Why Exactly Are You “With Her?”
What do people look for in a president? When I imagine the “perfect president,” race, gender, and class aren’t aspects that I consider. However, in this year’s election, I have seen all three discussed. Donald Trump’s comments have been regarded as racist. Hillary Clinton created the “I’m with Her” slogan to capitalize on her gender. Both candidates have been criticized on their wealth. I have found myself more knowledgeable about their personal lives, rather than their policy plans.
McAdam and Kloos, in Deeply Divided, argue that race also played a role in the presidential elections throughout the 1960s and early 70s. According to McAdam and Kloos, social movements during that time period “pushed the national Democratic and Republican parties sharply to the left and right” (McAdam and Kloos 68). Further arguments claim that voting according to racial perspective remains an issue today (Ehrenfreud). It has been said that white Southerners, who agree with various racist comments, are more likely to vote Republican (Ehrenfreud). Although race has been a proven factor throughout time, I would argue that gender is especially one this year.
Every part of the Clinton campaign seems to involve gender. On Tuesday, I eagerly attended a panel entitled “Women in Leadership” at Wake with Chelsea Clinton. While I was expecting a few correlations between the talk and her mother’s candidacy, I was upset when the panel was more focused on the election than on women in leadership. The other panel members focused on overcoming sexism, while Chelsea seemed more concerned with relating their points to the campaign. Is the event itself not enough publicity on gender for the campaign? Just as racism has and may still be playing a role in choosing the president, gender has become a dominant aspect this year.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-racist-examples_us_56d47177e4b03260bf777e83
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/10/fear-of-a-female-president/497564/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/campaign-finance/
