Get Back On the Horse. Unless You’re a Woman.
Name It. Change It. would like to thank our followers for bringing to our attention Dick Spotwood’s recent article in the Marin Independent Journal.
A couple of things stood out to us as problematic, including the following description of congressional candidate Stacey Lawson:
“She decided her first effort in public life would be a run for Congress…”
It’s really not that uncommon for first-time candidates to run for Congress. U.S. Senator John McCain R-Ariz., was a Navy Captain before he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-03) was an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagle shortly before his successful House bid in 2010. And we can list several former Governors who didn’t earn their chops in local office first: Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Ventura. Why it always the women who face additional scrutiny when they go directly for the big chair?
Then, there was this:
Lawson’s brief time on the public stage is probably finished. For Adams and Renee, it was a double whammy.
By our count, five of the seven did not advance to the runoff. Two men: Halliwell and Solomon. Three women: Adams, Renee, and Lawson. All five candidates lost, but their fates, according to Spotwood at least, seem to vary according to their gender. The guys get a pat on the back for running (Halliwell came in 6th but gets props for his frugality; Solomon missed the cutoff, but Spotwood says the money spent was still “worth it.”).
But as far as the women are concerned, well, their political careers are pretty much OVER.
“Lawson’s brief time on the public stage is probably finished.”
“[Adam’s] showing will encourage rivals when her third term expires in 2014.”
“[Renee’s showing is] a discouraging sign for someone trying to move up the political ladder.”
So when men run and lose, it’s “worth it.” When women run and lose, it’s “discouraging.” We’re reminded of the unfair criticism of U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, R-Conn., who lost in 2010, and is running again in 2012. As if a man has never lost an election and then gone on to succeed the next time around?
It’s worth noting that Presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost decisively to Senator McCain in the 2008 GOP Presidential primary. President Obama actually lost his primary the first time he ran for Congress in 2000. We wonder if Spotwood would have flagged either men’s careers as “probably finished.”
This kind of additional media scrutiny that women candidates face at every stage of their campaign is just part of the tableu of sexism that discourages women from running for office and prevents them from being successful when they do. When you see or hear things like this, please remember to report it to Name It. Change It.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 08/29/2012