It has been good to see how America for the first time came close to electing a woman for the presidential candidacy. I have been inspired, stimulated and impressed by Hillary Clintons hard fought campaign, in a mans dominated world. I am however sorry to see that she only came close. As Jim Wallis points out on his blog, the woman who were at the core of her campaign are left with some hard pills to swallow.
“Many of them feel she was treated badly by the press, with many instances of overtly sexist attitudes and commentaries that would never have been directed at another male candidate. I, for one, think they are right — there were many media comments about Senator Clinton that were sexist and that would never have been used against a man. Indeed, there are often regular comments in the media about women that would simply not be acceptable if similar things were said about men or even ethnic minorities. As a culture, sexist assumptions, attitudes, and language are still far too acceptable to us.”
There is no doubt that Clintons campaign has been important for woman in America, but woman all over the world will once again be inspired to fight against men in all spheres of power. This is not because its bad with men in power, but because there is a need for woman there as well.
Wallis points out that this is the case no matter what political stance one holds.
“But after her gracious and magnanimous speech endorsing Barack Obama this weekend, the tremendous and historical accomplishments of her presidential campaign are clear for all to see and celebrate. Regardless of whether everyone agrees with her positions on every issue or whether they liked all of her campaign tactics, a clear breakthrough for women in America has taken place. It will now be much more acceptable, possible, and “normal” for women to compete for every political office in the land, and that fact will open up even more doors for women in virtually every area of public life and leadership in this country. And for that, we all have a great deal to thank Hillary Clinton and her loyal supporters for. “
Marie Wilson, founder and president of the White House Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to advance women’s leadership, wrote this weekend in The Washington Post about
“this country’s next generation of female leaders — women of all ages and persuasions who have been searching for the means and encouragement to step into positions of leadership in their communities; women of all political affiliations who thank Hillary Clinton for making the impossible finally appear possible.”
Many moving things have been said about how so many little girls now believe that they can be anything they want to be because of Clinton’s impressive campaign.
But as Wallis points out this is a fact for boys too.
“My boys, like lots of little girls and boys, now believe that a woman running for president is normal, possible, and to be expected, as they do for an African-American candidate. Luke is looking forward to the day when a black woman will be able to run. “Wouldn’t that be cool, Dad?” he says. It surely would, and for that we have both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to thank.”
I will now move my support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, and wait for the day that the world and America is ready for a Woman as president.
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