Hey, Ms. — this is what a feminist looks like
January 13, 2009
by Violet Socks, Editor
|
Sen. Clinton at her confirmation hearing, January 13, 2009
I loved this bit: “The ancient Roman poet Terence, who was born a slave and rose to become one of the great voices of his time, declared that ‘in every endeavor, the seemly course for wise men is to try persuasion first.’ The same truth binds wise women as well.”
This was her statement on women’s rights:
“Our foreign policy must reflect our deep commitment to the cause of making human rights a reality for millions of oppressed people around the world. Of particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid. If half of the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy. We still have a long way to go and the United States must remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in support of women’s rights in every country, every region, on every continent.”
That’s what a feminist looks like.
UPDATE: From the New York Times live blog comes this account of an exchange during the hearing between Senator Boxer and Senator Clinton:
Senator Boxer displays photographs of women who were burned in acid attacks, punished for divorce or other matters and Senator Clinton responds emphatically.
It is her hope, she promises, to persuade more governments “that we cannot have a free, prosperous, peaceful progressive world if women are treated in such a discriminatory and violent way.” In addition to the attacks on Pakistani women outlined by Senator Boxer, Mrs. Clinton cites the attacks on young school girls by Taliban sympathizers.
“They want to maintain an attitude,” she charged, “that keeps women unhealthy, unfed, uneducated, and this is something that results all too often in violence against these young women.”
“This is not culture, this is not custom, this is criminal,” she said.
“Speaking broadly and promising that she would place an emphasis on areas like the Office on Human Trafficking and the Women’s Office, she said: I want to pledge to you that as Secretary of State, I view these issues as central to our foreign policy not as adjunct or in any way lesser. …”
Reading that excerpt I felt pride and sorrow.
I love Chelsea in the background….It will be interesting to see if her life course leads into politics. Wherever it goes, she’s a dynamo!
It was hard to watch the small segment I was able to catch. I have such respect and admiration for that woman. She will be a great Secretary of State, but she would have been an even better President, and that’s taking nothing away from Obama, who seems to be fine, so far, in a general way.
These statements are good. However, most politicians will make such statements at some time, witness Obama, who thinks what he says won’t be compared to what he does.
I would like to see a list of Clinton’s accomplishments on behalf of women so far, which bear out her statement above. I know they are there, but not being American, I don’t know them. It would be nice to have a list.
Give us facts to show them that she’s not just blowing hot air, for those who don’t know the difference between what a politician says, and what a politician does.
It would make a nice comparison, her record, Palin’s record, and his.
Yes, the hearings this morning elicited feelings of pride, sadness and a deep sense of ‘what might have been’. Hillary will place her stamp on the position of Secretary of State. It will be more than it has ever been before – she will weave her interests in women’s issues into every aspect of her challenge as Secretary of State for the United States of America. For the safety of our country, for our standing worldwide and for women’s rights here and in every corner of the globe it is so reassuring that she will be our Secretary of State.
And, yes, Chelsea Clinton is brilliant, just like her mother.
Sis – That’s a great idea. It will help put substance behind the words and be an education piece.
General comment – As for Barbara Boxer, as a superdelegate, after a tepid statement of support for Clinton, she threw her support behind Obama. Her examples of horrific crimes against women around the world are tragic and valid and stand on their own. But, I fear she is the kind of “liberal feminst” who may be a bit distracted by such crimes against women while ignoring the plight of those right here in the U.S. of A. Perhaps that’s an overly bold statement that comes from my anger towards her, but my respect for her has diminished since her behaviors and statements last year (including her statements of “not getting it” pertaining to those of us who had supported Clinton who then may have switched our support to McCain/Palin).
Yes it’s such a convenient, safe, clean, and light lift to wax on about the horrors perpetrated upon women in other countries, or women of other nations who are trafficked here, while some deplore the deplorable elsewhere, they ignore, invisibilize and minimize the deplorable here: American (and Canadian and British) women of all ethnicities and races being used for pornstitution (pornography and prostitution, as pornography is filmed prostitution) gratification of the male left. After the marches and picketing on behalf of voter’s rights and sawhet owls, pizza and porn back at the rally office. It’s their ‘right’.
How great was it to see Hillary on the airwaves today!!!
Sigh, if only….
But now ALL the women and girls around the world will benefit. She is the definition of what a feminist is!!! Take note.
Sorry for the serial posting–I have now read the whole thing, in the link, and want to say this. Although in another thread I said I am not a Hilary supporter, I didn’t mean I don’t admire her, as I do Palin. I’m a supporter of such ambitious and ethical women, in whatever country they work, whatever party or political viewpoint they represent.
