The following op-ed by TNA’s Amy Siskind is also featured at The Huffington Post.
The goal of this article is to evaluate how women and women’s issues have fared during President’s Obama’s first term. We’ll examine the entire four years in order to gauge progress and unresolved shortcomings.
Those of you who have followed my writings here and at the Daily Beast, know I was an early critic of Obama on women’s issues. To his credit, I have watched Obama evolve since then. To wit, his recent appointment of Debbie Wasserman Schultz to DNC Chair, after he irked women’s group early in his term by selecting anti-choice Tim Kaine. Whether Obama’s evolution is personal growth or politically motivated, I will leave to you, the reader, to decide.
I need to lay out two disclaimers. First, Obama is not directly accountable for all metrics. For example, as relates to jobs, he cannot direct gender hiring preferences in the private sector (although, he can lead by example). Second, this article does not examine whether the GOP offers a better alternative in areas of weakness. For example, while Obama’s efforts on the Paycheck Fairness Act may be disappointing, the GOP is patently against legislative equal pay, period. Let’s begin.
1. Supreme Court Appointments: A+
During his presidency, Obama appointed two Supreme Court Justices: Sonia Sotomayor and Elana Kagan. Obama gets an ‘A’ for boosting women’s representation to 33% and a ‘plus’ for appointing our first latina to the SCOTUS.
2. Equal Pay: C
Here’s the bottom line: the Obama administration failed women on equal pay. When Obama entered office, the Paycheck Fairness Act (“PFA”) had already passed in the House. For two years, while the Democrats had a strong majority in the Senate, the administration lapsed on pushing to bring the PFA to the Senate floor. The Democrats finally did try after the disastrous November 2010 elections, but the motion fell two votes short. In a largely symbolic effort, the Democrats tried again this year and failed. The Fair Pay Act which Obama signed on his first day in office does nothing to legislate equal pay for equal work; rather, it extends the period to file litigation. As a side note, women in the Obama White House made considerably less than men on average.
3. Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls: A
The Obama administration gets major creds for taking on the escalating crisis of violence against teenage and college women. A recent Department of Justice study estimated that 1 in 4 college women are victims of sexually assault, and colleges often fail to take action. Last year, VP Biden announced an effort to ensure that schools, colleges and universities protect students from sexual violence. This effort led to immediate change at schools like Stanford which lowered it’s standard of proof for sexual assault. Obama and Biden have also voiced support for the reauthorization of an inclusive VAWA bill.
4. Inner Circle and Cabinet: C
Last Sunday’s New York Times extolled Valerie Jarrett’s access to Obama. Sadly, Jarrett is the exception, not the rule, for women in Obama’s inner circle. Chris Matthews recently lamented on Hardball that when Hillary steps down, Obama will have an all male line up in top administration positions (go to 1:45). Women occupy only six cabinet level positions in the Obama administration, equivalent to George W. Bush as he left office (including Susan Rice, which Obama does in his six). Additionally, Obama has appointed women to fewer cabinet level positions than Bill Clinton in their respective first terms.
5. Reproductive Rights: B-
In 2010, to the dismay of women’s groups, Obama reneged on his pledge to support choice when he signed an executive order enshrining the Hyde Amendment in order to pass healthcare reform. His administration was again criticized last year by women advocates for overriding the FDA recommendation (a first for HHS) on the sale of the Morning After pills. However, in the latter part of his term, Obama has turned it around, unabashedly standing by women for contraception and other healthcare coverage. As a side note, during his first term, Obama has remained largely silent as an unparalleled record of almost 100 abortion restrictions were put in place at the state level in 2011 alone.
6. Jobs: C
The job’s recovery under Obama has been dubbed a ‘He-recovery.’ In the two years from June 2009 to May 2011, Pew Research Survey found men gained 768,000 jobs while women lost 218,000. Not only did men of every race, ethnicity and nativity outperforming their female counterparts; they also took jobs from women in fields like manufacturing, retail and finance. Under Obama, poverty remained stubbornly high, and, as reported this week by the United States Census Bureau, increasingly disproportionately impacts women.
