I came across this clip from the Daily Show and I think it shows the shear and even comical difference in criticism that female politicians, specifically those running for president and male politicians face. While it's important to keep in mind that both Trump is anomaly of a President and certain news sites are particularly harsh on Democratic candidates, I believe this video raises an important question of how much does sexism contribute to this difference in treatment?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4fjp7wlBwc/?igshid=13y48lsbc9slp
The difference in the media and the public's treatment of Warren and Trump's healthcare plan also reminds me of the different ways in which male and female politicians' personal lives are understood. In late October, California Congresswoman Katie Hill resigned after allegations that she had two separate consensual sexual relationships with staff members. As we know from information that has surfaced over the course of Trump's campaign and presidency, he has engaged in several instances of sexual misconduct, which can and have been proved.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Hill resign and Trump did not? Does this have something to do with the public's perception of male versus female sexuality? Were the cases portrayed differently by the media? Or perhaps, did Hill simply feel more responsible to her constituents and felt that her actions violated the professionalism expected of her as a representative of those constituents? It could perhaps be argued that the outrage over Hill's affairs had something to do with the American public's socialized expectation of women a sexually passive and thus Hill's actions as the older, more powerful person in the relationships was uncomfortable because it transgressed sexual norms.
Personally, I'm really not sure how I feel about this. CERTAINLY, what Hill did was unethical and there was likely an unequal balance of power between her and her partners that cannot be overlooked, and I am in no way defending her actions. However, it's definitely worth thinking about the gendered nature of Hill's situation. Just check out this article about Hill's resignation which asks: "Would she have stepped down if she were a man?"
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/28/katie-hill-photos-congress-resigns-revenge-porn-husband-kenny-heslep/2486073001/
Erin, I also found the case of Kate Hill very interesting, and I very much agree with you. Contextualizing Hill's case, here's a Guardian article on how the political world use sexual rhetorics to degrade women in power.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/02/katie-hill-resignation-women-politics-sexuality
I was reminded that in 1999, at Bill Clinton's impeachment hearing, Newt Gingrich did resign over having an extramarital affair while in office. But his action did not convince Clinton to resign nor did it succeed in setting a precedent.
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