Who knew? This is really interesting. In a long piece at The Nation, Katha Pollitt, (who, I am both embarrassed (I didn't know her) and happy to announce, is a monster writer with extremely impressive credentials (Learning to Drive/ Random House 2007) and you should read her) tries to get at the unease that Obama seems to set off in some feminists. I'm not sure what the "momification of Michelle" has to do with Barack Obama, though. I'm guessing that nobody is telling Michelle Obama what she is going to do.
"For some women who care about women's equality, the jury is still out on Obama. They voted for him, but they don't trust him to do the right thing for women. Left feminists aren't impressed that he's nominating Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. Mainstream feminists like Salon's Rebecca Traister are disquieted by the "momification" of Michelle. No one has forgotten that Barack called a reporter "sweetie" months ago at a press conference."
The piece goes on to talk about the persistent nature of gender inequality. The parking attendant who makes more than the child care worker. The fact that marriage is still not very often a partnership of equals.
Hillary's candidacy fueled a longing in a LOT of women. FINALLY! We've got a leader who understands. Only it didn't happen. What Pollitt says is that Obama has to meet that longing that many women had, and make gender equality a cornerstone of his administration. Tax policy, Social Security, welfare reform, etc.
I had my eyes opened here. But an interesting question comes up for me. One of the realities of Obama's election was that there was much less gender and identity politics than usual. Identity politics has derailed the Dems for years now; the country looks at the Democratic party and decides that it only represents these specific groups, African-Americans, gays, women, poor people and you know the rest, the latte-sipping, Volvo driving, ya-da, ya-da, ya-da.
But this really is a legitimate question. And the further question is to what extent WILL gender equality be at the forefront in the Obama Administration? Michelle? What say you?
Read the whole piece here>>
Hi Richard,
ReplyDeleteI came upon katha pollitt’s book, Reasonable Creatures, a book of essays, about 10 years ago. She is a monster writer. I think it is reasonable to say that she put together the most impenetrable arguments for why women get the short end of the stick in the home and in the workplace, especially the home. As for obama; it seems to me that he is appointing woman all over the place right now, although maybe not enough, I don’t know. As for the momification of michelle; If people needed to perceive her as a “mom” to feel good about voting for her during the election who cares, right? Just like the flag pin business. Why is it that woman have to be just one or two things and not many things at once? After all she has achieved in the last 20 years of her life...not to mention being on the campaign trail for the last two years, it’s funny that women would see it as a feminist cave in for her to focusing on her kids for a while and make a viable transition for them. It’s kind of like real life.
laurie
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAgree with you on the Michelle thing. Why on earth would anyone make that a big deal? This is the part of politics that is creepy. People become inflexible, rigid and dogmatic.
Thanks for writing!