sixty two ways, people

[keryx]

Last week I voted for Clinton. Which I did, honestly, because both she and Obama are decent candidates on many issues I care about, enough that they were essentially even in my mind. And she's female.

And someone turned her likeness into a nutcracker figurine. You know, her thighs crack nuts.
And people who don't like her often do so for the bumbling, inarticulate reason that "she's a cunt".
And every damned person in the country likes to call her by her first name and all the dudes by their last ones.
And because I live in the state of Virginia, and have never even voted in a county where a woman's name was on the ballot.
And because, when talking about her leadership ability, someone invariably brings up that she either does or does not "stand by her man" as they believe she should or shouldn't.
And because Shakesville can list 62 citations of sexist talk about Clinton in the last six months.

I understand not wanting a specific woman to be president because she has political views with which you disagree. But "BECAUSE SHE'S A CUNT"? Seriously? That's just stupid. I worry, given the overt and depressing sexism that people and the media are directing and targeting at Clinton that Obama, when he wins the Democrats' nomination, will face just the same thing - but less overt, cause I just don't see even conservative pundits getting by calling him a "porch monkey" the way they do with calling her a "she devil". Is this country backwards enough that we still can't really handle the concept of a woman (or a black man) in charge?

Some dude called my decision "sexist". Emotional, it may be. But sexism isn't just making choices based on gender, idiot: it's systematic. There are 86 women in the US Congress (out of the 425 total, in case that number isn't at the front of your mind). And 62 ways Clinton is a fulcrum for this country's sexism. Damn straight in an even-to-me contest, I'll pick the candidate who gets excoriated for looking like me.

And she has a fucking last name, okay?

Comments

[deeleigh.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thank you.

[fierceawakening.livejournal.com]

word

[divinerose.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Words right out of my own head.

I voted for Hillary Clinton as well.

[ivyblogs.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about everything except the last name thing. Her campaign has pushed that. Her buttons and signs and website masthead all say "Hilary for President". I'm pretty sure it's so you'll think about her and not the other Clinton, and also because the rethugs painted her as such a cold "she-devil" over the years that going by her first name makes her sound more like one of us regular people- especially if you're a woman.

I don't see how a woman choosing to vote for a woman can be construed as any more sexist as a man choosing to vote for a man.

[mermeydele.livejournal.com]

amen on that last sentence! i don't care what a campaign is saying or not, out of respect and tradition, the media need to address everyone the same way - and personally i prefer all last names than all first.

when i was discussing how to address people in student papers last week, i used the election as an example. i think i might have scared my students into obeying the last name only trope, i was so vehement about it. i hope.

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

YEAH!!!!

[firecat]

I didn't vote for Senator Clinton, but I totally agree with your rage at how the fact that she's running has made it fashionable to go around spouting the "cunt" word, etc.

[bookgrrrl.livejournal.com]

I did too.