The Fear Of The Woman

[Hissyspit]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA081207.04H.womancomment_.233352c.html

Comment: Here's a slogan for 2008: The Fear of the Woman

Web Posted: 08/11/2007 12:01 PM CDT

Bill Wise
Special to the Express-News

It was predictable when the Pentagon attacked Sen. Hillary Clinton, warning her that "public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda."
Deeply embedded in America's history and consciousness is a fear of women leaders. (Remember Clinton's health care initiative in 1993?)

Mention Jane Fonda, Emma Goldman or Cindy Sheehan and you will be met with disgust. Say the names of Henry Kissinger, Lt. William Calley or John Foster Dulles and you will often hear praise or sympathy. Yet these men established the "Madman Theory of War," were responsible for the killing of of innocent people and implemented the Mutually Assured Destruction doctrine.

Politically and socially, double standards toward women and an internalization of fear of female leaders started hundreds of years ago when European patriarchs arrived in North America. They were horrified to find matriarchal societies in which women voted, labored in agriculture and practiced ownership. It was one of many reasons that the indigenous populations were conquered and either assimilated or completely destroyed.

Victoria Woodhull, for her "free thought" and support of women's suffrage, was known as "Wicked Woodhull" and was beaten and jailed. She ran for president from prison.

- snip -

In 1917, Alice Paul, who helped form the National Woman's Party, was detained in a psychopathic ward and denied legal counsel for disrupting congressional hearings (where women's suffrage had not been debated since 1877).

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Bill Wise of Alice has a master's in theology and bachelors in history and philosophy. He worked in a Guatemala refugee camp, helped rebuild the barrios in Panama after the U.S. invasion, was activated for the first Gulf War and has ministered to the urban poor and rural populations in the U.S. He currently teaches.

[Suich]

1. That's a good article

and I could not agree more!

Recommended

:)

[BlooInBloo]

2. She called us members of the party of slavery. Come ON!

EDIT: Thank god for Gob. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfHYKHes3xc

[ismnotwasm]

3. Interesting article.

I just finished an essay by a Aboriginal American Native (her term) who rejects the label feminist because in her view, the problem was white colonialism that subverted her culture. She knows that women in her particular ancient culture had equally respected places and roles as males. "I think we can safely say we want our sacred men back well without resorting to a gender hierarchy" she says. She feels that modern feminism was/is about white women subjugated by patriarchy. The essay details her journey from resentment of feminists, particularly Native feminists to what she calls "A Return to Reciprocity" (That's the name of the essay, the author is Lorraine F. Mayer, it's quite good)and acceptance, although she still rejects the feminist "label"

Why this article brings that essay to my mind, is that this "fear of women" (I might call it something else, more of a contempt) doesn't have to be. Why it is, as are all whys, are rooted in history and culture. It will take substantial activism and education to change something so ingrained and now fundamental. One of my fondest hopes-- a wish actually--- is to see this change in my lifetime.

[countmyvote4real]

4. Does that mean that my vote for DK can be for a woman? n/t

[marions ghost]

5. Hillary Clinton

will at least plant the idea that a woman could run for president as an equal.

But she is at a huge disadvantage because of the attitudes outlined in this article.

Hillary is being set up for the biggest swiftboating ever. Repigs are salivating over her candidacy. The media would love it.

First they'll tear her to shreds and if she survives, they'll make do and think they
can manipulate her a lot easier than an Edwards, Kucinich or Obama.

----------------

I wish I could say positive things about a woman candidate, but I think it's still a big disadvantage in such a macho patriarchal culture, especially after the brutal reign of the Bushites. ;(

[Katherine Brengle]

7. Hillary Clinton is no pushover.

I'm pretty sure she could survive anything short of a nuclear holocaust.

I don't always agree with her politically, but the woman is made of steel.

[marions ghost]

9. Oh Hillary's tough

--no question--but as tough as she is, she wouldn't easily overcome the forces against her. What I'm saying is, a lot of the drive behind the
general scorn and bashing of 'Hellary' comes from this persistent sexism as defined in the OP article. Never mind the other issues they will play up. A lot of it is just the blind urge to knock back any woman perceived as a feminazi, simply because she's assertive and successful.

