lecture 11 13 women president

Madam Madam President?President?

Gendering of an InstitutionGendering of an Institution

Some notes to beginSome notes to begin Electoral politics versus action in officeElectoral politics versus action in office

The book does not really offer any The book does not really offer any hypothetical assessments on how women hypothetical assessments on how women would act as president, beyond highlighting would act as president, beyond highlighting how stereotypes of this effect the possibility how stereotypes of this effect the possibility of being elected.of being elected.

The Executive office is MUCH MORE The Executive office is MUCH MORE than the President. than the President. Your book does include some insights about Your book does include some insights about

women’s leadership in executive positions women’s leadership in executive positions more broadly as a way to figure out if this is more broadly as a way to figure out if this is an indicator that cultural shifts are an indicator that cultural shifts are happening that allow for the election of a happening that allow for the election of a female president. female president.

What Does It Take to Win the What Does It Take to Win the Presidency?Presidency?

I do want to highlight the electoral college, which is the I do want to highlight the electoral college, which is the institution through which we elect the president. The institution through which we elect the president. The book is not always clear about whether they are book is not always clear about whether they are referencing the popular election or the primary. Clearly referencing the popular election or the primary. Clearly Clinton was unable to secure the Democratic nomination, Clinton was unable to secure the Democratic nomination, though the battle, I believe, was longer and harder fought though the battle, I believe, was longer and harder fought than anyone expected. Your book is written from a than anyone expected. Your book is written from a skeptical position, and others at the time Clinton began skeptical position, and others at the time Clinton began her race thought she was a sure winner, even within such her race thought she was a sure winner, even within such a large pack of candidates. Why is this? a large pack of candidates. Why is this?

Party support, particularly elitesParty support, particularly elites Primary challenge lost

MoneyMoney Individual votes The Electoral College

Sen. Clinton and E.C. predictors

Barriers to OfficeBarriers to Office

Attitudinal– Voters attitudes and Attitudinal– Voters attitudes and beliefs inform their choices. beliefs inform their choices. Stereotypes of gender Understanding of the presidencyUnderstanding of the presidency

Structural– Environmental factors Structural– Environmental factors and institutional factors that are and institutional factors that are necessary (but not always sufficient) necessary (but not always sufficient) to forge a successful path to office.to forge a successful path to office. Party SupportParty Support Incumbency Incumbency

The Masculine The Masculine PresidencyPresidency

KerryKerry Defend America Rassman

Negative Attack on KerryNegative Attack on Kerry Windsailing Global Test

BushBush Weapons Wolves

Progress And Perils: How Gender Progress And Perils: How Gender Issues Unite & Divide Women SurveyIssues Unite & Divide Women Survey [December, 2000]Some people think [December, 2000]Some people think women have to make certain trade-offs women have to make certain trade-offs to be successful in business or politics, to be successful in business or politics, while other people think these trade-offs while other people think these trade-offs are not necessary. I'm going to read a are not necessary. I'm going to read a list of statements about possible trade-list of statements about possible trade-offs. For each one, please tell me offs. For each one, please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. How about...a woman can both disagree. How about...a woman can both be feminine and be in a position of be feminine and be in a position of power? Do you strongly agree, power? Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree? strongly disagree?

But, as your book points out, other questions seem But, as your book points out, other questions seem to indicate that this is not the case. The biggest to indicate that this is not the case. The biggest concern is being able to handle military issues. The concern is being able to handle military issues. The catch here is that support for military engagement catch here is that support for military engagement fluctuates, and we may be seeing a down swing. fluctuates, and we may be seeing a down swing.

Strongly AgreeStrongly Agree 7575

Somewhat AgreeSomewhat Agree 2020

Somewhat AgreeSomewhat Agree 33

Strongly DisagreeStrongly Disagree 11

Don’t know/ RefusedDon’t know/ Refused 11

Security as an IssueSecurity as an Issue

Your book talks a lot Your book talks a lot about this show. Here about this show. Here

examples.examples. President Mackenzie Allen

Clip 2 Geena Davis in her on the topic of cu

lture, media and women.