What a role model she is for young women, but for older women too, as we struggle to set our resolve once again for the work we must do, however tired and dispirited we may feel.
Hillary is a giant. She will take her new position and elevate it in ways we haven’t seen yet. Her day is not done, not by a long shot. Anything is still possible for her.
But we have learned already so much from her about the ability to get up, dust yourself off, and fight on another day. She has shown us how to do it in the face of so much opposition, opposition that would have wilted a lesser person.
I watched her and thought that yes, she had to move on from the sexism of the campaign. But we can’t—-SOMEONE has to deal with it and it has fallen to us. It is a blessing really to have someone like her show us what fortitude is.
I have a lot of admiration and respect for Clinton for so many reasons. However, I needn’t single her out as a shining example of what fortitude is. All one need do is look around the globe at the millions upon millions of women and girls in refugee camps, living in poverty, confronting discrimination on multiple levels every day just trying to get by, dragging water for miles every day from a watering hole, dealing with raising their children with no father involved, being resistance fighters of sorts in places where they risk life and limb to be so, or perhaps any one of us, any one of the 1 in 3 girls who will be molested by the time she is 18, who find ways to cope and create a life despite all of the pain and degradation and lack of support, and so on and on and on. I have always looked to those unsung, unnamed women throughout history as examples of fortitude. I agreed with Hillary when she said during the primaries, during the debates: “I will be fine.” She acknowledged that despite all of what was thrown at her, it was all relative and that her life had so many more blessings than likely most women in this world. It doesn’t minimize all of the bs that she confronted. I’m just saying that she is, none-the-less privileged beyond belief with far more resources to carry on than most.
True Anna, but everyone’s life is their own to lead, and everyone experiences pain. And everyone’s individual pain is the only pain that they will ever know. Privileged or not, some are able to rise above and some are not.
That’s not to say that especially in our eyes the pain and degradation of women around the world isn’t awful beyond belief. It’s just that there are so many women in Hillary’s position who might have taken a different path.
All of us need fortitude from time to time, even privileged women. And Hillary has shown it to many in a format that they can relate to.
Glad you got this up so quickly, Violet. Nice!
I want to alert that there are questions that Geithner (selected for Secretary of the Treasury) hired a housekeeper with an irregular immigration status (I hate the word illegal).
Zoe Baird and Linda Chavez were eliminated to serve for this same reason. Do rules apply only to women (no matter which party or ideology)?
Cynthia @ 4:41 pm
Yes, true enough!
valentina – Please share more and inlcude links if you have any. Thanks.
Yahoo names a woman as their new CEO:
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/.....DMQ–
Anyone know anything about her?
Wonderful! Hillary’s words are inspiring.
In celebration, here is a great videoclip called “Youth For Human Rights – We Are All Born Free & Equal” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixjACBvv2mE
Sis, luckily, you are apparently connected to the internet, so you can dig around HRC’s very long, very public record of acheivement. I will shorthand it for you, however: both the records of Obama and Palin pale in comparison.
For example, if HRC is confirmed as Secretary of State? This will have been her final act as a Senator of New York.
Valentina
Thought you might find this interesting, as well:
“WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama’s choice to run the Treasury Department and lead the economic rescue effort disclosed publicly Tuesday that he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes from 2001 to 2004, a last-minute complication in an otherwise smooth path to confirmation.”
Indeed Anna. Now there is not only the problem of the immigration status of the housekeeper, but also back taxes. However, senators from both republican and dem. party have already played down both issues. When it was Linda Chavez, who has worked with immigrants for a long time, there was nothing to explain away her situation. The same with Zoe Bird. Big issues.
Now they are arguing that these are minor issues compared to the challenges.
The housekeeper visa expired while working for Geithner, and that 3 months later she became regular with A GREEN CARD. I wonder if Geithner used influence to get the green card for his housekeeper (which I don’t mind, as long as all the immigrants who came here to work and have contributed to the economy and to their communities can do the same).
http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....usekeeper/
http://tech.mit.edu/V120/N65/chavez.65w.html
RKMK. I’m not American, and while I admire the work of several American women politicians, and have followed your election, I have no understanding of how your political systems work. Not only that, I’m busy with my own country’s political issues vis a vis the U.S.
This wasn’t an order, or even me putting in an order. It was a thought, and sincerely meant as something others may want and need as you defend Clinton. Your response to me however, smacks of hostility. It’s less than helpful for your cause to smack people of another country who support your efforts, particularly one who has made several well-received suggestions for your success.
