Rachel Maddow’s Wyoming Awakening: Republican Women and Gender Parity
March 3, 2011
by Marille Herrmann
|The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Remember last week when Amy posted a blog piece about Rachel Maddow’s “aha” moment. Quite a few of the readers were annoyed by the arrogance to the point that the accomplishments of the female Republican Wyoming state senators were overshadowed in the discussion.
In contrast to some guys at NBC, Rachel made up for it. She cut the East Coast Metro type arrogance and did a follow up interview, highlighting the successes of State Senators Lisa Shepperson and Sue Wallis.
Here is the 14 minute clip (the interview of the Wyoming senators starting at minute 5):
In this debate we hear from female small government proponents in their arguments against big government anti-abortion bills the following phrases:
Senator Sue Wallis:
…that as a woman that I am not smart enough to make my own decisions…
Senator Lisa Shepperson:
…we should not be meddling in that ( restricting social issues), government is to protect us from each other, but government goes wrong when it wants to protect us from ourselves & “ we as competent adults”
Senator Sue Wallis:
…nationwide Republicans won for “people being tired of government overstepping its bond, overregulation, the squashing our economy….not at all these social issues..”
Now Rachel Maddow is struck that such sentences can flow from female legislators in the reddest of all states with 76/90 representatives being republican. In the Wyoming house with 11/60 members being female, but also in the senate with only 1/30, they won. Apparently their argument of keeping the government out of the doctor’s office convinced even their male colleagues.
Rachel Maddow could have mentioned that Wyoming is the suffrage state with all the firsts for women. Could that have something to do with the progressive attitude toward women? In1869, Wyoming gave women the right to vote and hold public office. Ester Hobard Morris was the nation’s first female to hold judicial office in 1870. Wyoming recognized her by sending her statue to statuary hall, where she is 1 of the 9 females among 91 male statues. You can read more about statuary hall, Esther Hobart Morris and see the map which states sent females to statuary hall here.
Wyoming also elected the first woman governor in 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross. There is much to learn from these female representatives in Wyoming.
I appreciate the history of the women in Wyoming in this post. I disagree with your slam towards Maddow, and it is a shame that there is a need to continually knock down smart women. Maddow is one of the smartest, brightest reporters on TV today. She follows stories that no one else does, and I believe she deserves kudos for spotlighting these state Senators.
I agree Denise that this is great progress! Wouldn’t it be terrific if Rachel focused on gender representation and gender bias – she could truly help us make great progress.
Rachel has a huge following (me included), and my only problem over time has been her being too quiet on gender issues. This is a real step forward by her, and she can do much to bridge the divide between women on the left and the right…I know others will think that is impossible, but I don’t.
Agree Pat!
There are so few women in the media to begin with. IMHO, we have to do what we can to support them, while at the same time, diligently asking them to advocate for gender representation and against gender bias!
“I appreciate the history of the women in Wyoming in this post. I disagree with your slam towards Maddow, and it is a shame that there is a need to continually knock down smart women”
Maddow made herself look east coast elitist arrogant in the first Wyoming clip, it isn’t our fault that we noticed it so don’t blame us. It is amazing that she redid the clip with out the arrogance so that positive point can actually be made for representation of women by women.
Hi Denise, this piece was actually intended to be positive about Rachel Maddow. Didn’t I say she made up and followed the successes of Sue Wallis and Lisa Shepperson. And Rachel made a joke about the clock being faster in Wyoming. So I think throwing in the century long accomplishments in Wyoming to be relevant. There was never a disagreement that Rachel Maddow is very smart, even if I diasgree with her occasionally.
it is women’s month and clickingthe here button will get you to some great historic achievements for women.
Great proof that having women in BOTH parties is a good thing!
Big high five to Rachel Maddow for continuing with this story! Denise, many of us here are upset with some of things Maddow said (or didn’t say) in regard to Hillary and Sarah in the past. I think Maddow was off by not questioning what was happening to these two candidates. She also mocked both Hillary and Sarah and picked them apart in a way that she did not with Obama.
But clearly she has evolved her position in regard to gender by running with this story! I don’t like to live in the past so I give Maddow tons of credit for this and I look forward to seeing how she covers gender in the future. She is indeed a brilliant woman so I am simply thrilled to have her looking into these issues.
I’m glad that Maddow has FINALLY recognized the importance of reporting on gender issues, after all, she is a woman! The one woman in the media who has continued to be fair across the board with women in politics has been Greta Van Susteran, particularly, during the primary and general election, where Maddow showed herself to be an obamabot. I suspect this is why Hillary continues to give Greta exclusives and has yet to agree to an interview by Maddow, although, from what I’ve heard, she has asked repeatedly for an interview with Hillary.
I also applaud her featuring these republican women and their achievements — they deserve it. I’ll believe she finally “gets it” when I see her taking a page from Greta’s approach to reporting on women in politics.
greta i lllllooooovvvvvvveeeeeeeeee your cat picture…
I agree that Greta Van Susteran has the best most intelligent show. She was raised in the mid west so maybe that explains her lack of “best people on earth” east coast attitude. Maddow jumped right on the “mockery of women candidates” bandwagon and I don’t consider running blindly with the crowd when they denigrate an entire segment of society, women, to be brilliant. Also notice that as the election season starts up she is starting to harp on abortion stories but of course ignoring that Democrats inserted anti reproductive rights language in their Obama care law. That is what Democrats do during election season, drag out the fear mongering to women voters. I am sick of it. I also don’t care what Mrs Obama chooses to wear. I want to know how Dems position on standard issues affects me. I also found the MSNBC/obot claim that everyone who isn’t for Obama is a racist offensive and Maddow was on board with that. I would like the MSNBC talking heads to explain how the Tea Party chose Herman Cain as their favorite for President seeing as how they are racists and he is black.
well Bes, I agree with your assessment. but let’s look at the improvements too. When I occasionally check out Chris Matthew it is just an array of assaults. it is just like little boys having fun throwing stuff at other people/girls. he will never see anything contrary to his preconceived vision of the world or women. I think the follow-up segment on the Wyoming debate by Rachel Maddow is a jewel in the MSM. when do you hear anything out of the black/white tunnel vision of the liberals looking at real women and understanding their debate and successes. it is extraordinaire.
Marille, loved this post. I especially loved the history of Wyoming as a suffrage state. Thinking of moving there…
I don’t, however, like to see the female/male numbers. These numbers really stand out and is very discouraging.
“with 76/90 representatives being republican. In
the Wyoming house with 11/60 members being female,
but also in the senate with only 1/30.”
These numbers need to change…and more women need to stand up and represent our interests — no matter how progressive the state.
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