7. Sexism: B-
For the first three years of his term, Obama showed no discernible awareness for sexism. All that changed after comments made by Rush Limbaugh about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke. Obama strongly rebuked Rush, pronouncing those type of words have no place in our national discourse. Months later, Obama publicly excoriated Todd Akin for this comments on rape and pregnancy, noting a bunch of men should not be making healthcare decisions for women.
8. White House Work Environment: C
The Obama administration got off to an inauspicious start as the White House was dubbed a ‘boy’s club’ (with ample evidence). When the media noticed that women were excluded from Obama’s golf foursomes and basketball games, Obama exacerbated the problem by flippantly responding, “Bunk.” He seemed ill-at-ease in the company of women early on, prompting the executive editor of MORE to wonder, Would Obama Talk to Women Over Beers? More sinister, senior women claimed they were excluded and demeaned in the Obama White House. The nadir was when Anita Dunn’s statements to author Ron Suskind, in which she referred to the Obama White House was a “hostile workplace” for women, became public. Obama seems aware of this problem, and has taken a proactive leadership role and affirmative steps towards improvement.
9. Women Running the Economy: D-
At the start of his term, Obama irked women’s groups by appointing Larry Summers for National Economic Council Director. Concerns about Summers’ ability to work with women were validated when Christina Romer, the only woman leading a major economic agency, resigned among rumors of friction with Summers (and Geithner). Currently, all four major economic agencies are run by men. Shelia Bair, former Chairwoman of the FDIC (appointed by George W. Bush), stepped down last year amid speculation of sexist treatment. Mary Shapiro, Chairwoman of the SEC, announced she plans to step down this fall. Unless Obama replaces her with a woman, his administration will have no woman in high-level positions overseeing financial markets.
Sexism B-? Are you kidding? After the sexism of Obama’s 2008 campaign that was unleashed at both Hillary and Palin and almost any other conservative woman who ran for office. Hillary was the best candidate in 2008 and Obama and his followers set women in politics back 50 years with their effective sexist attacks. Because of Obama I won’t live to see a woman President. Obama is the biggest backward sexist pig in politics.
Well, if you’re genuinely trying to “evaluate how women and women’s issues have fared during President’s Obama’s first term,” it’s been absolutely atrocious for most women, including me. I had a good job, a 401K, two kids in college, and we owned our own business with 7 employees. A few short years later, my 401K is gone, we’ve laid off all but one employee, my mother lost her home and moved in with us, my adult son lost his job and moved in with us, and I work three part time jobs for less than I earned in high school.
Where I live, the women’s clinic closed and it’s now 150 mile trip to the nearest abortion clinic. Nearly 34% of our local businesses, more than half that were owned by women, have shut down. 400 thousand people in my state alone have lost their health insurance, including me and my family.
I’m kind of upset to see you offer superficial grades and vague political platitudes about President Obama and women. Those of us on the ground are so busy struggling to survive, we don’t have the luxury of pondering abstract ideas like the token “Office of Women and Girls,” or what an abysmal joke it is to give Obama an A+ on sexual assault issues simply because he voiced support for re-authorization of the VAWA.
Good analysis; agree with almost all the grades though I would give him a D- on the sexism part for not being more in the forefront publically more often on the subject.
Amy,
I agree with yttik. In theory, obama has always looked better than he does when it comes to “real life” experiences.
I am convinced that no man of any color will ever advocate for women better than another woman could or would. I have never felt that obama was a true advocate for women, he is simply politically expedient in knowing that he has to throw us a bone now and then to keep our support. Dems have gotten away with this latent sexism for decades, until Hillary ran and then they showed their true colors. IMO, the dem men have proven to be as bad,not worse than the repubs because they’ve always led us to believe that they viewed women as equals. They always told us that the reason women have not made real advances in achieving rights that are already ours, is because of the woman hating men of the republican party and their female enablers.
