Damned If Feminine, Damned If Feminist (go back »)

 Satin Printed What role has sexism played in the race for the Democraticnomination? Hillary Clinton answered that seething question herselfin late May, telling the Washington Post that the press turned a blind eye to the “incredible vitriolthat has been engendered … by people who are nothing butmisogynists.” Her most avid supporters are clearly aggrievedby what they see as anti-woman sentiment in the media. Then there’s the pointless debate about what’s morepermissible, racism or sexism? How do we imagine, say, MichelleObama might answer that? She stands at the intersection of bothstreams of prejudice. These false oppositions — about whether the treatment ofClinton has been sexist, or if sexism is more acceptable thanracism — miss the point. So much is in flux in this campaign: who’s voting for whom(e.g., white women in Indiana for Clinton — and Obama), the heightened prominence of women and blacks ascandidates and voting blocs, and evolving standards for assessing candidates in acountry with a press still trapped in superficial“gotcha!” journalism. The news media — part of a larger industry that gives usno-nonsense women surgeons, police lieutenants and law partners inTV dramas on the one hand, and “The Bachelor” on theother — oscillates wildly between its commitment to equalityand its continued, though unconscious institutional sexism andracism. Women are held up simultaneously to feminist and femininestandards, and must fulfill both, but with a bias (still) towardthe feminine. The ideal seems to be the Steel Magnolia. Sen. Clinton has been treated like most male candidates, questionedabout her policies, attacked for gaffes and inflammatory remarks.Yet the press has also persisted — despite the countlesstimes feminists have denounced this routine — in emphasizingher physical appearance to an extent rarely done with malecandidates. The feminine-feminist schizophrenic playbook has also been closelyfollowed for two women who couldn’t be more different: CindyMcCain and Michelle Obama. In February, both commanded the national spotlight. On Feb. 21, asreported in the New York Daily News , a “slender” Cindy McCain, “the strikingblond” and “perky stay-at-home mom” “stoodby her man” to defend her husband against charges printed inthe New York Times that he had had an improper relationship with “an attractivefemale lobbyist.” Or, as the Washington Post stated, she stood by “her husband’s side, alljewel-toned clothing and icy blue eyes.” Yet in an April USA Today feature, we learned that this “elegant blonde in jewel-tonedsuits and a quadruple strand of pearls … travels to poorcountries on medical missions” and “chairs a huge beerdistribution company.” Say what? The same woman that CNN’s Carol Costello and various bloggershave ridiculed as a “Stepford wife,” has also been,since 2000, chairman of Hensley & Co., her father’s $300million Anheuser-Busch distribution company, and serves on theboards of three charitable organizations dedicated to children.Stay-at-home mom? USA Today also reported that when her husband’s campaign nearlycrashed, “She had a pretty strong hand in righting thecampaign.” So, Cindy McCain has been dismissed as a blondebimbo clotheshorse, and as the money and power behind herhusband’s success. That same week, Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of Newsweek in a simple, sleeveless, pale blue satin sheath, a string ofpearls, and a simple bouffant hair-do, immediately promptinganalogies to Jacqueline Kennedy. The headline read “He CallsHer His ‘Rock.’ ” Inside we learned she’s“steely.” In her account of her interview withMichelle, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien emphasized her“perfect make-up” and “fabulous patent-leatherboots.” Yet Mrs. Obama faces continuing denunciations for saying,“For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of mycountry.” Right-wing pundits consistently cast her asnegative, unpatriotic and as hating America. So, Mrs. Obama is astylish Benedict Arnold. The question isn’t whether the media have been sexist. Ofcourse they have. The issue for women — be they candidates orspouses — is how our culture’s ongoing and conflictedattitudes toward femininity (too much is too retro and weak) versusfeminism (too assertive and strident) leaves most public women noplace to stand. When race is thrown into the mix, however veiled, as it will bewith Mrs. Obama, we can only imagine what contortions she’llbe put through.