The Sex Speech: Should Barack give it?

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT op-ed: The Sex Speech
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: June 12, 2008

One of the missed opportunities of the primary season was that Hillary Clinton never gave a speech about gender comparable to Barack Obama’s speech about race. That was understandable: She didn’t want to be reduced to the “woman candidate.” But such a speech might have triggered a useful national conversation about women in leadership, and so, Mr. Obama, now it’s up to you: Why don’t you give that speech? I’m helpfully offering some talking points:

RACISM IS DEEPER, BUT SEXISM MAY BE WIDER IN AMERICA TODAY. In polls, more Americans say they would be willing to vote for a black candidate for president than for a female candidate, and sexist put-downs are heard more publicly than racial ones....

WE AREN'T ALWAYS AWARE OF OUR OWN BIASES....

A CONSERVATIVE MAY END UP AS THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT. The first Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, wasn’t “very Catholic.” In the same way, the first black president probably won’t be “very black,” either in complexion or in any personal history with the civil-rights struggle. And the first female president probably won’t be “very female,” in the sense of emerging from the women’s movement. Margaret Thatcher and Angela Merkel, both conservatives with no association with the women’s movement, offer hints of the kind of woman who may rise to the White House. Or consider the late Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman nominated for president at a major political party convention. She was a Republican....

WOMEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN POLITICS, BUT NOT A LARGE ONE. When women first received the right to vote in 1920, the assumption was that they would be a big help to Democrats, who had been more sympathetic to women’s suffrage. Instead, Republicans won the next three presidential elections. Today, the best guide to a senator’s voting behavior is his or her political party and home state, not his or her sex. Still, it has been disproportionately women in Congress who have championed issues like family planning and abortion rights, and they also seem modestly more attentive to concerns about gender discrimination. Less perspicaciously, women were crucial players in achieving Prohibition.

POLITICS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMEN. If Mr. Obama wants to show that gender issues are on his radar, he could embrace an issue that no president has ever shown interest in: maternal mortality, the orphan issue of global public health. It’s a disgrace that a woman dies in childbirth once every minute somewhere in the world....

That truly would be a noble legacy of this campaign debate about gender and politics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/opinion/12kristof.html?hp

[cbayer]

1. I think so.

I think some recognition of the latent sexism in this country, which became so much more apparent over the last six months, would go a long way with female voters.

The statement that racism is deeper but sexism is more widespread rings true for me. It is more subtle and more difficult to name. Obama's ability to speak eloquently on difficult issues is one of his strongest suits. I, for one, would like to hear him speak directly to this issue.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. I know a recent college graduate, a strong Obama supporter, for whom Hillary's campaign...

began to resound as it went on. Not that she would ever have wavered in supporting Obama, although she liked and admired Hillary. But she was just starting her career, and the coverage of Hillary's campaign began to raise her awareness of subtle, and not-so-subtle, sexism in her workplace.

She noticed, for example, that young men were assistants for a limited time before rising to another level, while women could remain assistants their entire career. She came to realize that male executives were uncomfortable with a male assistant outside their office beyond a certain age. This is an industry that's not exactly typical of the corporate world, but things were said in front of her: references to the appearance of other females, and even to their body parts. She could have spoken out, complained. But her career aim is high. She wouldn't dare do it.

My point is that I think there is a need for a renewed raising of awareness among all ages. Some older people never got the message in the first place. Gen Y thinks they don't need it, but the Gen Yer I know starting out on a career now knows that the problem of gender discrimination, while vastly diminished, is not yet solved.

[cbayer]

11. It's definitely more apparent as you rise through the ranks.

The women that succeed, IMO, do so by walking that very fine line between being too tough and too soft, retaining an air of femaleness while downplaying sexuality. The rules have been made by the men who have held the power for so long, and women entering the arena must play by those rules. It can be done, but it is not easy.

One of the most difficult things I learned was how to deal with the overt sexism. I was in the top leadership position of a overwhelmingly male association. At one board meeting, someone said something about going to a strip club after the meeting. I said, "Let's wait until Tuesday. That's the night I dance." I made my point with humor, they got it and there was a change in the atmosphere.

I agree that women and men of all ages could benefit from some frank discussion on this topic.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. That stripper comeback was GOOD, cbayer! And the comment responded to...

was exactly the sort of thing I think this girl hears. Sometimes, it will be followed by, "Oh, I'm sorry," which somehow ticks her off even more.

[cbayer]

19. I don't know why it should tick her off.

It's empowering to be able to make your point and end the discussion at the same time. An "Oh, I'm sorry" is icing on the cake. If she does not have any female mentors in higher positions, she should seek them out. They can be invaluable. Give her encouragement from me!

[DeepModem Mom]

20. They say they're sorry before she says anything. I don't know why...

that irks her. That's a really good idea to seek out other women in her industry -- and I'll pass on your encouragement, and your great stripper comment. Thank you!!!

