Families Are, Apparently, Strictly For Women
For some reason, it is always more newsworthy that women juggle family life despite the fact that male politicians have families, too.
In a profile of Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) The Washington Post’s Ben Pershing thought it was important to cite, several times, how Bono Mack manages running for office with her duties as the wife to a U.S. Senate candidate, a mother, and a grandmother. Her writes: “So how can she possibly divide her time so many ways?”
She does it the same way her husband does. The same way Hillary Clinton does. The same way Mitt Romney does. Being married to a working spouse while having children and grandchildren are things both genders do all the time.
Congresswoman Bono Mack makes the point herself when she says: “No member of Congress has a perfect life and gets to see their spouse all the time.” Exactly. This isn’t a new phenomenon; female elected officials juggle life just like men. Treating this work-life struggle as if it is unique to women is sexist and serves as a reminder that there are still stereotypes about who serves in office.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 05/09/2012