Gloria Steinem and friends need to get with the program.
Last week, women all over America who support Bernie Sanders were insulted by an unlikely individual. During an interview with Bill Maher, feminist icon and activist Gloria Steinem said she believed young women supported Bernie Sanders rather than Hillary Clinton because “the boys are with Bernie.”
After the controversial statement by Steinem, many feminists and young women who support Sanders took to social media to respond to the statement. Yet, it came as no surprise to many because it is not the first attack on women who don’t support Hillary.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had a lot to say about women who don’t support Hillary at a rally in New Hampshire.
“There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other,” Albright said.
The problem with Albright and Steinem’s statements is that they are not only ignorant, but they insult the intelligence of female voters. They also use the very elementary tactic of guilt in order to get a desired result.
Many feminists in particular have voiced their reasons for not supporting Clinton because of her campaign’s reliance on her getting the female vote simply because she is a woman rather than because of her politics.
Ben Carson supporters would never attack black non-supporters because it is understood that Carson does not represent the ideals of many black voters. The same courtesy should be afforded to women.
Much of Clinton’s campaign this presidency focuses on how she would make history rather than her track record.
What people such as Steinem and Albright have to realize is that though having a woman as president would be exciting for many, Hillary may not be the woman to break that barrier.
“While the historic aspect of the first woman president is hugely powerful and important and would set a really powerful image for young boys and girls to look up to, she might not be the right first woman,” Dana Edell, the executive director of SPARK Movement, said in a Washington Post article.
Even beyond Hillary not being the right woman, there is the fact that it is insulting to assume that women who are informed voters do not know what’s best for them and need to “get with the program,” as Albright has suggested.
Steinem has offered an apology for her statement after every major feminist publication called her out, but the apology was an obvious public relations necessity rather than a heartfelt admission of remorse.
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The important thing to draw from these events is that gender doesn't bind anyone: not in politics and not in life. Hillary Clinton and supporters are going to have to find a stronger campaign than “I’m cool and a woman.”
Kenyetta Whitfield is a sophomore studying journalism. What do you think of Steinem's comments? Tweet Kenyetta @Ken_Whitty or email her at kw162913@ohio.edu.
