http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz5uGQZWeiM&feature=related
This video clip is when John McCain announces his running mate, Sarah Palin. If they would have won she would be the first woman vice president our nation would ever see. Historically, politics has not made much room for women. Senator Hillary Clinton is the closest any woman has ever come to being president of the United States. As we have seen with Obama, politics not only excludes women but the majority of politicians are white males. Very slowly the process has begun that has included more races and more women in the political arena. I found it interesting that during the campaign Sarah Palin was made fun of many times for having womanly characteristics or talking about her motherhood and how that has changed her life. As many have seen on shows such as SNL, Sarah Palin was depicted as a small town hockey mom that had no experience and no business running for vice president. As much as it is quite possible that she doesn't have enough experience I feel that many people assumed this even more so because she is a woman. It is rare to hear that a man has no business running for office or going to Washington. Women are viewed as incapable of holding power and being leaders, mostly in a world where men typically take power.
I think it is going to happen soon that we actually have a woman run and win the office of either vice president or president. Our country is going through a big change when it comes to gender roles, and politics is one field yet to be completely changed. I think it is even possible to have a woman run for president in the next election but whether or not she wins is something only time will tell!
2 comments:
I agree that women are not deemed as capable as men to run in politics, especially for such an auspicious role as Vice President. However, I think the backlash against her was more for her personality rather than political gumption and savvy. She used her role as hockey mom to play up her good-ole’ American values and also to have others think she is the same as them, an average mom. In many ways, her placement of herself went against many ideals women set for her since she was ridiculed for her ineptitude and lack of intellect. I believe if women are to become Vice President or President they need to prove themselves in political situations instead of relying on good ole’ mom act.
It was a big deal in the US when Hilary Clinton was running for president and again whe Sarah Palin was running for Vice President, just because they were women. But there are other countries who have had women leaders running a country and the US still hasn't had one yet? I wonder what would happen if we have a female leader soon.
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