The Repiglicans will use this widespread resistance to a woman leader to their great advantage.

Look at the Repug solicitation letter posted in GD. The threat of the androgenous Billary monster looms large and real. The attack dogs are in training as we speak. They're salivating at the gate.

I think we'd be wise not to underestimate the backlash of the neanderthals.

[Madspirit]

12. So...we're a backward rathole of a country...

"I wish I could say positive things about a woman candidate, but I think it's still a big disadvantage in such a macho patriarchal culture, especially after the brutal reign of the Bushites."

Britain, India, Israel, Pakistan, etc....all have had women leaders.. Maybe I should abandon this backward rathole of a country if what you say is true. Why the hell would I stay here?

Lee

[marions ghost]

18. well yeah it's gone backwards...

I mean this is the country that elevated Bu*h and cronies --& haven't they tried their best to turn this country into a backward rathole? :shrug:

So you think we're in a progressive country where women have an equal shot at high political office? How do you view the fact that of 100 Senators, 16 are women? And no woman has ever run for president before...

Yes I think that Hillary is at a huge disadvantage being a woman in this race. Especially a 'liberal' woman, which means she's Jane Fonda's demon cousin to conservatives. Behind a lot of the anti-Hillary junk is just raw sexism. She's certainly as qualified as anybody but it's an especially difficult time for a woman to run. A woman might have a better chance if we weren't in such a bad situation overall, where people perceive that we need a strong 'uniter.'

I don't know if it's fair to compare us with these other countries. I don't think they are so much more enlightened. These women you list are the exceptions. They were installed in office ONLY because men allowed them to be there. They had strings on them that a male leader does not. In America hopefully when a woman is finally president she will be elected in her own right. That will say more to me than the fact that 5% of the world's leaders are women.

Britain--Thatcher was so much like a conservative man that they couldn't tell the diff. India--Gandhi was a dynasty post like a princess (India not too progressive re women). Israel-- Golda Meir did attain office in her own right during a time of socialism after being a commune leader where she was expected to be an equal. I think it's fair to say Israel is ahead on that score (But she was called "Iron Woman" giving you some indication of how she was viewed). Pakistan--Bhutto was a legacy placement also and she found it very hard going politically, tho popular with the people.

Just saying I don't think we are SO far behind other countries in spite of their having allowed a woman to be top leader. I don't think it's the biggest indicator of our backwardness. I would sooner leave the country for other reasons--like if a Rethug is selected president again.

------------

Why would you stay here? Well...maybe to help change things?

[undeterred]

13. Men are scared.

[Madspirit]

14. I Kind of Find This Picture Offensive

...but I know that's probably irrelevant to you.

So just sayin'...

Lee

[undeterred]

15. I didn't create the picture

But I think it captures the fear men have of women in power quite perfectly. We are entering the last forbidden sanctuary.

When women started being ordained by protestant churches in the 50s and 60s there was a lot of fear and upset and nobody could really say why but it seemed like there was a fear that women would "pollute" some holy place they hadn't been allowed before.

Not the mens room. But the Oval Office. And not to give a blow job, or pick out the rug, or be First Lady, but to be Commander in Chief and President. Pretty Damn Scary.

[Madspirit]

17. Ahh...I see...n/t

[Bosso 63]

6. I have always thought that "republican logic" boils down to a

fear of women.

[Jade Fox]

8. The U.S. lags behind much of the world when it comes to women leaders...

as the below article points out.

Americans seem to have a unique form of Fear of Women With Power. While no supporter of HR Clinton, I'm amazed at the "terrifying, all-powerful, evil mommy" descriptions of her that shows up with regularity, even here at DU.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elayne-boosler/is-america-ready-for-a-w_b_40300.html

In 2007, a record 13 countries have currently serving, elected female Presidents or Prime Ministers; Ireland, New Zealand, Latvia, Finland, The Philippines, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Iberia, Chile, Jamaica, South Korea, Switzerland, and a Chancellor in Germany.......

[Madspirit]

16. ...and Pakistan

...and Americans would call a lot of these countries "backward"... :rofl:

WE are backward, war mongers and rat bastards.
Lee

[Hissyspit]

10. .

[Madspirit]

11. k&r...n/t