Never again will I trust in any male democrat to do the right thing by women. If “real” change ever comes, it will have to come from the women themselves, of all party affiliations and backgrounds, and a willingness to put aside ideoloty and fight for the same rights and opportunities that men have always felt entitled to, but somehow have managed to convinced themselves are not for women.
Kathleen, will you trust a male Republican to “do right by women”?
Paul Ryan has indicated that he believes that abortion should be criminalized and that women who violate the law should be imprisoned. The Tea Party Republican running for Senate from my state has never uttered a word in defense of any woman or any issue, social or economic, that affects them. He’s been purchased by the Koch brothers and Karl Rove. Otoh, my Democratic senator, Sherrod Brown, has an excellent record on issues that affect women. I have contributed money to his campaign and will happily vote for him.
I won’t vote for Obama because I vowed to never vote for him on May 31, 2008, and I will not break that vow but my disappointment in the Democratic Party has not convinced me to vote for outrageously bad candidates just because they’re not Democrats.
It is important for women to keep in the habit of voting and to vote their local ballot. There are many options besides Democrat and Republican and you can always write in Presidential Barbie. Hillary would be a good write in but I fear if there is a screw up like in 2000 the power grabbers doing a hand count could look at a Hillary vote, say “Democrat” and give your vote to Obama. Stranger things have happened to turn Hillary votes to Obama votes.
Like I said, Jean-Louise, any real change for women will come from women, not men, republican or democrat.
As far as I’m concerned, all we get from the men is “lip service” with a bone thrown to us now and then to keep us in line.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of putting my God given rights in the hands of men, who have shown by their treatment of Hillary, Sarah and Michelle (and any woman, for that matter) who dares run for the highest office (in particular) and any office (in general) will be bombarded with sexist treatment that should not even exist in 2012.
I’m don’t quite understand your post. Both my Democratic ex-governor and current Senator Sherrod Brown were both big-time supporters of Hillary who stayed with her until June. I have no trouble voting for either of them.
You know a lot of anti-abortion bills were written and submitted by women. I don’t know if that’s what they wanted to or if they are being used by the men.It doesn’ matter. I wouldn’t vote for that person ever.
I don’t get your post, Jean. Regardless if Sherrod Brown and your current ex-governor were big time supporters of Hillary, I never saw them stand up and denounce the obama campaign, and obama himself, for allowing the venemous misogyny spewed daily by the obama supporters, the MSM, pundits, etc.
Not much has changed since obama came into power when it comes to women gaining ground towards equality. Sadly, women are so accustomed to accepting the crumbs that fall from a table primarily filled with men, that many don’t get that we are being played and progress towards equality are miniscule.
When it comes to sexism, it is evident that men still have a difficult time ever admitting to it or that it exists, much openly denouncing it publicly and openly with the same passion they show when they are denouncing racism.
Unless and until the majority of men have no problem denouncing sexism with the same consistency, energy and passion that they have begun to do when it comes to racism,, I really don’t consider them true allies. A true ally would have no problem speaking out against an injustice which is just as bad as racism.
The fact that so many men still have a blind spot when it comes to sexism is a mystery to me, since one would have hoped that they would have evolved a lot further on this issue than they have, considering the fact that women have blown the myths about our being inferior out of the water 1000 times over and then some.
Ouch. The only time Obama cares about women is when he needs them to get elected. Obama only offers women a life of Julia dependency.Mitt doesn’t want to fight the abortion wars. Mitt wants to make jobs, lots of fuckinf jobs.
I’m sorry, Kathleen. My last comment was written when I was half asleep.
