Monday, February 20, 2012

Question of the Week: Why Haven't We Had a Female President?

So, today is Presidents' day. Cool, huh? Except, I find myself a little sad at the thought that we're not celebrating any women today - and when a number of other countries have had female prime ministers and presidents, I once again have to wonder why the US has never had so much as a female vice president - and I doubt we'll have one for some time, especially in light of how our most recent female options went down. And in light of the fact that over the past few years the number of women in congress has actually decreased.

So, what do you think is at play - why haven't we had a female president yet, and how long will it take?

2 comments:

  1. I was talking with someone about this recently, and they pointed out that in US politics, the only women who progress in their careers are the ones who are the most like the men, but most people don't want to vote for that type of a woman, so there's a stigma attached to political career women which prevents more women from making that their career, so since there's a tiny number of women that make up the pool of potential female presidents, the likelihood that any of them will make it further than the senate is that much lower. But don't worry - Hilary almost did it, our gender's day will come. Eventually. I think. Assuming the nation isn't as sexist as I think it isn't. [Dale's addendum: "and assuming that we continue having elections, preferably ones that aren't rigged."]

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  2. Barack Obama is the reason because he beat the only viable female candidate either party has put forward in Hilary Clinton (no offense, Michelle Bachmann and Elizabeth Dole). Someday that glass ceiling will shatter, but when it does, who will clean it up the mess it leaves on the floor?

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