Negotiation styles Clip on Torture Do you think Davis was sexualized in Do you think Davis was sexualized in

this role?this role? Is it possible for women to be portrayed Is it possible for women to be portrayed

as gender neutral? Can you think of as gender neutral? Can you think of such a character?such a character?

Does the idea of President Allen resonate with Does the idea of President Allen resonate with the possibility of Hillary Clinton as president? the possibility of Hillary Clinton as president? Sarah Palin?Sarah Palin?

From Heldman’s ChapterFrom Heldman’s Chapter

““Questions that include the word Questions that include the word ‘qualified’ are actually measuring ‘qualified’ are actually measuring voter support for a female president voter support for a female president who has who has magically transcended magically transcended her genderher gender” (19).” (19).

Did Sen. Clinton do this or did her Did Sen. Clinton do this or did her campaign play to gender campaign play to gender stereotypes?stereotypes?

Sarah Palin?Sarah Palin?

Sen. Clinton keeps distance from the press.

Dealing with stereotypes? Turning the tables? Efforts at negati

vely constructing “masculine” leadership.

Approval Ratings for Approval Ratings for President BushPresident Bush

Do we construct Bush or Obama as Do we construct Bush or Obama as masculine or feminine?masculine or feminine?

Do you think this impacts approval Do you think this impacts approval of leadership? Is there a different of leadership? Is there a different narrative here?narrative here?

QuestionsQuestions Does the literature on congressional campaigning Does the literature on congressional campaigning

and politics that we have read provide support or and politics that we have read provide support or detract from the claims made by the authors of detract from the claims made by the authors of Rethinking Madam PresidentRethinking Madam President? Which claims are ? Which claims are supported and which detracted? Explain.supported and which detracted? Explain.

Does Sen. Clinton’s campaign conform or not to the Does Sen. Clinton’s campaign conform or not to the theories presented in the reading? What aspects of theories presented in the reading? What aspects of her campaign reinforce or provide examples from her campaign reinforce or provide examples from the reading? What aspects offer exceptions?the reading? What aspects offer exceptions?

Does the book adequately include considerations Does the book adequately include considerations about the unique nature of the Electoral College? about the unique nature of the Electoral College? How would these considerations change the How would these considerations change the predictions provided? predictions provided?

Madam PresidentMadam President

On the Campaign TrailOn the Campaign Trail

What Does It Take to Win What Does It Take to Win the Presidency?the Presidency?

Electoral College Electoral College Individual votesIndividual votes

Media coverageMedia coverage Gender stereotypes of candidates and Gender stereotypes of candidates and

the institutionthe institution MoneyMoney Party support, particularly elitesParty support, particularly elites

Media CoverageMedia CoverageSummer and Fall 2007Summer and Fall 2007

Coverage From Lexis Nexis Search Coverage From Lexis Nexis SearchClintoClintonn

ObamObama a

EdwarEdwardsds

DoddDodd RichardRichardsonson

Major Major US/ US/ World World Publ.Publ.

977977 999999 998998 996996 996996

TV/ TV/ Radio Radio TranscTranscr.r.

962962 996996 978978 983983 997997

BlogsBlogs 10001000 947947 768768 283283 375375

GiuliaGiulianini

RomneRomneyy

McCaiMcCainn

HuckabHuckabeeee


464464 293293 115115 227227

TV/ TV/ Radio Radio TransTranscr.cr.

471471 453453 858858 621621

BlogsBlogs 6666 256256 2929 172172

Media Coverage: The case Media Coverage: The case for why Hillary will not be for why Hillary will not be

the next VEEPthe next VEEPLast week’sLast week’s c coverage from Lexis overage from Lexis

Nexis searchNexis searchClintoClintonn

ObamObama a

McCaiMcCainn


144144 993993 960960

TV/ TV/ Radio Radio TranscTranscr.r.

