Triple
Triple
4X
For some weird reason, the Republican party has very few women serving in congress, and I would wager they have no Muslims, Buddhists, Gays, Native Americans, and very few Jews.
Does the GOP really have only about 10 percent of its elected representatives from the female gender?
Seems kind of shocking in the 21st century.
Frank Apisa (01-06-2019), PoliTalker (01-08-2019), ThatOwlWoman (01-05-2019)
Cypress (01-05-2019)
ThatOwlWoman (01-05-2019)
What is your take on why this is? Conservative women aren't interested in running because 1) worried about electability by conservative males, 2) just not interested, 3) not many women who reach higher levels of education (i.e. law school grad) are conservative, 4) discouraging party atmosphere, 5) other?
I take conservatives at their word. Anyone who has spent a few weeks, months, or years on this forum cannot help but notice the ubiquitous misogyny from a substantial number of rightwing posters, not to mention the downtrodden white male grievance they indulge in.
According to some, conservative women have hitched their wagon to the party of old white men because they see it as the only plausible vehicle to protection of their priveledge. Old, conservative white women certain do not see people of color and black women as viable allies in protecting their white privilege.
But smarter people than me have probably written graduate school thesis on why the GOP leadership and elected representatives are 90 percent white men. With an average age by the way of, what, seventy four??
What do you think?
Gotcha68 (01-05-2019), ThatOwlWoman (01-05-2019)
Good points. I think one reason certain women cling to conservative "values" (I use that word loosely) has to do with religion. Women who tend to be very religious are more apt to prefer a career as home-maker or other traditional female career, not politics or public service. Certainly there is a lot of fear of changing demographics (read more non-white/non-Xtian citizens) that keeps many women clinging to the GOP. Mainly though I think that breaking through the mostly-male barrier of power and prestige is very difficult in that party. Not that it's super easy with the (D)s either.
Cypress (01-05-2019)
Very good insights.
It is really hard for me to really understand, at the DNA level, of what institutional discrimination feels like. Nothing about my color and gender has ever disadvantaged me in any measurable way in employment, education, housing, and social status. The best I can do is keep an open mind and listen to the experiences of others. I have yet to hear a Wingnut give a plausible explanation for why people of color of color avoid their party like the plague, or why their party cannot elect a reasonable amount and proportion of women. But I am all ears if they ever come up with a plausible story!
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