Now that the presidential election has finally ended, we can begin our next conversation: the 2016 presidential election. Our creativity of topics aside, the search for presidential candidates has already begun. Most interesting to me is the reemergence of an old name: Hillary Clinton.
During her 2008 run, Clinton memorably rebuked criticisms of her penchant for pantsuits by playing on the title of Ann Brashares’ popular book series, calling her camp the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits.”
Clinton’s emergence as a possible candidate for the presidency is intriguing because it follows repeated declarations that it is the “Year of the Woman in Politics.” In 1992, there were then record numbers of congressional women. Soon thereafter in 1994, the rise leveled and then fell once again.
I say all of this to encourage cautious optimism about the record number of women elected to serve when Congress convenes in January of 2013. Reuters from Nov. 7 reports that as a result of the November elections, roughly 80 women will sit in the U.S. House of Representatives and 20 in the U.S. Senate.
For many, this number is indicative of rising equality for men and women in politics. Perhaps politics can even act as a microcosm for wider society. It’s true that Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and other women occupy some of the highest rungs of government influence.
I don’t think any of these facts can necessarily be taken to mean we are more equal. Moreover, that we are more equal for a sustained, long-term future. After all, if 1992 demonstrated anything it’s that just as quickly as the number of women in power can rise, it can fall.
Also, consider what we talk about when we give our attention to female politicians. Recall the pantsuit conversation with Clinton. In my personal experience, while many dismissed Sarah Palin in 2008 as a ridiculous politician, they gave her credit for being attractive. Michelle Obama, known for her own sharp mind, is praised for her high fashion tastes.
The point here is simply that numbers are not the sole or most reliable indication of where women actually stand in politics.
I am absolutely ecstatic, as I believe everyone should be, about the record number of women in Congress. Given the supposed “War on Women” waged by the GOP, women wielding positions of power is a benefit to the entire country. Keeping Mitt Romney’s good intentions in mind (but fully exposing his stupidity), it should never be a merit to say one has a binder full of women.
Beyond politics, we should all concern ourselves with sex and gender equality. True, Hillary Clinton being elected president in 2016 would likely bode well for that mission, but just as Barack Obama being president does not end the mission for racial equality, so Clinton’s ascension wouldn’t end the campaign for equality for women.
As always, there is much work to be done. Perhaps one can reasonably think the goal should be for us to not take pride in a supposed and aberrant “Year of the Woman in Politics,” but rather ease ourselves into making it an annual affair.
