The Double Standard is Alive and Well
- Nov 25, 2016
- 2 min read
At the "Women in the World" conference in New York, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman asked the panel to reflect on whether there was "still a double standard in the media about how we talk about women in public life" and Clintons answer was perfect. Clinton said there is a double standard obviously. "We have all either experienced it or at the very least seen it. And there is a deep set of cultural psychological views that manifest through this double standard." Clinton recalled that as a young lawyer she had read an advice column in an Arkansas newspaper advising male professionals to decorate their office with family pictures to show they were a "responsible, reliable family man" while suggesting that women should not because visitors would think "you won't be able to concentrate on your work."
We know that some of these attitudes still persist in the world, which is why it is important that we bring them up and talk about them. We must help men and women recognize when they are crossing over from a judgement into a stereotype. Women are making great political achievements, yet the media attention to back it up, unlike male politicians and their achievements is very minimal. This lack of media coverage that is actually about the politician and their political view points is a major issue in politics, and not just the female politicians involved are affected, even those watching from home are harmed by it. These women are also usually objectified and sexualized and even question whether or not they can even do the job. "So yeah the double standard is alive and well, and I think, in many respects the media is principal propagator of its persistences. And I think the media needs to be more self-consciously aware of that." - Hillary Clinton
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