Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Maybe I'm being oversensitive, because, you know, I *am* a woman!

Let me start by saying I'm not much of a feminist. Don't get me wrong. I totally benefit from the hard work of my feminist foremothers and I know it. And hell yes, I believe women are as capable as men and should share all the rights, responsibilities and benefits afforded to me. But I'm not actively fighting the fight. And I'm not the type who's looking for slights around every corner.

Let me also say that I'm not an enormous Hillary Clinton fan. I think she is capable and qualified for her job and I'm glad she's doing it, but I'm not all rah-rah Hillary Clinton or anything like that. I supported Obama over Clinton in our last election. But you already know that.

I make these disclaimers so that it's perfectly clear that I wasn't looking for a fight when I innocently happened across this story today. But POW!!! My previously unknown pro-Hillary feminist hackles were raised in a big way when I saw this video clip.


Okay. MAYBE she could have reacted more diplomatically (being our head diplomat and all), but come on!!! Clinton didn't "misunderstand" the question. Sure, the question may have been mistranslated--or, as appears more likely--the student asking the question may have mispoken. But Clinton didn't MISUNDERSTAND it. And I've never heard a more clearly sexist question posed in public. Ever. So, I don't fault her for her testy reaction. Not one bit.

But the (female) news commentator pondering whether the cause of Clinton's outrage was jetlag, JEALOUSY, or (ACK) a bad hair day left me speechless.

Seriously?!? I'm glad the commentator's time ran out, or she very well might have gone on to speculate whether Clinton was grumpy because she was on the rag.

I feel so fortunate to have all the options that I have because better women than I fought the good fight and continue to do so. But, clearly, sexism lives on.

WOW!

3 comments:

libraryann said...

I'd comment but I'm having a completely rational response to the fit of my panties which are, in a word, bunched. I'll come back when I am less jet lagged and have had a chance to comb my hair.

GreatGoblin said...

excuse me for my sexist comment.. but librarians with their panties bunches is hawt.

she should have thrown a shoe

No One said...

The only thing that surprises me about this is that there isn't a Fox News logo at the top.

Yes. Given the way the question was asked, I completely understand Ms. Clinton's response.