But if, as in this election, a man who spews hate and vulgarity, with no comprehension of how government works, can become presidentially plausible because he is magnetic while a capable, workaholic woman who knows policy inside and out struggles because she is not magnetic, perhaps we should reevaluate magnetism’s importance. It’s worth asking to what degree charisma, as we have defined it, is a masculine trait. Can a woman appeal to the country in the same way we are used to men doing it? Though those on both the right and the left moan about “woman cards,” it would be impossible, and dishonest, to not recognize gender as a central, defining, complicated, and often invisible force in this election. It is one of the factors that shaped Hillary Clinton, and it is one of the factors that shapes how we respond to her. Whatever your feelings about Clinton herself, this election raises important questions about how we define leadership in this country, how we feel about women who try to claim it, flawed though they may be.
One week after Mother’s Day we celebrated Mothers’
Equal Pay Day – the day moms need to work until in 2016
to make the same as dads earned in 2015.
Femi-List – Equal Pay Edition
1. Better have my money: You’ve heard that women make 79 cents for every dollar made by a man – but what does that add up to over a lifetime? About $430,480.
2. I guess some people object to awesome ladies: A new study shows that as women move into a field, pay drops. So now women who work in parks and recreation make even less.
3. Play like a girl, get paid like a girl: Despite being more successful and generating more revenue than the U.S. men’s national soccer team, the women’s soccer team still gets paid less. Thankfully, they’re fighting back and suing for equal pay.
4. Who run the world? Another incredible woman fighting for equal pay: Beyoncé. In a recent interview she asked men and women to have a real conversation about gender equality, saying “Ask anyone, man or woman, ‘Do you want your daughter to have 75 cents when she deserves $1?’"
I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women. I don’t understand the negative connotation of the word, or why it should exclude the opposite sex. If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you’re a feminist. We need men and women to understand the double standards that still exist in this world, and we need to have a real conversation so we can begin to make changes. Ask anyone, man or woman, “Do you want your daughter to have 75 cents when she deserves $1?” What do you think the answer would be? When we talk about equal rights, there are issues that face women disproportionately.
Femi-List: Our Favorite Feminist Guys Edition
1. Justin Trudeau: Since becoming Prime Minister of Canada in November 2015, Justin Trudeau has done some pretty incredible things for women. He aimed for gender parity in his cabinet, featured iconic Canadian women on banknotes, AND unapologetically calls himself a feminist.
2. Andy Murray: When several men made sexist comments about women in tennis, Andy Murray was one of the very few men in tennis to stand up and call them out on it. Amazing tennis player – better man.
3. Prince Harry: On his visit to Nepal, Prince Harry gave a fantastically feminist speech about women’s access to education. We knew there was a reason we loved him!
4. Matt McGorry: For International Women’s Day, Matt McGorry designed an incredible feminist t-shirt, then donated the proceeds to NARAL. Can he try to be a little less perfect? (Please don’t be any less perfect.)
Of the three candidates who spoke on Tuesday night, guess which one was told to quiet down?
Go on, guess.
Femi-List, 1/16
1. A Book a Day Keeps the Patriarchy Away: “Harry Potter” actor, UN ambassador, and feminist campaigner Emma Watson has announced she is starting a feminist book group on Twitter, called “Our Shared Shelf.” http://on.wsj.com/1liPAd4
2. The Year of the Woman: Three of the eight Best Picture nominees focus on women: “Brooklyn,” “Room,” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Does this mean that the academy is ready to finally take women’s stories seriously? http://slate.me/1KjP31d
3. “I jiggle, therefore I am:” Sport England, the UK government’s non-departmental public sports council, claims the “This Girl Can” ad campaign it launched one year ago has inspired almost 3 million women to do more exercise. The well-received TV ad showed women of all shapes, sizes, and abilities sweating, working out, and playing sports. http://read.bi/1ZE70nz
4. Your Favorite Feminists: Now Available in Portrait: Annie Leibovitz launched the latest installment in a series that began over 15 years ago aimed at capturing women from all walks of life in photographs. Her new exhibition, “WOMEN: New Portraits,” features portraits of celebrities that include Amy Schumer, Adele, and Gloria Steinem. http://nyti.ms/1n3mP5p
Femi-List, 1/9
1. JLaw stands with Planned Parenthood: In an interview with Glamour, she talks about how for kids who grow up in families where reproductive health is taboo – like her own – it is so crucial to have access to Planned Parenthood. http://bit.ly/1VJHLu8
2. TBS turns to feminism: Rashida Jones AND Samantha Bee? TBS’s 2016 fall lineup is the stuff feminist dreams are made of. http://bit.ly/22Q7yFS
3. Hillary Clinton is headed back to The Tonight Show: We love it when Hillary gets a chance to show her funny side on late night TV! http://bit.ly/1PjafWO
I’d like to think that in the future, the idea of a female president is a boring topic because it’s happened so much. That would be exciting.
Holiday Reading List
We asked our staff what they suggested reading while home for the holidays – here’s what they said!
1. Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women’s Lives Aren’t Getting Any Easier – and How We Can Make Real Progress for Ourselves and Our Daughters: This book by Rep. Carolyn Maloney covers how far we still have to go on issues like health care, reproductive freedom, and women’s economic security.
2. Americanah: This novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie covers a young Nigerian woman who moves to America and learns about race relations in the United States.
3. Bad Feminist: A collection of essays on politics and feminism by Roxane Gay.
4. Not that Kind of Girl: Actress (and friend of EMILY’s List!) Lena Dunham describes her past experiences and how she’s become the woman she is today.
5. Redefining Realness: Janet Mock describes what it means to be multiracial, trans, and low-income in America in this poignant memoir.
6. Crow After Roe: How “Separate But Equal” Has Become the New Standard In Women’s Health And How We Can Change That: This book by writers at RH Reality Check covers how states pass anti-choice laws in a post-Roe v. Wade era, and how those laws disproportionately affect women of color.
7. Asking for It: This Kate Harding book is about the rise of rape culture and how we can combat it.
8. Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights: Katha Pollitt argues that abortion is a social and moral right – and how we should talk about it as such.
9. Know Your Power: A Message to America’s Daughters: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the House, provides advice and stories to motivate and help women find their power.
10. Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble: Some Things About Women and Notes on Media: Nora Ephron provides her take on women and the media.