Prof says ‘electability’ is based on gender, Warren treated unfairly
One University of Chicago professor is slamming the idea of assessing a presidential candidate’s “electability,” claiming that doing so is sexist.
Linda Zerilli, a professor of political science and gender and sexuality studies, recently asserted in an interview that a candidate’s “electability” Is heavily influenced by his or her gender. She teaches that gender in politics is a necessary conversation that has not been adequately spoken about.
“The main point is that gender is not being properly thematized in this election,” Zerilli told Campus Reform.
Zerilli says that the discussion of gender or race could be to female candidates’ advantage but is all very secondary to their main points.
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“When the issue of electability comes up in relation to women (or a candidate of color), there is no background political discourse about the structures of domination that sustain gender inequality, including the underrepresentation of women in elected office, to make sense of this issue,” Zerelli told Campus Reform.
”Each woman candidate is left on her own to defend her ‘competence,’ when the real issue is the pervasive social, economic, and symbolic gender inequality that persists despite formal political equality,” the professor lamented.
The professor asserted that women are held to a higher standard of explanation than their male counterparts, claiming that Bernie Sanders isn’t grilled on the specifics of his healthcare plan, while female candidates like Elizabeth Warren are asked to get detailed.
“You can make the argument that she claims to have a plan for everything, but why does she feel that she has to have a plan?” said Zerilli, “Why does every woman who has ever gotten up there feel like she has to have a plan for everything?”
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”This year marks the centennial of the women’s right to vote. Also, America has witnessed an unprecedented number of women running for top elected office. Both of these accomplishments are exciting to celebrate,” Sophie Czerniecki, President of the Network of Enlightened Women at The Catholic University of America told Campus Reform.
“My friends and I in our Network of enlightened Women chapter believe that women are intelligent and thoughtful voters who are going to vote for the candidates they think are best for the job, not based on whether someone is a male or female. And that’s what we should want,” Czerniecki added.
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