Dear Editor,
India did it years ago, as did Israel, Great Britain, Canada and the Philippines. So did Ireland, Germany, Sri Lanka, Chile, Liberia and Brazil. Even Pakistan, where women in some regions are forbidden to leave their homes without a male escort, is among over 50 countries that have put women in positions of real political power.
While women in the United States have knocked loudly on the door of the presidency, they have been left time and again standing at the threshold of a door that is only slightly ajar, unable to open it any further. Why is it that this country lags behind so many others? Is it true that “Only men need apply?” to the Oval Office?
Hillary Clinton made a strong presidential run and Sarah Palin skyrocketed into the spotlight as a candidate for Vice President. So why haven’t we yet elected a female President? What couldn’t these two women overcome to achieve gender equality within our political structure? Why are women not seen as viable candidates for head of state?
Is it conscious or unconscious sexism? On some level, do we still suffer from the notion that women are not as good as men?
Are we hindered by our unique presidential system? Because the role of President of the United States is so powerful, do we perceive women as not having backbone enough to serve as commander in chief of a superpower? Does the “masculine mystique” hurt female candidates?
Does the United States have a lack of women in the political pipeline?
Does the media ignore female candidates’ positions or focus only on their personalities or appearance? Do they distort or trivialize her words? Or paint them in stereotypical ways, thereby amplifying the impression that women do not belong in the political sphere, which then minimizes the potential effects of women as role models?
Is the media simply a reflection of our political culture and traditions? Is our political culture gendered?
Finally, are we ready to elect a woman for President? Do people who say they are willing to support a woman for President actually vote that way? If not, why not?
On April 23, SUNY Broome Community College will welcome filmmaker Heather Arnet for a screening and discussion of her documentary “Madame Presidenta: Why Not U.S.?” The film chronicles the election of the first female President of Brazil and asks “Why not a woman president of the United States?”
The goal of the film, according to Arnet was not to point out how America has not succeeded in electing a woman president. Her aim, as her grandmother pointedly says in the film, was to figure out “How the hell did other countries do that?”
This free community event will be held in the Decker Health Sciences Building from 6 to 9 p.m. and promises to be a thought-provoking prelude to the 2016 presidential elections in the U.S.
Sincerely,
Diane Lechner
Tioga County Democratic Party President
Margherita Rossi
SUNY Broome Community College Professor
Member of Democratic Women of Broome County
