I think the difference between a man and a woman’s political candidature is absolutely ridiculous. There is such an unfounded scrutiny on any woman candidate as soon as she announces she’s running for something, focusing in particular on her family and her role in it. A man would never be considered less competitive politically because he has kids or grandkids, but when it’s a woman, the fact that she has kids is a significant factor in determining her credibility. Since women are traditionally thought of as the homemakers in a family, when in the public eye they usually have to ride a fine line in establishing their professional careers and being involved with their families. If they choose to focus on a career instead of starting a family, they can be considered cold and insensitive to family issues. If they choose to start a family over pursuing a career, then they are seen as succumbing to antiquated maternal archetypes, and as having no professional backbone. This detracts so much from the candidate’s message and policies, and is really detrimental to the effort to involve more women in politics.
Even though political women aren’t quite the anomaly that they used to be, we’re still used to all men up on the dais. Being men, I feel that most politicians are fairly distanced from women’s issues like the wage gap and abortion, which doesn’t make a lot of since. How can we determine policy for not only the careers, but the health and freedom of over half the population if it doesn’t even concern the only people with any political power? Personally, I’m pretty tired of watching crotchety old men debating over what women can do with their own careers, their own bodies, and their own lives— it only serves to establish a weird sense of ownership. I feel that with more women in the political sphere, these issues could be brought to light more so then they have been in the history of our political system.
In any democracy, diversity and equal representation are absolutely crucial. Underrepresentation of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, etc. only serve to perpetuate the monopolized political system we have today. We can’t implement effective or fair policy if those whom the policy affects have no say in it. The understanding and connection to these issues just isn’t present enough in the democracy we have now. Living under the beliefs and best interests of one type of person (i.e. stereotypical old white politician man), isn’t sustainable, fair, or even remotely sensible.
Even though political women aren’t quite the anomaly that they used to be, we’re still used to all men up on the dais. Being men, I feel that most politicians are fairly distanced from women’s issues like the wage gap and abortion, which doesn’t make a lot of since. How can we determine policy for not only the careers, but the health and freedom of over half the population if it doesn’t even concern the only people with any political power? Personally, I’m pretty tired of watching crotchety old men debating over what women can do with their own careers, their own bodies, and their own lives— it only serves to establish a weird sense of ownership. I feel that with more women in the political sphere, these issues could be brought to light more so then they have been in the history of our political system.
In any democracy, diversity and equal representation are absolutely crucial. Underrepresentation of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, etc. only serve to perpetuate the monopolized political system we have today. We can’t implement effective or fair policy if those whom the policy affects have no say in it. The understanding and connection to these issues just isn’t present enough in the democracy we have now. Living under the beliefs and best interests of one type of person (i.e. stereotypical old white politician man), isn’t sustainable, fair, or even remotely sensible.