Elements of fear and sexism said to keep women out of power
With the upcoming elections bringing the topic of gender to the forefront, the question of how people will react to having a woman in executive office is inevitable.
Terri Jentz, author of the book Strange Piece of Paradise, said in a panel during the 60th Annual Conference on World Affairs, that the fear emerges from the power difference seen between men and women.
“This fear is an element of an irrational overreaction to the basic power dynamic between men and women,” Jentz said.
The panel, titled “Teste Women: Why We Fear Women in Power,” aimed to discuss the reasons for the imbalance of women representation in positions of power.
Mary Hughes, a political consultant, who described herself as “blessed to work with women who seek to represent us.” In her politically-driven career, she said it is not so much that society fears a woman in power, but rather society resents them.
To give a snapshot as to where women stand in American politics, Hughes gives the statistics that currently, the United Sates is 71st in the world where women are in federal power. Women currently make up approximately 15 percent of representatives in the House of Representatives, 23 percent hold positions in the state-wide offices and 25 percent are in the state legislature. In the past decade, only eight or nine women have been governors.
“This is not a great record,” Hughes said about these statistics.
Hughes said these statistics demonstrated the tough atmosphere women face in politics. She said that in order for women to be successful in politics, they must go above and beyond to prove themselves worthy.
“Women are putting their neck in a velvet noose of hyper-competence,” Hughes said, “In order to pay dues in politics, they must be twice as accredited as their male counterparts.”
Hughes also said that a reason why people are hesitant about having a woman in charge is that there lays this uncertainty of what will happen with them in power.
“We don’t know what they’ll do,” Hughes said, “We’ve had so few of them.”
Lillian Boutté, a well established jazz musician that has led her own band for the past 25 years, agreed with the fact that because women have lacked position in power, it is hard for some people to see anyone besides a man in such a position.
“[Women] are not supposed to stand in what’s designated as a man’s job or position,” Boutté said, “We have never had a woman president.”
Boutté said part of the reason that women are not seen as ideal for these so-called male dominated positions is because of the upbringing of children, specifically young girls. She said that there is a need for women to be told at a very young age to demand equality from their male counterparts.
“My father told me to not let any man or boy put me down like I’m not equal,” Boutté said, “If we’re not strong from the beginning, we will never get there.”
For Jentz, however, the struggle for women to obtain a position in power goes beyond an element of fear and extends to topics of sexism and misogyny. Jentz said that misogyny is universal and has gone to the extent where it is seen as normal.
“We live in a society that is so saturated with misogyny that it’s become expected,” Jentz said.
Robyn Bitner, a fifth-year senior political science major and women’s studies minor, said she also feels that the lack of women in power is a result of underlying sexism. She said that this is exemplified perfectly with the upcoming 2008 election.
“If you talk about Obama’s race, you’re called a racist,” Bitner said, “But if you talk about Hillary’s gender, you’re not called out for misogyny.”
Contact Campus Press staff writer Sara Fossum at sara.fossum@colorado.edu.
