Artifact 20 - Sexism in Politics: It’s the Same Old Story - Ms. Magazine

Throughout this course, we’ve discussed in depth the issues faced by Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin during their political campaigns, as it strongly demonstrates the organizational sexism of the American political system. Gendered Lives talks on page 199 of the comments thrown at Clinton, honing in on the idea that she wasn’t a “proper woman” while also being “too womanly for the presidency”—a classic double bind. These instances of rampant sexism, questions of basic competency, a focus on appearance—all of it and more came down upon Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential bid.

In order to be seen as something, anything worth considering a president, a woman has to be everything. Never make mistakes. Never say anything offensive, but never be too soft either. Be motherly, but not have any responsibilities to her family. Be perfect, no exceptions. I don’t believe I need to spell out how her opponent is none of these things either, but it clearly had no effect on him.

Women aren’t just denied power, nor do they fail to obtain or keep it, but instead we are definitionally barred from any power truly mattering or being truly ours. The entire gendered social fabric of traditional sexism rests upon the weakness of femininity, the inferiority, the lessening of it all. Should a women have true power, should she be imperfect yet strong, she displays a fundamental weakness of patriarchy: that its beliefs are not true. This is an existential horror to the American consciousness, which rests upon the tenants of patriarchy.

Our way forward is as clear as it is difficult: destroy sexism, demand respect, and define our own meaning. Harris fought for true political power, as did Clinton and Palin before her. These women are all flawed, yes, but the respect I have for each is immeasurable. They did their part in fighting the belief that women are powerless. It is up to us all, feminists of any type, to prove them right.