183183 10001000++

1000+1000+

BlogsBlogs 138138 10001000++

1000+1000+

What do we mean by gender?What do we mean by gender? What is the double bind for women What is the double bind for women

politicians?politicians? What is transgendering of an What is transgendering of an

institution? How does this help?institution? How does this help? The problem of the “Great Man.”The problem of the “Great Man.”

Environment Matters: Environment Matters: A subtitle for Duerst-LahtiA subtitle for Duerst-Lahti

What stereotypes or gendering is attached What stereotypes or gendering is attached to the main events and foci of the to the main events and foci of the campaign (and thus the words attached).campaign (and thus the words attached).

““The 2008 election will likely be framed in The 2008 election will likely be framed in terms similar to 2004, unless the United terms similar to 2004, unless the United States has ended the war on terror and States has ended the war on terror and extricated itself from both Afghanistan extricated itself from both Afghanistan and Iraq. Therefore we can particularly and Iraq. Therefore we can particularly anticipate continued heavy use of the anticipate continued heavy use of the words derived from wildcards for attack, words derived from wildcards for attack, strength, and hardness.” (103)strength, and hardness.” (103)

What do you think– true or not?What do you think– true or not?

Change in Gender Change in Gender Climate?Climate?

““Tough talk, which so dominated the Tough talk, which so dominated the presidency since 9/11, may finally be presidency since 9/11, may finally be recognized as having a downside recognized as having a downside and framed by the press as such. If and framed by the press as such. If so, perhaps, just perhaps, the so, perhaps, just perhaps, the campaign trail will evoke less campaign trail will evoke less masculinity in 2008.” (111)masculinity in 2008.” (111)

Impact for voters and stereotyping?Impact for voters and stereotyping?

Do you think any of this has changed Do you think any of this has changed over the last year?over the last year?

Would Palin have an easier time in a Would Palin have an easier time in a bid for the presidency than Clinton? bid for the presidency than Clinton? Why or why not– using the ideas Why or why not– using the ideas from the reading?from the reading?

What Money Gets YouWhat Money Gets You

Name recognitionName recognition Networks/ supportNetworks/ support Campaign organizationCampaign organization Backing of partyBacking of party CredibilityCredibility ResumeResume

Individual Contributions Individual Contributions Democratic PrimaryDemocratic Primary

Primary Election Primary Election ContributionsContributions

PartyParty

Clinton as a masculine candidate?Clinton as a masculine candidate?

http://www.fec.gov/http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.doDisclosureSearch/mapApp.do

Madam PresidentMadam President

Lessons from Challenges of Lessons from Challenges of Executive leadershipExecutive leadership

The Executive Office as The Executive Office as more than the President.more than the President.

Hierarchical division of executive Hierarchical division of executive responsibilities into departments and responsibilities into departments and agencies, with the U.S. President at the agencies, with the U.S. President at the chief executive officer. This is what chief executive officer. This is what comprises the bureaucracy.comprises the bureaucracy.

Current CabinetCurrent Cabinet Some areas of the bureaucracy women Some areas of the bureaucracy women

have had more success in gaining access. have had more success in gaining access. Guess to which?Guess to which?

Why focus on military?Why focus on military? Source of perceptions of women’s ability Source of perceptions of women’s ability

to be commander in chief.to be commander in chief. Perhaps the first step to a woman Perhaps the first step to a woman

president must be normalizing women’s president must be normalizing women’s presence in the militarypresence in the military

More than just changing formal combat More than just changing formal combat status– have to deal with the same status– have to deal with the same attitudinal barriers discussed throughout attitudinal barriers discussed throughout the bookthe book

Are the consequences of persistent Are the consequences of persistent attitudinal barriers in the military worse?attitudinal barriers in the military worse?

Realities of Women in the Realities of Women in the Masculine Executive Masculine Executive

Branch Branch Secretary of StateSecretary of State

Madeline AlbrightMadeline Albright Condelezza RiceCondelezza Rice Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton

Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet NapolitanoJanet Napolitano

Tailhook and Women in CombatTailhook and Women in Combat Rape and women in the militaryRape and women in the military

lecture 11 13 women president

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