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Well this is cheery...
Despite a Century Of Women’s Rights Progress, Hillary Clinton Still Faces Outrageous Sexism
This is basically going through the whole last century recording progress for women.
Fear of a Female President
Hillary Clinton’s candidacy has provoked a wave of misogyny—one that may roil American life for years to come.
Thing that especially stood out for me (it seems we are right when we say 'Masculinity so fragile'):
To understand this reaction, start with what social psychologists call “precarious manhood” theory. The theory posits that while womanhood is typically viewed as natural and permanent, manhood must be “earned and maintained.” Because it is won, it can also be lost. Scholars at the University of South Florida and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reported that when asked how someone might lose his manhood, college students rattled off social failures like “losing a job.” When asked how someone might lose her womanhood, by contrast, they mostly came up with physical examples like “a sex-change operation” or “having a hysterectomy.”
This is basically going through the whole last century recording progress for women.
Fear of a Female President
Hillary Clinton’s candidacy has provoked a wave of misogyny—one that may roil American life for years to come.
Thing that especially stood out for me (it seems we are right when we say 'Masculinity so fragile'):
To understand this reaction, start with what social psychologists call “precarious manhood” theory. The theory posits that while womanhood is typically viewed as natural and permanent, manhood must be “earned and maintained.” Because it is won, it can also be lost. Scholars at the University of South Florida and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reported that when asked how someone might lose his manhood, college students rattled off social failures like “losing a job.” When asked how someone might lose her womanhood, by contrast, they mostly came up with physical examples like “a sex-change operation” or “having a hysterectomy.”
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Ah, but it's never been a factor before - she must have invented it, the way Obama invented racism... (I presume you've seen that story? y/y?)
I did read and excellent comment today noting that Hillary's approval rating as secretary of state was around 69% - but it dropped when she announced a run for presidency, ie, is stepping forward into the limelight rather than serving a man. (As women are "supposed" to do.)
This has been a consistent pattern in her career (and something she has commented upon). When she's *in* office she does very well when it comes to approval numbers, but when she runs she does very badly.
'Empty Places' is a very interesting one to bring up, thank you. and one side to this - esp. re. Hillary - is that we are used to seeing male leaders. And women necessarily do things differently, but it is difficult. Especially for the one that has to forge a brand-new path. Two articles from Vox which touch on this very well:
Understanding Hillary (Why the Clinton America sees isn’t the Clinton colleagues know)
Hillary Clinton’s feminism: a conversation with Rebecca Traister (The American presidency is coded male. Hillary Clinton is breaking that mold.)
You may have come across them before, but in case you haven't... Enjoy. :)