I want a female president. I want more women in congress. I want more women on the Supreme Court. I want young girls to see more women in public office, and to believe that they too can be contributing members of our government.
But I’m not voting for Hillary.
I am an avid supporter of Bernie Sanders. His agenda covers all of the things that are important to me, and his political style and ethics give me hope for the future of our country. Bernie’s stance on women’s issues is just as progressive, if not more than Hillary’s,and he also has in his favor that he refuses to play into the big money game that so many politicians are invested in. Bernie is a great presidential candidate, a good man, and my support for him has nothing to do with with the way I feel about Hillary.
However, I recently read something that made me question why I prefer Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. In Gloria Steinem’s book, “My Life on the Road”, she discusses her support for Hillary Clinton, and gives an insight into how differently Hillary is treated by the media and her colleagues as a result of her gender. This started to make me question why Hillary’s policies are the way that they are, and why those policies have made her unattractive to me as a candidate. After some deep thinking, I came to a conclusion that is extremely conflicting with my feminist views; I am not voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman.
This sounds awful, and even to type it makes me worry that it may be misconstrued. However, I don’t mean that I am not voting for her solely based on her gender. Instead, I have realized that as a result of her gender, she has had to make decisions and compromises that no male politician will ever have to make. And these decisions, these situations that she has to put herself in, have put her at a disadvantage. For example a disadvantage to Bernie, because he does not have the same barriers to overcome. As a result, Bernie is the better candidate. However, it is important that we recognize that Hillary’s journey to political success has been much different than Bernie’s.
For example, one of my biggest issues with Hillary is that she is very friendly with large corporations and Wall Street Banks. She depends on them for campaign funding, as well as political endorsements. On the contrary, Bernie Sanders has started a grassroots movement, and by refusing to take donations from corporations and Wall Street, has truly put the power back into the hands of the people. However, when I really think about it, I wonder if Hillary, or any woman, would be able to do what Sanders has done, and depend solely on their constituents to fund their campaign. In general, the public does not like strong, powerful women. Hillary especially has been scrutinized for her power, often becoming the butt of jokes, and even being turned into a “nut-cracker” gag gift. With all of the media scrutiny and gender bias that Hillary receives, I question if she would be able to run a successful campaign only depending on the people, since the people, in general, are intimidated by her confidence and power. As a result of Hillary’s gender, she is unable to garner enough public support to successfully run a campaign without depending on big money, and subsequently, she has lost my vote.
Another example of Hillary’s gender interfering with her politics can be seen through her “flip-flopping” stance on social issues. I have found myself often criticizing Hillary for acting out of political expedience, instead of what is best for the people. For example, up until recently, Hillary was not a supporter of same-sex marriage. However, when it became a part of the Democratic Party’s platform, she changed her stance in support. To understand why Hillary has done this, not only on this issue, but others as well, one must look at her unique position of power. There are not many other women in politics who hold the notoriety or power as Hillary Clinton. Of course there are female candidates who have stuck by their political morals throughout their career, and my respect goes out to them, but we do not see them being in a position to run for president. To overcome her “disability” of gender, Hillary has been forced to compensate by changing her stances to receive public support. Without that public support, she would not have had the opportunity to implement the progressive legislation she has, or to become a figure to all girl’s aspiring for a career in politics. I’ve realized that, when judging Hillary for political expedience, it is important to remember that without the support of the public, she would not be the noteworthy position she is today.
This makes me sad. It makes me upset that women are still at such a disadvantage when it comes to politics. However, even after these many realizations, my support still lies with Bernie. Bernie is running on a campaign of political revolution, and if elected into office, promises to put the power back into the hands of the people. He wants to change the way that money influences politics, and implement reform that will end the huge wealth disparity that exists in the United States. These are things that, because of Hillary’s forced dependence on big money, she would not be able to do. As much as I would love to have a female president, I would love even more to see US women’s voices heard louder in politics, to see them receive equal pay for equal work, and paid maternity leave. These are changes that, if Bernie is elected president, I truly believe can be made. If women all over the United States can start being perceived as stronger, and realize that their issues are not their own, but instead everyone’s, it is my hope that public acceptance for strong powerful women will grow, and a women will be able to win elected office through the support of the people. As much as it pains me to depend on a man to make the changes needed to be made to advance women’s rights, it is the necessary decision for the situation.
When it comes to not voting for Hillary, and not having a female president inaugurated in 2016, I consider it a loss of a battle but a winning of the war for women’s rights in the United States.