[cbayer]

21. One last comment.

I think it is very interesting that the bulk of replies to your OP are jokes, dismissals or vehement "no's". I am not drawing any specific conclusions from that other than this topic appears to make some people uncomfortable.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. I noticed.

:)

[JoFerret]

27. It's there (the sexism and discrimination)

There will be a third wave. Who knows what form it will take. Or when it will be.

[SwampG8r]

2. no

barry white should
chicks love some barry white

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. What? No Tim Meadows?

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Too bad he's dead.

[SwampG8r]

8. omg ...when?

oh man now im gonna have to break this to mrs swampg8r

[Connie_Corleone]

9. July, 4th 2003

[SwampG8r]

12. thats why the thunder has been louder

these last years

[YOY]

16. Isaac Hayes will have to do.

n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

3. Nope

From Polling Report as of last week:

Which of the follwing issues will be MOST important to you when you decide how to vote for President?

Economy -- 42%
War in Iraq -- 24%
Health Care -- 12%
Terrorism -- 11%
Illegal Immigration -- 8%
Other -- 1%
Unsure -- 1%

The primaries are over. Obama has to be about addressing the issues upon which people will pick their next President, not those upon which the people will pick their next Democratic Nominee. That battle is over -- now to get on with the war.

[cbayer]

13. Although it may not be on the top ten list of important issues,

there is an opportunity here to set the tone both for his campaign and for the country. Racism is not on that list either, but Obama was able to profoundly address the issue to the benefit of both his campaign and the country.

Whether some are able to acknowledge it or not, sexism is an ongoing issue in this country and it has been brought out of the shadows over the last six months. He has the power and the opportunity to lay the groundwork that would help us move in a new direction.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

17. He can "set the tone" for the country after he's elected

If he doesn't win the election, it really won't matter one way or another. I don't see Obama getting a significantly larger percentage of the women's vote from a single speech -- and what it will do is take the campaign's focus off those issues that will determine who the voters (including women) vote for on November 4th. And it will provide an opportunity for the MSM to babble about Obama's being "weak" with women voters and pandering to their demands.

Nope. It's a bad move.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Obama does value women. Look at his mother, wife and children and how values them.

I have no doubt a President Obama would be good for women, here and around the world.

[SwampG8r]

10. i hope not

it was bad enough when my mom gave me one i dont need one from some guy i havent met yet

[BeyondGeography]

15. A positively awful idea and, thankfully, Obama will never do this

It's basically an identity play; the kind of politics Obama despises. Without the endless Rev. Wright video loop, we'd still be waiting to hear his speech on race. That worked out for the best, because he's actually black and is uniquely qualified to give that speech. A speech on sexism just wouldn't resonate and would come off as an insincere pander-fest.

[loyalsister]

18. No

It should come from someone who has experienced sexism.

[pollo poco]

23. I'm glad Obama has daughters

I believe he cares about women.

He connects the dots and takes a broad view of civil rights, seeking to include, rather than to marginalize.

I want to live in a society where everyone's rights are of equal concern. If BO can reach out to evangelicals, why not to women?


"RACISM IS DEEPER, BUT SEXISM MAY BE WIDER IN AMERICA TODAY. In polls, more Americans say they would be willing to vote for a black candidate for president than for a female candidate, and sexist put-downs are heard more publicly than racial ones...."


The media is mistreating his wife right now. Because of the relative tolerance for sexism, she makes a better target.

Thus, sexism directly affects the campaign of Barack Obama. And the hopes and dreams of all of us here.

That is why we should not tolerate sexism in the MSM or the progressive blogosphere. Either we are arguing the case for equal rights, or we are arguing against them. The arguments opposing racism and sexism are the same. The arguments upholding them support each other just as well. It is logically impossible to justify sexism without aiding the racists' cause.

So, why else would such a speech from BO be a good idea?

1) reject the republican "divide & conquer" wedge between people who could be standing together against racism and sexism

2) make the world a more just place for himself, his wife and daughters

3) signal real change by taking on another elephant in our collective living room. He is so good at that!

4) energize, empower and win the hearts of women who will loyally support him ever after

5) fight racism by showing zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind

6) achieve the social, economic and cultural benefits that come from a society that engages and empowers all its members


So, I would love to hear such a speech.

[DeepModem Mom]

24. An excellent post -- thank you! And I hadn't thought of the slime aimed at Michelle...

in the context of sexism. You are exactly right.

And the points you made about zero tolerance for discrimination of both kinds are so important. They were made in a number of editorial pieces I posted when the primary ended, as well as by Hillary herself in her endorsement speech, and by Barack in giving a nod to her for changing the world for his daughters. These issues should unite our party, not divide it.

[cbayer]

25. Wow, I am humbled by your response.

Really, really good.

[JoFerret]

26. No

He might want to take a stab at getting his head around generational issues though.