Feminine Language in Politics
I don’t want to charge this blog up with politics, but a commentary piece I read over the weekend resonated with the single dad part of me. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman wrote about the language used by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, noting that “Obama co-opts female communication style”.
While Hillary talks tough and showcases her ability to get the job done, Obama speaks of the need for us to acknowledge differences then compromise and cooperate for the common good. His message is closer to the collaborative way women typically approach problems. For me as a single dad, this insight struck a chord.
Don’t get me wrong - I’m a big fan of powerful women, and want my daughter to feel empowered to make fulfilling life choices. I know full well that men can be nurturing and women can be tough, and gender doesn’t have to play a role. But I also see broad Mars/Venus differences between the sexes, not only in how men and women are prone to act, but also in societal expectations.
As a single dad, I spend a good deal of time cultivating “feminine” qualities. When I’m taking care of my kids, I’m caring, nurturing, accepting, showing a softer side. While many of my male friends exhibit some of these same qualities, for the most part they seem more comfortable letting their wives carry the bulk of those traits. Raising my kids alone (the half time they are with me), I don’t have that option.
I’ve been a Hillary Clinton supporter through the primaries, mainly because of her proven experience, but also because it’s about time we had a female President. More than that, my stance on a variety of issues is more aligned with hers than with the other candidates (as illustrated by several online quizzes like the one at Electoral Compass.)
But now Barack Obama is starting to appeal to me, at least in a broad sense. (The quizzes say he’s my second best choice.) I like that he’s a man who is comfortable showing feminine qualities. I can relate. And I know that doesn’t make him any less masculine than other men; it makes him more evolved.
Of course, the slogan recently coined for Hillary by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update - Bitch is the New Black! - strikes a chord, too. Maybe Hillary’s “male” style will be more accepted by the public.
All in all, it’s good seeing gender-role stereotypes questioned on such a big stage.
- DNC: Clinton Shines a Light (and gets funky)
- Will Ref For Gas
- Sexy Miley Cyrus Nude Vanity Fair Pics - She’s Younger Than My Daughter
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