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I remember when Anita Hill was testifying before Congress. She was a woman who told the truth about a powerful man who was unfit as a Supreme Court justice. She was forced to humiliate herself by talking about a personal and degrading topic. I was riveted to the radio and TV at the time. I was pulling for her. She represented the working women of the world who had to fight so hard to succeed in this man’s world. Now was our time: women standing up and telling the truth about power and control. The world will see how easy it was for a man to reduce a professional woman to a sex object—to limit (or threaten to destroy) her career—for what? She represented not only me, but all women.
When Biden and his friends dismissed her so readily after her testimony, I cried. And I never quite forgave him. Thomas used his power to swat Hill like a fly and the men in Congress ratified his behavior.
I have been treated differently throughout my life because of my gender: I played the drums in high school, not a more traditional female instrument like the flute or the clarinet. The boys did not like me invading their turf. I was never part of the team. Instead of allowing me to practice with them they would threaten to rape me with a drum stick or at the end of class, throw me in the band closet and ask for a blow job. (They did not get one!)
I worked as a camera operator in television for live news and sporting events after high school. I was one of few women in that field and was forced to sit in silence as the male technicians, directors, producers, looked through the football crowd, shot tight shots of women’s breasts or rear ends, used technical effects to distort them into sexual objects. They had a special video reel of women they sexually distorted and put to music. Once I did speak out. I reminded them that these women they are reducing to sex objects are mothers, and sisters, and daughters. Later that day, they made a distorted video of me. For all I know, it is still on the reel.
My first job after college, I was paid 20,000 a year less than the man who had less seniority and less responsibility. When the economy tanked, I was on the chopping block because he was a “family man.” I fought my whole life for opportunities that men were simply given as if entitled.
When Hillary Clinton ran for President, I supported her. Not simply because she was a woman (after all I have never supported Bachmann or Palin), I agreed with her policies. But, her gender was one of the reasons I supported her.
The treatment she received during the primaries by most media pundits, by many on DU, by her opposition—including Obama—had sexist undertones. She was treated differently because she was a woman. And, the gender bias in our society was exploited and used against her. It was subtle, but evident to me. After all, I lived it. During the election, I was reminded of what Anita Hill went through, and I did not like it. Had we come no further as a society? When the bottom line hits—is oppression still the go-to answer after all these years?
During the primary, when it was suggested that Clinton was being treated differently because she was a woman, people here were angry. There was uproar. People felt personally attacked. We were told not to play the gender card.
So, here we are today. Professor Melissa Harris-Perry suggests that there may be racism behind the democratic lack of support for Obama. My initial response: offended! She is playing the race card! Obama was not treated any differently than Clinton! I am not a racist—she is calling me a racist!
I am upset with Obama because I believe he did not fight for the progressive agenda. I think he sold us out one-to-many-times for the sake of compromise. His race never occurred to me. And I am not treating him any differently than I treated Clinton (actually better, because for a while after his sexual escapades I was so angry at what he did for the progressive cause not to mention his wife, I wanted Clinton castrated). And I disagree with MHP's response to Walsh.
Yet. Professor Harris-Perry may have a point. Her experience as an African American brings a unique perspective. She gives us a view through a prism exposing something that I cannot see, that I have not experienced. I can only correlate it to my own experience as a woman. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and open my mind to the possibility. Even if it hurts.
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