Great points, Cynthia!
[[ Cynthia Ruccia on January 13th, 2009 4:18 pm
Hillary is a giant. She will take her new position and elevate it in ways we haven’t seen yet. .... yes, she had to move on from the sexism of the campaign. But we can’t—-SOMEONE has to deal with it and it has fallen to us. ]]
Everyone helps in their own way, even those who are pulling opposite each other. The 9.5 million Hillary supporters who voted GOP this year are a warning to Obama and the DNC; they had better give us some reason not to do that again. Before Nov 4, our determination was a bargaining chip for Hillary which may have gotten all these good old Clinton 90s Dems appointed now, and other centrist moves.
And as you say, our holding the USA sexism front now leaves Hillary free to go on to other things.
Sis,
Thanks for clarifiying about your not being in the USA.
As for HIllary’s accomplishments, I have a research blog, http://1950democrat.livejournal.com, that had several partial lists. Some good ones on overseas accomplishments and/or womens issues came from SusanUnPC at NoquarterUSA.net.
I’m sure there are other lists more neat and concise and comprehensive.
This is all smoke and mirrors. BO’s only claim to the Presidency of our Constitutional Republic is the ignorance and complacency of a naive electorate. That senior members of Club DNC, including HRC, championed his unlawful takeover of the Oval Office makes them all traitors in my eyes. The women you cite at today’s confirmation hearing talk a good game. But by supporting the man who obviously reveled in ‘surriptitiously’ giving the finger to the former First Lady, a sitting U.S. Senator; who retained the services of a male speechwriter proudly advertising he fondled a cardboard likeness of her; and who, as usual, remained silent while his minions openly flaunted t-shirts calling the female Governor of Alaska a CUNT, these woman legitimize this subjugation of women, and contribute to the very culture of violence they now purport to eschew.
I get chocked up whenever I hear her speak.
She is SOooooooooooooo Amazing.
BTW:
Did anyone pick up who is working with Senator Boxer on the house side; on the woman& violence legislation??
You guessed it:
Carolyn Maloney
Just got an e-mail from a friend who was watching Chris Matthews (brave soul that she is) and said he was commenting on how he had no idea Clinton was so knowledgeable about so many things. Geez. A little late in the game for Chris to be making note of this, no?
Hillary is the face of feminism. Ms. magazine should have Hillary on the cover. All “women’s” organizations failed Hillary and ALL of us in the 2008 campaign debacle.
To witness Hillary continue to rise in the face of the dirty deal dealt to her by her own party, members like John Kerry who betrayed her, to see her brilliance on full display today for the world to see what might have been and should have been and still could be is an inspiration to me.
Hillary personifies leadership. All the best to her and this great country.
fsteele: I realize it might seem odd that a Canadian would get interested in another country’s election. First of all, that’s the way it is in Canada. Our media is filled with your news, always, but especially so about this election and the personalities. I’ve posted before, however, that my interest has been the sexism and misogyny, and to some extent it’s mirrored in Canadian politics when women pursue high positions or when it’s younger and attractive women. But I’ve never seen it the way I have this past year in the American election, and it’s been like an explosion and five alarm fire: You can’t take your eyes off it.
I originally took note when I saw reference to the appalling mistreatment of Palin, and that on blogs other than Reclusive Leftist, and here. Some posters here don’t know that many of the radical feminist blogs have been on this from day one–entirely from the sexist angle, not the politics.
Thanks for having me.
jbjd I agree with you in part. I know what you say is true, about her choices for now upholding the patriarchy, but I don’t know what else she could have done, especially since she seems to be the kind of person who wants to be able to say, that ultimately, good came of her efforts, although it may not have been her original design for her goals.
jbjd: right on. stamp. agree with you 100%.
Hillary was great today!!! She was strong and powerful. I love how she continues to include women in the language she uses, not just when she talks of their pleight, but also in every aspect of discourse. She refers to people rather than “men”. When she quotes something or someone who uses the male pronoun, she deliberately finds away to include women into the discourse. She consciously refuses to let them render us invisible. I love her for that!!!!
I have to laugh. The reports I’ve read of today go through the basics quite fast, to get to the main story: can she be a subordinate, does she know who the boss is, and even if she does it, she can’t do it without Bill’s help and his former administrator’s guidance.
1.) She’ll take control Barry! Watch out. She won’t take orders.
and 2.) She needs Bill and his men in the background to supervise her, to get the job done for her. She can’t do it alone.
