Hillary won yesterday the Democratic vote in the New Hampshire primaries. This is not a post about politics but about the perception of women in politics and in business. Men have ruled business and politics for hundreds of years. Finally, we have seen an increase in women being involved in these two areas. As women, we always try to seem tough and equal to men. But the truth is that we are not men. There are mental, physical and emotional differences between the two sexes. So, how are women supposed to act when they are being compared to men constantly???
Hillary had an appearance of a tough woman. Some people could even call her a b&t$#. But while campaigning for the New Hampshire primary she got teary eyed when asked a question. I hadn’t seen the interview but my roommate stormed in and told me about it. She said that was bad for her because she appeared weak in front of the cameras. Yet, the contrary happened. Last night, while at a caucus party, I overheard a conversation (with only men involved) and they stated that by her crying she seemed more human and they liked that. Obviously, the results showed a similar opinion.
So my question is what is acceptable behavior in business and in politics? When is being tough too tough, and being soft too soft? Men don’t cry at the office. They are praised for being total a$$holes most of the time. They are seen as role models in fact for acting that way. So, what does it take? Because this is an issue that hits home. Being girly I have found out is frowned upon in business, yet being a conservative biatch takes you places. How is that right? What do you think?
PS. I read this great article by Brian Williams about Hillary and her win in N.H. If you have five minutes please read.
Discoveries 
January 9, 2008 at 6:30 pm
On that note, I read this today: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08steinem.html?em&ex=1200027600&en=5b91a543afd99fcb&ei=5087
January 9, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Wow…great article…I especially like this quote “and because there is still no “right” way to be a woman in public power without being considered a you-know-what.”
January 9, 2008 at 7:37 pm
It is a such a catch 22 for women, they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. I was surprised at the nation’s reaction of her public display of emotion, albeit pleasantly surprised. Interestingly my colleague just told me that Clinton, George H, George W. and Reagan all cried publicly while campaigning for president.
January 10, 2008 at 6:09 am
Observations:
(1) Who knows if the tears were real or not? I guess it wouldn’t be a big issue even if they were real: George Bush, in “Dead Certain,” the Bush biography, admits he cries a lot.
(2) The tears, like the Dean scream and Kerry’s incorrect ordering of cheese on a cheesesteak during the last campaign, illustrates what is known as the “agenda-setting” function of the mass media–that is, the media don’t tell us what to think, but what to think about. And instead of thinking about real issues–such as health care, Iraq, economic policy–we’re thinking about Hilary’s tears and what they mean. The media leads the public like rats to informational cheese.
(2) Steinem is full of it with this statement: “Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life, whether the question is who must be in the kitchen or who could be in the White House.”
I disagree. Disability is the most restrictive force. The unemployment rate for any serious disability is around 44 percent (and that includes men, women and people of all races); a significant chunk of the remainder is often underemployed, working in jobs far below their ability and for much less pay; not to mention the secondary psycho-social effects of disability–(such as depression, difficulty forming/maintaining relationships, and so on).
January 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I agree that disability is one of the most restrictive forces when it comes to employment but truly that is an issue out of scope. What I was trying to concentrate here on was not on Hillary’s tears or the media coverage of them, but on the difficulties women have in the work force.
I just feel like it is so hard to get it right. Maybe because I feel you have to continuously be acting so others take you seriously. If I laugh or a slight giggle comes out of my mouth, I get tagged with childish and immature and she is never going to get anywhere. If I am rude and I boss everyone around then I’m a b!t^& from hell. I know those are two extreme examples, but truly it is so hard to just get it right. Not to mention that if you are decent looking you continuously get harassed. Do you have to worry about those things??? I don’t think so…
January 10, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I’m not saying that some of the difficulties women face in career are not real–just that they are not the most restrictive in society. I cited stats. Case proven.
As for the difficulty in how to act as a woman in line with social expectations to get what you want out of your career–which I assume is more money and responsibility?)– the difficulty can be overcome. With good health you have the ability to self-create your future…am I wrong?