just as Bob Hope was revered for being unfunny.

As viewed by Middle America, Heinz Kerry suffers greatly on a comparative basis: Laura is ingratiatingly mundane, while Teresa is disturbingly brilliant. Laura is pleasingly subservient, while Teresa is annoyingly independent. Laura is obediently traditional, while Teresa is maddeningly nonconformist. And Laura cares about her own little world, whereas Teresa cares about the whole, wide world.

Most importantly, Laura Bush is so very non-threatening, unless like me you feel threatened by oppressive banality. Teresa, on the other hand, does not possess that Stepford wife sensibility; it is hard to envision her dissolving into tears because the soufflé fell. When people heckle Heinz Kerry, she does not gaze plaintively toward the Secret Service in one of those touching damsel-in-distress moments – instead, she heckles the hecklers back, and they are the ones who experience distress.

For all of these sins, Teresa Heinz Kerry is perceived by the average American as being an uppity cunt, which makes her my hero. Hillary Clinton was a superb First Lady because she caused conservatives incalculable grief, but I think this one has even greater potential. If her husband can make it into the White House, there is the very real possibility that the outspoken Teresa will soon fill the emergency rooms of American hospitals with right wingers suffering from debilitating anxiety attacks.

[KlatooBNikto]

1. The mindless AH's that inhabit Bush and Laura's world are

intimidated by a woman of strength and compassion that is well versed in five languages, world geography and history and is in touch with world events.It is her intellectual ability that frightens these neanderthals.

[flordehinojos]

2. Oh, how sweet it is.

Podvin writes, "Hillary Clinton was a superb First Lady because she caused conservatives incalculable grief, but I think this one has even greater potential. If her husband can make it into the White House, there is the very real possibility that the outspoken Teresa will soon fill the emergency rooms of American hospitals with right wingers suffering from debilitating anxiety attacks."


Oh, how sweet it is. Let's hope that the first to hit those emergency rooms from debilitating anxiety attacks will be Babs when her son is deposed, Poppy when he no longer has backdoor POWER of the white house, Jeb when despite all the shenanigans by his coons he cannot deliver the Florida votes to his brother the coward in chief.

[animuscitizen]

3. This isn't surprising...it is our sad, complicated reality

Despite the progression of women's rights in America, many Americans (including women) remain stuck in the idea that women should not be individuated. As the above commentary describes, thought remains dominated by the the idea that if a woman is expressive and individuated, she is a "bitch" and/or "annoying."

My two cents: In my work with battered women and men who are abusers (the extreme of misogyny), I often see that both the victim/woman and her abuser tend to be "traditionalist" about the home and the related prescribed feminine stereotypes. DV and misogynist perceptions of women could decrease, if more women consciously embraced individuation. This is easier said than done, as many women unknowingly and/or knowingly decide to be dependent upon men for financial and emotional security. Many women are conditioned in our families and society to be dependent and submissive. This issue crosses all socio-political backgrounds. I suspect that many people (men and women alike) believe that female individuation threatens the core of myths concerning "family unity" and "family values."

Thank you for highlighting this very important issue.

[Skittles]

6. good post

welcome to the DU, animuscitizen. :hi:

[newyawker99]

11. Hi animuscitizen!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dangerman]

4. When it comes to ladies...

I prefer gutsy strong first ladies like Hillary Clinton rather than brainless bitches like Witch Hazel Barbara and Stepford Laura Bush.

[Village Idiot]

5. I would rather see an "uppity cunt" as fist lady...

than the disturbed murderess currently playing the part.

[Snotcicles]

9. Good handle n/t

[Rainbowreflect]

7. So true! Teresa, you are my hero as well!

[Snotcicles]

8. I saw Teresa on C-span last night

She was in Pittsburg this week. It was the first event I have heard her speak at lenght about her views on this country, her opinion on her husbands plans, and why she thinks he would be a great President.
She kept my familys attention and the crowd she was addressings attention. I am very impressed with her knowledge, her world view, her gratitude and her love for our country.

This country would be blessed to have her for a First Lady.
I really think she could do more for our country if given the chance
than any other First Lady.

[CBHagman]

10. I hate the way the Washington Post...

...has been proclaiming that "everybody loves Laura Bush" but that Teresa Heinz Kerry is too "exotic" (read: foreign) for Americans. Maybe if the Post writers would get out of their little cliques long enough to mingle with the rest of us, they'd notice that the country is a nation of immigrants. Surely I'm not the only one who cherishes the memory of my immigrant grandmother, goes with tech problems to a foreign-born colleague, and buys the morning coffee and bagel at a shop run by immigrant staff.

Yes, there are Americans who are freaked out by outspoken women, immigrants, and noncomformity. I'd rather have an forthright Betty Ford or vibrant Hillary Clinton than a cowed Laura Bush or Pat Nixon. If that scares a few people, too Cheneying bad.