Sis, email me the ones you’re talking about. You know where. I have an essay in mind.
Sis,
I think it’s wonderful to have posters from other countries. I was puzzled by an earlier post of yours (I think it was yours) about not having been a supporter of Hillary or of Palin, etc. I wondered if you had supported Obama (or Ron Paul
). But it makes sense for a non-USian to say something like that.
I have not hidden where I’m from; I’ve said it several times. So I truly agree with TNA’s agenda of being supportive of women in public office, wherever they are, whichever party they represent. I do support Palin and Clinton in their efforts. Admire them, feel proud of them. Got tears in my eyes when I saw that picture of Hillary looking so well-rested, with her daughter behind her. I don’t know how I’d vote if I lived in the U.S. and had voting rights. I vote much further left than a Democrat.
Good, strong words on women’s rights! Let’s hope she speaks out about about the most recent ruling of a high Cleric in Saudi Arabia that allows 10 yr. old girls to be married.
How about what’s going on here goesh? Ten-year old girls being groomed for the sex industry. Do girl children have to live in Saudi Arabia before we recognize what’s happening to them?
http://blog.iblamethepatriarch.....gray-area/
I, too, am Canadian. It wasn’t “my” election. I just have access to books, newspapers, and the internet, and if I am curious or find I am ignorant about a subject, I research it.
I don’t really mean to be hostile. I just find it silly to say something like “Give us facts to show them that she’s not just blowing hot air, for those who don’t know the difference between what a politician says, and what a politician does”, when the woman has been one of the most famous and influential women in the world for decades, is an elected public official with a standing public record, and as a presidential nominee has undergone intense media scrutiny for the last year (let alone the past 20.) I mean, if you’re not familiar with her record, or anyone elses, it’s not for a lack of available information.
I do apologize. It was not my intention to offend.
I’m not offended. I’m frustrated that a woman can work in the public sphere for 40 years, live under constant media scrutiny for two decades, and run for office to become the most powerful person in the world (all whilst being consistently amazing, fabulous, and feminist), and people will still look at her and reflexively sneer, “Yeah, but what has she done?” It’s aggravating, to me.
I made a suggestion for a comparison post between Clinton, Palin and Obama’s achievements on women’s issues. I did not ask “but what has she done?.” Part of my post was mocking the type of comments we have read about Clinton and Palin.
I think you’ve misunderstood my post.
It gives me great comfort to read that last part–the excerpt from the hearing–and be reassured that both Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton want what we want: a better world for women.
It gives me great hope to know that Hillary will be out there working to make it happen.
HIllary has clear documented accomplishment on women’s issues: SCHIP etc. It would be harder to find this on Palin, because her (shorter) agenda has been energy and financial reform; but of course those have helped both men and women.
Imo Sarah’s great accomplishment for women has been as a role model. Instead of choosing between children and career — bring the children TO the office, and have a house-husband at home. This is a very important precedent to set. Nursing a baby in the Governor’s office….
Also Sarah’s manner, her encouragement of women — this is very like Hillary’s.
Though I voted for Sarah, I prefer Hillary’s policies. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they ran against each other in 2012, Hillary won, and Sarah accepted some cabinet job, perhaps dealing with the oil companies as she did in Alaska. (Sarah is such a wonder woman, she could probably do that job and Gov of Alaska both! Might have to re-hire the Governor’s chef.
Of course, Naomi doesn’t answer WHAT qualifies Barry as a Feminist. Was it his sexist and demeaning words and phrases when referring to Hillary…or Senator “Cutie” Boxer….or the “sweetie” reporter, or the fact that he has the least amount of women in his cabinet or that he paid women the least amount of salary in comparison to males in the same jobs in his Senate office….and most notablly. 20 cents on every dollar less than John McCain.
And obviiously Kira doesn’t have a clue.
Naomi was so embarrassing. If she is going to act like an Obama excuse maker and promoter, she must drop any guise of being a Feminist. Us feminists reject irrational orgasmic drunkenness of Obamaaid.
Oh and at least Ms admitted they were just looking to ride the Obama gravy train in selling more mags when everyone else is hurting.
I hope it was worth the one time print for selling out their convictions. It better have beenn subscriptiions instead of a one time purchase.
Violet, BRAVA! We all know what a REAL feminist looks like–one need only look at the picture of Hillary you posted, or TNA’s group photo logo to see the real deal. We also know that Barack Obama is NOT anything close to a feminist but on the contrary, has consistently demonstrated his opposition to any women’s issues.
And, BRAVA Amy for a terrific job on CNN!
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