It has been a tough year for politics in general. That goes without saying. However, I feel that things have been very difficult for women politicians particularly. The media representation of women in this field has been really disgusting and demoralizing. It has always been challenging to be a female in politics, but somehow, it seems that since Hilary Clinton ran for president, it has become worse. Women politicians are being lambasted on a more personal level, in ways that align with sexism and ageism.
Here is a key example. A group called The Women's Media Center recently gave out "awards" for most sexist media coverage of politics for 2010. Their most “revolting” prize for online media went to the conservative website Human Events, who posted an audio clip titled “Babes of the DNC Calendar.” The feature was described as a “feast of wrinkled flesh,” and described Senator Dianne Feinstein as “mesmerizing spiced beef.” Poor former Attorney General Janet Reno was called a “beastly, unshaved, Danish carnival.” Wow, this was definitely not as funny as the naked supreme court justices in The Daily Show's "America: The Book." At least that was an equal opportunity offender in embarrassing men and women, republicans and democrats alike.
When the media makes fun of women in sexist ways, it is not just about the present joke that they are making. It ties in to the ultimate idea that the concept of women as politicians is laughable. This is not only occurring online, but also on so-called "real" new programs time and time again. No wonder a lot of women of my generation opt for the "fake" news show.
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