While the media's ageism and sexism is often used to discredit young voters (despite the fact that millennials may be more engaged and knowledgeable about political and economic issues than previous generations) the issue I find this election cycle is that it is being tactfully used in a campaign that is supposedly based on empowering women.
Here are a few of the articles I have seen circulating throughout my social media.
Why Young Women Aren’t for Hillary ... Yet
Why the female generational divide for Hillary Clinton?
Why Sexism at the Office Makes Women Love Hillary Clinton
Who is Henry Kissinger?Some are unabashed Hillary propaganda, some are more traditional "news" reports that spurn young voters' reasons for voting. The same ideas are repeated: young, millennial women don't understand the battles that Clinton and her female peers have fought for equality. We are not supporting a female candidate because she is female. We think gender equality has been reached. We haven't run into any sexism yet...but oh, sweetie, once we grow up we'll see that it's still there after all. We don't understand what the ramifications of having unequal pay are. We take our rights of birth control and abortion for granted. We are ignorant about American history and foreign policy because we weren't alive during much of it.
These accusations reduce an entire generation to a handful of stereotypes, underestimating our abilities to think critically, do research, and learn from not only our peers but those who have come before us. To me, this aspect of Hillary's campaign is seeking to undermine and disenfranchise young female Sanders supporters in the name of feminism.
To the claims that say that I am not supporting women or feminism by not voting Hillary --
First, I'd ask for you to take a look at my track record on supporting women's rights, which extends well beyond the political sphere. Feminism manifests itself in many ways: it's in fundraising for Planned Parenthood, and volunteering at women's shelters, and donating sanitary products to organizations for homeless women, and working for an organization that empowers young women all over the world. I will not allow my feminist credential to be determined by a vote for a female candidate.
Furthermore, let's not pretend that Hillary is a saintly defender of women's rights. I acknowledge she helped to break down gender barriers, and I applaud her for that and appreciate the benefits that generations after her now reap. But at the same time, Clinton covered up three separate cases of her husband's sexual abuse: Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, and Paula Jones, the last settling for $850k outside of court to silence Jones. And to me, her demonization of Monica Lewinsky -- even going so far as to call her a "narcissistic loony toon" -- shows that she has no compassion for victim's rights when it is against her interest.
Madeleine Albright and Gloria Steinem's comments in support of Clinton's campaign (I'm sure you know the ones I'm talking about) continue to reiterate the harmful ideas that young women don't know what they're doing. Hearing those comments for the first time, I was saddened, then disappointed...then pissed.
Before you say it, I understand that Albright's phrase about there being a "special place in hell for women who don't support women" has been used by her for decades. But in using it in this context, I believe the intent was clear: Vote Clinton, or you don't support women.
Since when is it "supporting other women" to discredit any reasons they have for not voting for Clinton? (Unsurprisingly, I find the implication that I choose my candidates based on "where the boys are" unbelievably disrespectful). I recognize that the accomplishments of these older feminists have helped give us young women some of the tools to think critically about the world around us. But somehow the minute our critical thoughts don't align with theirs, we are suddenly ignorant, superficial, and a betrayal to our gender. That doesn't sit well with me.
Furthermore, if we trace back the usage of Albright's phrase to 2008 when Sarah Palin was a candidate for the Vice Presidency and used Albright's quote during a rally, Albright responded: “Though I am flattered that Governor Palin has chosen to cite me as a source of wisdom, what I said had nothing to do with politics...this campaign is not about gender, it is about which candidate has an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans, including women."
I find it concerning that while Albright considers the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008 to not be about gender, 2016's campaign is. I find it concerning that apparently we shouldn't help other women when they disagree with us politically. I find it concerning that though she claimed that this phrase is apolitical, she chose 8 years later to use it at a political campaign supporting a political candidate. And lastly, I find it concerning that this quote is being used in reference to Clinton, who in my opinion absolutely did not support other women, from Monica Lewinsky to the three separate victims of her husband's alleged sexual assault. If this place in hell is true, Clinton may very well wind up there.
Finally, I would like to point out that when it comes to a track record on voting for women's rights, Planned Parenthood rated both Sanders and Clinton at 100%. (Yet PP decided -- without polling any of their members, of which I am one -- to endorse Clinton. Let's also ignore the fact that Clinton hired PP president Cecile Richards' daughter to work on her campaign). A vote for Sanders is not exactly a vote against equality.
