Lucia

de Vernai

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August 29, 2008

Hillary’s Discovery: No Country for Women Leaders

“No way, no how, no McCain!” When Hillary Clinton’s words met with applause and hollering during her Tuesday night speech to the Democratic National Convention, there was a proverbial sigh of relief – she is finally ready to accept the facts. “No hard feelings, Hil,” the crowd seem to say, “We still love you.”

Not as much as we love Barack Obama though – no yellow pantsuit can outshine the tall, dark and handsome. Even as Hillary’s shift of focus gave her supporters permission to finally close the chapter and focus on the good of the Democratic ticket, the storm of controversy over women in politics that came and went with the Clinton candidacy is far from over.

We have accepted all the “gender analysis,” choosing to believe that Democratic women moved away from Clinton and to Obama because of record, or experience, or the level of trust four-second sound bites can give us. Is that really what happened, or is it a part politically correct, part self-image-preserving attempt to ignore the nature of politics?

The system and game of politics are not set up for women. Women know this, and subconsciously or not, we comply. Yes, there are women in Congress and one holding on for dear life on the Supreme Court. Every election cycle you have to put in another token to shut us up, but when it comes to high stakes, we’ll incapacitate other women for free, often with pleasure, often without realizing it.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments about Obama’s physique as he spoke to a crowd of hundreds of thousands was not a gaffe. It was a lucid example of how no matter how powerful, no matter how intelligent, liberated and worldly, we are still happy to stoop to Sex and the City-level remarks to unearth what no power suit could hide: We are afraid of the consequences of power.

The way America (including its women) wants women involved in politics is blogging about Daddy’s campaign. Meghan McCain’s enlightening photographs of mom Cindy with a yorkie John cutting a fish fillet will make you believe in democracy all over again – or posing for gossip magazines that emphasize your love of a good bargain, not academic degree a la Michelle Obama.

Traditional roles for women are not disappearing as expectations of ambition and independence rise. Perhaps because we identify with the female politicians as women, not as leaders, all stumbles and mistakes seem to reflect on us. Why risk putting a woman in office if she can set us back simply by merit of her gender?

No, it is better to let Hillary play the supporting role she has perfected. Our own Icarus, we appreciate her fall more than how high she got to soar. But while Hillary was playing second fiddle, she learned not to identify with any event her gender or her politics may cause. She has learned that fighting the prejudices and sexism of which even many of her supporters are guilty is unbecoming for a powerful leader.

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