If you have been keeping up with the presidential race, you’ve have definitely heard about the sexist comments from Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Albright. To sum up, Albright said in The Washington Examiner that “there’s a special place in Hell for women who don’t support women,” referring to women who do not support Clinton as our next president. Similarly, Steinem suggested that many women support Bernie Sanders because “the boys are with Bernie.”
In last night’s debate, Clinton responded to Albright and Steinem’s comments, saying, “I have spent my entire adult life making sure that women are empowered to make their own choices--even if that choice is not to vote for me.”
Because women contribute 52 percent of the national electorate and more identify as Democrats than Republicans, they are assumed to be feminists. As Democrats and feminists, Clinton and Sanders have dedicated their campaign to winning the votes of women through the three “I’s.” Cynthia Weber, professor of International Relations at the University of Sussex, has described the divide along age lines to explain the reasoning behind how voters choose an ideal candidate based on three factors: identity, ideology and issues.
1. Identity
By definition, identity refers to the specific facts and characteristics that make up a human being. Women are therefore labeled as feminists based on their gender identity. Many voters believe that the United States is in need of a woman president, but because both Sanders and Clinton have labeled themselves as feminists, it is up to the public to vote based on identity rather than gender.
2. Ideology
Ideology is defined as the system of ideas and ideals that form the basis of economic, social or political action. Feminism itself is an ideology, as feminists consider how gender and sexuality privilege some and disadvantage others. Generally, feminists believe that equality and opportunity for women should be pursued in the current political and economic system, which is why many voters favor Clinton’s campaign. In contrast to Clinton, feminists voting for Sanders' feminism believe that women’s equality requires a democratic revolution against corporate power rather than changing the system we already have.
3. Issues
Weber explains that both Clinton and Sanders have respective brands of feminism, but the way they approach issues will determine which feminist becomes the next president of the United States.
Clinton has famously asserted that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights” in her 2011 Human Rights Day speech and voted for the Defense of Marriage Act to ensure marriage equality to same-sex couples. However, Sanders voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 but still labels himself a feminist.
Through identity, ideology and issues, voters can capture their views of feminism and decide whether to support Clinton or Sanders in the presidential race. These concepts differ among individual voters but it will be up to the feminists to determine whether the Democrats continue to win the national women’s vote.
To join in the conversation, this week’s "Saturday Night Live" episode opened with a viewing of those who support Bernie Sanders over Clinton. The SNL actors made sure to mention the anti-feminist messages of Steinem and Albright.
As Clinton and Sanders continue their fight to win over progressive millennial feminists, the SNL skit will help bring more attention to the feminist messages and issues.