To the claims that I don't adequately understand the challenges that have been knocked down for me --
I do appreciate the accomplishments of older feminists before me, and I recognize all of the progress they have made in beginning to raise the glass ceiling and close the wage gap, among other issues. But it’s possible to recognize and appreciate these accomplishments while also realizing that we need to do more, and that our fight is more complex than ever.
What it comes down to is that the issues that we face are no longer divided solely by gender. The issues of most concern are intersectional. It's not just about making sure women are equally represented in different areas of civil society. It's also about racial and economic justice: in the streets, in the workplace, and in the courts; the right to an education that doesn't require crippling debt; ensuring that women (and men) have full autonomy of their bodies and their choices; looking critically at foreign policy to consider the future of our collective, globalized world; and working to address climate change, recognizing that those most affected by environmental and natural disasters are often those who are already socioeconomically disadvantaged. And of course, these issues are just the tip of the (melting) iceberg.
To the claims that I have not experienced sexism, and that is why I do not support Clinton --
I wish I could say this is true. Unfortunately, and I am certain that my young female peers agree, sexism doesn't only begin when you start trying to get promoted at work. Sexism is systematic, and begins early on. When I was accused of cheating on a 6th grade math test because I had done better than the teacher expected. When I noticed that my 8th grade science teacher only called on guys, and I stopped raising my hand. When my 11th grade pre-calc teacher told me that I should really consider art school instead of studying politics or economics, because those subjects would be too difficult for me. When I am consistently talked over or belittled at dinners with extended family because I "don't know what I'm talking about." I understand that it's not totally the same as being passed over for a promotion, or being talked over in a meeting, or getting hit on by your boss. But to make the claim that young women don't know what sexism is isn't doing anybody any favors.
I don't think there's anyone our age who truly believes sexism is over. We've heard stories from our mothers, read books from role models like Sheryl Sandberg and Tina Fey on how to combat sexism, experienced aggressive TAs and leering professors. We know that these issues persist, and we want to change them.
Finally, to address the rather specific claims that young millennial women have grown up entitled to birth control and abortion -- have you not checked out the news recently? From Hobby Lobby to Texas Senate Bill 5, access to these health care products is slowly slipping from our grasp. (To watch: on March 2nd this abortion case will be brought to the SCOTUS). These rights are far from solidified, and we are not complacent.
To the older women telling me that "it's about time" for a female president --
Totally agree! But I'd still like it to be a president with an ideology I follow and position on issues that I support. I don't think those are unreasonable things to consider when deciding who to support. Do we, as a nation, really want to elect our leaders just because they have hung around the political sphere for decades, bided their time and now feel its their turn at the helm? Or do we want to elect our leaders based on their ideologies and track record of past policies?
To conclude --
Facing challenges of ageism and sexism is nothing new for millennial women, but it gets pretty old when nearly every news source is attempting to discredit and undermine their completely valid reasoning and positions. And it's disheartening to feel like you need to defend yourself against older feminists, ones that you once looked up to and admired. With the nonstop media coverage of this election cycle, the democratic split between Clinton and Sanders, and the generational gap in Clinton supporters, I'm feeling constantly bombarded by accusations and assumptions about my demographic.
I'm very lucky to be educated, to come from a family that supports me and my rights, and encourages me to think critically and to ask questions. Most importantly, though, the people I am surrounded by trust that my decision-making skills are valid and support my choices. If it weren't for these ideas being consistently reinforced to me, it would be very easy to slip into the media's narrative that I am limited in my critical thoughts because of my age and that my decisions are somehow of lesser value than other generations'.
If Clinton wins the nomination, I’ll still vote for her. I’d
take a candidate that still supports my right to choose over any one of the
Republican candidates. But – and I’m fairly confident this goes for most Bernie
supporters my age – I will feel spurned from the political system of which I am
supposedly a part. The media is alienating millennials with every article claiming we
don’t know what we’re doing. What happens when this campaign is over? In my
opinion, mass apathy or mass anger among youth: both equally dangerous.
No comments:
Post a Comment