While I understand your anger, I’m not going to hold anyone to an impossibly high standard. I was angry at Hillary for a long time when she didn’t tell the Democrats to go to hell and start a women’s party. I was outraged when she accepted the SoS job. I’m still not happy about it but I’m not going to throw away all the great things that Hillary has done and is still doing for women just because she wasn’t the rebel that I wanted her to be.
As for Strickland and Brown, they are both pro-women. No, neither of them attacked the DNC for their conduct but they were loyal to Hillary to bitter end. It matters to my daily life who holds those two positions. Strickland lost in 2010 and the GOP asshole who won is Mitt Romney with ugly hair. He’s doing his very best to further enrich his wealthy friends and limit my rights as a woman. The man-child who’s running against Brown is even worse. His current job basically consists of chairing one meeting a month. He missed the first thirteen meetings because he began running for the Senate two weeks after he was elected Treasurer. He’s campaigning like he’s in the eight grade but he’s close to Brown because Rove and the Koch brothers have been running ads against Brown for over a year.
So, I’m still angry. I won’t vote for Obama and I wouldn’t vote for anyone who particpated in the takeover of the Democratic Party in 2007-08 but I’m not going to cut off my nose to spite my face by refusing to vote for men who worked hard, supporting the best candidate we’ve had for president in decades.
Jean-Louise,
I guess I’m tired of giving a free pass to those in power who “support” women like Hillary, but stay silent while they are being unmercifully attacked by misogyny and lies and double standards.
I think their support is conditional in that they are not willing to “rock the boat” and go up against those men who are determined that women will NEVER acquire any equity with men and is the same as telling our ally Israel that we are with you 100%, but when they are attacked, sit on the sidelines assuring them that we are with them and support them all the way!
With friends like this, who needs enemies? Women need to stop settling for lip service and start workig together as a united front (all race, color creeds and party affiliations) and assert in one voice that we are not backing down and will continue to stay in the men’s collective faces until we get what is already ours. After all, who are they to deny us our rights?
The way I feel about the present status of women is pretty much expressed by a picture of a woman at a protest holding a sign which says: “I can’t believe I still have to protest this sh_t.” I can’t believe we are still having the same debates with men on how far we have come and how far we still have to go. It’s never going to stop, if we don’t change the subject and get serious about actually “achieving” equality, instead of just talking about it.
I’ve had more than enough of being played by the men in power and ennough of asking permission.
I understand how some women who have been battered by men come to hate all men. Hillary and Palin supporters were battered in 2008 but we weren’t just battered by men. One of Hillary’s most powerful opponents was Donna Brazile. Nancy Pelosi didn’t do her any favors, either. If I had the choice of my former governor or Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic Speaker of the House, I would take my male, former governor in a NY minute. Women’s rights might not be the first thing on his mind but women’s rights are not the first thing on Pelosi’s mind either and my ex-governor is rock solid on protecting Social Security. Pelosi has signalled her willingness to cut benefits and raise the age of eligibility.
Furthermore, the state legislator who submitted the vaginal ultrasound bill in Virginia was a woman. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
Jean,
If only women held men to the same standards they hold women, then we’d have a better balance in how decisions are made.
Unfortunately, if one woman does something we don’t agree with (as opposed to 100′s of males), she is vilified, while excuses and passes are given to the men.
Men have the power, period. Women have always been on the outside looking in and those women who have managed somehow to make it to the inside with the boyz are still marginalized and controlled, less they be kicked out of the inner circle altogether.
For example, unlike the male Secretaries of State, Hillary is being held responsible for carrying out obama’s policies as some kind of betrayal. She is attacked by those who once supported her but because she is doing the job all her “male” predecessors were expected to do for the presidents they served, she, unlike them, is being demonized.
I don’t hate all men, but I do hate double standards imposed on women by men AND women.
If we can’t at least expect women to stop with the double standards, how the heck can we ever expect to stop the men from imposing them?
The change women seek must first come from within themselves as a group, if we wish to see the kind of change we all are supposed to be fighting for, deserve and are entitled to ever happen.