Misogyny Is A Psychiatric Illness

Living History

It Takes a Village, Tenth Anniversary Edition

Misogyny Is Alive and But Never Well and Breeds Sexism and Racism In The American Political Arena!

Gender and race in Politics: Is it real? Is it important?

Is it a distraction? Is it a way to divide and separate
people from important discourse and meaningful discussion?

Or when someone blurts out a statement that is innocent
enough, and then is twisted and pigeon-holed into race and gender
stereotypes , I have to wonder--are these statements
bringing controversies out of the proverbial closet and making
people look carefully at themselves?

Or instead of looking at themselves, allow buttons to be
pushed, become angry and take to making self-righteous commentary,
as Keith Olbermann did the other night on Countdown in response to
Geraldine Farraro's remarks that started by saying that if her name
was Gerald instead of Geraldine, she never would have been chosen to
be Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1980's.

Why does Keith Olbermann, who denies making an endorsement
of either candidate, seem to be endorsing Barak Obama?

Olbermann didn't make a commentary when a woman on Obama's
campaign staff called Hillary a monster.

And why? Because he wasn't angry enough. He is siding with
the obvious media favoring of Barak over Hillary.

I was also guilty of not liking Hillary.

Again, this dislike was key for me to look more deeply
into who I am as a woman.

Why wouldn't I support a thoroughly capable, brilliant and
experienced woman to be our next President?

She's a woman with years and years of political experience
that spans prior to her marriage to Bill Clinton.

Is the reason I wouldn't support her BECAUSE she is
thoroughly capable and brilliant, and I am afraid I am not?

When I disliked Hillary, I projected these insecurities on
to her.

Now that I love Hillary, I project my own capabilities and
brilliance outside of my self, to her.

Funny how love works.

Frank Marafiote, in the Hillary Clinton Quarterly, wrote a
great piece called: "Women Who Hate Hillary Clinton."

Marafiote says that professional women hate Hillary
because no matter what they've accomplished, Hillary is smarter, has earned more,
and has "mashed more men" than they have.

Professional women feel that their accomplishments pale
beside the likes of Mrs. Clinton.

Marafiote says that feminists hate Hillary because she is
living proof that for women to get ahead in the world, they must
subjugate themselves to the white male power structure, use their married name,
change their hair, clothes and values to make it in a male dominated world.

Why do country club Republican wives hate Hillary?

According to Marafiote, these are the women with expensive
degrees from Vassar, Smith, Mount Hilyoke and Wellesley who for years coasted
on their inheritance or the support from their wealthy husbands.

And who are the people who love Hillary?

White, middle aged, middle class men. These men love
Hillary's competence, as compared to the incompetence that surrounds
them and all of us in the work place all day long.

Hillary's the one they thought they married 20 years ago.

And she's far less threatening than their own wives who
are statistically more than likely to leave with their children, their homes
and their bank accounts.

So why do I love Hillary?

Because she is gutzy, beautiful, brilliant and resilient.

She brought out these qualities out for all women, and continues to do so as our Secretary Of State!

Kate Loving Shenk

A Woman in Charge:
The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton
(Vintage)