The Political Female
I am interested in running for office. I have an affinity for organizing people and for making sure that everyone in a group is heard. I want to help. I am confident that I have all the skills necessary to be successful. I am a woman.
In the last election [2008], a woman with all the qualifications necessary required to be an effective President lost to a man with little experience. Granted, a fresh face in the White House is great, and I will admit, I too voted for President Obama. However, the event made me wonder: what will it take for a woman to win the presidency? If a woman with a résumé like Hilary Clinton couldn’t succeed, particularly running against a man with a short list of experience, will it ever be possible?
I became fascinated by this question. Further, I began to question the importance of traditional gender roles in elections. It seems this country happily elects “masculine” men. . For males, gender roles are linked to the presidency in the sense that traditional and recognizable are best. However, women seem to be struggling. Senator Hilary Clinton was criticized for her inability, in many ways, to balance the masculine and feminine gender roles. This paper explores the ways in which gender roles affected Senator Clinton’s pursuit of the White House, and the way in which these stereotyped ideals of what is masculine and what is feminine continue to impact the American political system.
Enjoy!
Kristen 🙂
Download: The Political Female
