My special friend sent me the below TED talk link and said, “Since you are a feminist and have a whole section on your blog you may want to see and share this”.
It was such a timely message from her – because just earlier in the day I was called a sexist by couple of other ‘special friends’. It had me thinking and reflecting (and upset): Am I really a feminist ? Or Am I sexist?
I was forced to examine my beliefs and convictions, thoughts and ideas, and statements and feelings. I still believe that all human beings are equal and should not be discriminated against for gender, race , sexual orientation and economic status. So what made them call me a sexist?
My responses to their question , they said- and the vehemence in which I expressed my opinion, they said. Those questions and the essence of my responses :
Would you vote for Carly Fiorina or Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election (assuming ofcourse that they become their respective party candidates)?
I would not vote for Carly because her stance of abortion interferes with the fundamental freedom of a woman to decide on her healthcare choices with her doctor.
(Does this response make a feminist? Or a sexist? )
Do I support killing pain-capable foetus then?
My stance on abortion is this:
-If a foetus is capable of feeling pain then imagine how much more pain the born child would have to endure if it’s unwanted and ends up being uncared for. I would rather a foetus experience the one final pain rather than a lifetime of pains.
-Unless the society/government changes in such a way to ensure that every born child will have all their needs met , including love, 100% of the time , I believe society/government should not interfere in the choice of individuals.
-If a government believes in pro-life I expect the government never to go to war – to dismantle all nuclear weapons and Weapons of mass destruction . And to have all guns in the country melted to make cradles.
(Does this response make a feminist? Or a sexist? Or socialist? )
Question: who would you vote for: Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton – both are pro-choice ?
All things being equal between the two candidates, I would vote for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman.
(Does this statement make me a sexist? It might seem so…but No….because…)
Why?
Because the United states of America – a developed “super-power”- has not had a woman president or even a woman vice president since its founding. The percentage of women in US Congress is low (just touched 20%, see source below). There were more systemic roadblocks in place that prevented women like Hillary Clinton (women from that era) from progressing than today – while the men enjoyed more privilege…..so all things being equal , in 2016, I would vote for a woman president because
- I want to give her the advantage that she has lacked
- she had to work harder to be “equal” to a male who has had systemic advantage. Therefore she is a better candidate.
Am I still a sexist? Did I move towards the feminist midpoint? Do I care what my label is?
If the society changes to allow people of all genders (more than the binary version of genders) equal opportunity and gender inequality exists only in a museum display as an ancient artefact – with all things being truly truly equal between candidates like Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton and when women represent around 50% of the senate and house, who would I choose?
I would choose the one who looks good, as I had already written in an earlier post . Bernie Sanders , if you want my vote you better be a good looking dude 🙂
I don’t know what this response makes me: sexist or feminist or shallow? Do I look like I care?
So who would you vote for between a male and female candidate? Considering that the two candidates are equal in every respect ..who would you choose: a man or a woman? And what does that choice make you? A feminist or a sexist?
————–
P.S – Thank you special friend!
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives
Number of Women in Congress by House
Number of women in the United States Congress (1917–2013):[2]
Congress | Years | in Congress | % | in House | % | in Senate | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
