Are You Man Enough?

We live in a gendered hierarchy in which females are marginalized at every level in society. This is true at both a national and international level. Gender norms are a social construct, and the varying media coverage of female political candidates compared to their male counterparts provides us with clear examples of how the media reproduces the status quo. Feminist theory is an emancipatory theory in the way that it seeks to find truth and highlight the disparities between the sexes. Truth and discourse are key components needed for positive change.  

The media discourse on female politicians has focused disproportionately on their physical appearance, family life and personality traits. A study conducted by Erika Falk on the press coverage of eight presidential campaigns found that female candidates were more than three times as likely as men to have their physical appearance mentioned. The president of the National Organization for Women, Terry O’Neill, claims that the close scrutiny of a woman’s appearance sends the message “don’t you dare step into the public sphere, we will savage you for what you look like’. This exerts social pressure for women to adhere to their traditional, domestic role or face harsh scrutiny for deviating from them. As Hillary Clinton paraphrased recently from Eleanor Roosevelt, young women in politics must ‘grow skin like a rhinoceros’.

Media coverage of Hilary Clinton becoming a grandmother has sparked debate over the different expectations still dominant today of a woman’s place in the family structure. Politico ran a story (which they later changed due to public outcry) questioning whether Hilary would still run for presidency in 2016 because “why beg donors for money at dozens of events when there’s a happy baby to spend time with in New York?” Mitt Romney had 18 grandchildren, and George H.W. Bush was a grandfather during his time in office, but neither received the same sort of speculative press. As Clinton stated earlier this month “the double standard is alive and well’.

Mitt Romney and his large family

According to Jacqui True, ideas and concepts such as ‘autonomy, sovereignty, the capacity for reason and objectivity and universalism’ are associated with the hegemonic western notion of masculinity.  Femininity on the contrary is associated with the absence or shortage of these characteristics.

Feminist critique of Realism highlights how by dividing male and female traits into two, mostly opposing categories, the result is a maintained divide between females and the state. This is because, according to Sylvester 1990, the ‘analogy that rationality is equated with men’s behaviour’ implies that, in Realist terms, the ‘state as a rational actor bears a male-masculine identity’ that excludes women and femininity. This distances what is considered stereotypical ‘feminine’ characteristics from that which is expected of a leader of a state.  

A consequence of differentiating between masculine and feminine characteristics was highlighted in the Bill O’Reilly video shown below, with speculation that Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Iraq war so as to give the impression of having the masculine qualities of being a ‘tough leader’.

   

This interview highlights some of the mainstream media unashamedly focusing on the perceived differences between males and females, and consequently their capabilities.

There has never been a female United Nations Security General, which highlights concern over how armed conflict is predominantly associated with masculine characteristics. McGlen and Sarkees found in their study of defence establishments and foreign policy, ‘women are rarely insiders of the actual institutions that make and implement foreign policy and conduct war’. It is true that women are more likely to oppose military force and support humanitarian intervention, but the lean towards more peaceful means should not be dismissed with gendered connotations focusing on a socially constructed feminine weakness, but should be embraced for what it is, an alternative approach to conflict resolution.

From the United Nations Statistical department

By juxtaposing supposed ‘feminine’ qualities with ‘masculine’ qualities, it ignores and discredits the multiplicity of characteristics that cannot be constrained within two different categories according to gender. The media’s obsession with simplifying views or characteristics and always portraying issues in the context of the conflict between one side vs. another, or in this case masculine qualities vs. feminine qualities, results in reinforcing socially constructed gender roles. Males and females are not mutually opposite or exclusive. This obsession with two opposing ideals can be seen in other areas as well, for example the political left vs. the political right. We need to break down the political and gendered structure that feeds on bilateral opposition as this can both prevent alternative options from surfacing, as well as confining characteristics within two conflicting categories.   

Many States have created formal equality between the genders, but the reality of the situation is far from perfect. The very concepts of feminine and masculine traits are socially constructed. As we were able to construct these stereotypes, it follows that we also have the ability to de-construct them. The aim must be to break down the gendered hierarchy that is dominant in our political system. Feminists Theory highlights the relationship between internal and external factors. By creating an equal and just state on a national level, it will hopefully result in the state externalizing their equal philosophies onto the international sphere, and thus create a more just and equal world order. 

NOTE: I highly recommend watching a short but extremely funny Jon Stewart segment on women in politics which can be found here.