65th | 1917–1919 | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 0 | 0% |
66th | 1919–1921 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
67th | 1921–1923 | 4 | 0.7% | 3 | 0.7% | 1 | 1% |
68th | 1923–1925 | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | 0.2% | 0 | 0% |
69th | 1925–1927 | 3 | 0.6% | 3 | 0.7% | 0 | 0% |
70th | 1927–1929 | 5 | 0.9% | 5 | 1.1% | 0 | 0% |
71st | 1929–1931 | 9 | 1.7% | 9 | 2.1% | 0 | 0% |
72nd | 1931–1933 | 8 | 1.5% | 7 | 1.6% | 1 | 1% |
73rd | 1933–1935 | 8 | 1.5% | 7 | 1.6% | 1 | 1% |
74th | 1935–1937 | 8 | 1.5% | 6 | 1.4% | 2 | 2% |
75th | 1937–1939 | 9 | 1.7% | 6 | 1.4% | 3 | 3% |
76th | 1939–1941 | 9 | 1.7% | 8 | 1.8% | 1 | 1% |
77th | 1941–1943 | 10 | 1.9% | 9 | 2.1% | 1 | 1% |
78th | 1943–1945 | 9 | 1.7% | 8 | 1.8% | 1 | 1% |
79th | 1945–1947 | 11 | 2.1% | 11 | 2.5% | 0 | 0% |
80th | 1947–1949 | 8 | 1.5% | 7 | 1.6% | 1 | 1% |
81st | 1949–1951 | 10 | 1.9% | 9 | 2.1% | 1 | 1% |
82nd | 1951–1953 | 11 | 2.1% | 10 | 2.3% | 1 | 1% |
83rd | 1953–1955 | 15 | 2.8% | 12 | 2.8% | 3 | 3% |
84th | 1955–1957 | 18 | 3.4% | 17 | 3.9% | 1 | 1% |
85th | 1957–1959 | 16 | 3.0% | 15 | 3.4% | 1 | 1% |
86th | 1959–1961 | 19 | 3.5% | 17 | 3.9% | 2 | 2% |
87th | 1961–1963 | 20 | 3.7% | 18 | 4.1% | 2 | 2% |
88th | 1963–1965 | 14 | 2.6% | 12 | 2.8% | 2 | 2% |
89th | 1965–1967 | 13 | 2.4% | 11 | 2.5% | 2 | 2% |
90th | 1967–1969 | 12 | 2.2% | 11 | 2.5% | 1 | 1% |
91st | 1969–1971 | 11 | 2.1% | 10 | 2.3% | 1 | 1% |
92nd | 1971–1973 | 15 | 2.8% | 13 | 3.0% | 2 | 2% |
93rd | 1973–1975 | 16 | 3.0% | 16 | 3.7% | 0 | 0% |
94th | 1975–1977 | 19 | 3.6% | 19 | 4.4% | 0 | 0% |
95th | 1977–1979 | 20 | 3.7% | 18 | 4.1% | 2 | 2% |
96th | 1979–1981 | 17 | 3.2% | 16 | 3.7% | 1 | 1% |
97th | 1981–1983 | 23 | 4.3% | 21 | 4.8% | 2 | 2% |
98th | 1983–1985 | 24 | 4.5% | 22 | 5.0% | 2 | 2% |
99th | 1985–1987 | 25 | 4.7% | 23 | 5.3% | 2 | 2% |
100th | 1987–1989 | 26 | 4.9% | 24 | 5.5% | 2 | 2% |
101st | 1989–1991 | 31 | 5.8% | 29 | 6.7% | 2 | 2% |
102nd | 1991–1993 | 33 | 6.2% | 30 | 6.9% | 3 | 3% |
103rd | 1993–1995 | 55 | 10.3% | 48 | 11.0% | 7 | 7% |
104th | 1995–1997 | 59 | 11.0% | 50 | 11.5% | 9 | 9% |
105th | 1997–1999 | 66 | 12.3% | 57 | 13.1% | 9 | 9% |
106th | 1999–2001 | 67 | 12.5% | 58 | 13.3% | 9 | 9% |
107th | 2001–2003 | 75 | 14.0% | 62 | 14.3% | 13 | 13% |
108th | 2003–2005 | 77 | 14.4% | 63 | 14.5% | 14 | 14% |
109th | 2005–2007 | 85 | 15.9% | 71 | 16.3% | 14 | 14% |
110th | 2007–2009 | 94 | 17.6% | 78 | 17.9% | 16 | 16% |
111th | 2009–2011 | 96 | 17.9% | 79 | 18.2% | 17 | 17% |
112th | 2011–2013 | 96 | 17.9% | 79 | 18.2% | 17 | 17% |
113th | 2013–2015 | 102 | 19.1% | 82 | 18.9% | 20 | 20% |
114th | 2015–2017 | 104 | 19.4% | 84 | 19.3% | 20 | 20% |
Politics is a subject that doesn’t interest me much so I can’t pick between Sanders and Clinton. But when I read your views on abortion – that’s where I knew you and I were headed in the same direction. Here is why I say that – http://happinessandfood.com/the-right-to-abortion/
Loved reading your post and the best are those where you can relate. This was one!
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Thanks Parul. I know many women are pro-abortion and still value the unborn and born life….unfortunately the world wants to stick to two extremes and are losing compassion.
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I would choose the candidate that is more capable IF both are equal in every respect.
Wanting gender equality does not make anybody a sexist. We’re not asking for the world to turn upside down and push men to where women are right now. We’re just demanding we be treated with as much respect as men are. Why is that so hard to understand?
You’re not sexist (as far as I can gather). You’re a feminist and to stay one, you’ll be criticized a shitload. Here, grab a chair and a tub of popcorn.
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Exactly – what’s wrong in choosing a woman when women’s representation is low in goverment – when all things being equal (both candidates equally capable)? Some don’t understand that choice as an attempt at gender equality and take it as misandry…. We need a big tub of popcorn ..it’s going to be a long show 🙂
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Love this TED talk… he was wonderful! 🙂
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