Feminist Looking Glass

In comparison to all of the sexist remarks that are made each day, this one is pretty low on the scale.  But it’s the type of sexist remark that has always bothered me.  Yesterday, after meeting with Republicans in a worthless attempt to find more bipartisanship, President Obama had an unscheduled news conference with reporters.  Apparently trying to be funny, he compared Republicans to his wife, saying:

Bipartisan cannot mean simply that Democrats give up everything that they believe in, find the handful of things that Republicans have been advocating for and we do those things.  That’s certainly not how it works in my marriage with Michelle — although I usually do give in, most of the time.

That type of remark is made frequently.  It’s a sort of wink-wink code between the “boys” to indicate that even while the “boys” are out here doing big things, lip service should still be paid to what goes on in their homes so as to not offend their wives.  It is condescending for obvious reasons.  In addition, it perpetuates the difference between the “public spheres” and “private spheres” that are often used as categories for assigning men and women to different roles.

(And, BTW, when is Obama going to give up on his attempts to forge bipartisanship with Republicans?  It is absolutely certain that the Republicans will never work with him.  As with the health care bills, even with all of the giveaways to Republicans, they have made it absolutely clear that they will never pass any bill proposed by Democrats.  All it is is a waste of his time.  Give it up.  Concentrate on something like changing the Senate filibuster rules so that something can actually be accomplished.  (And in another BTW, get rid of Rahm Emanuel since he has been totally ineffective in getting anything through Congress and that was supposedly his strength.))

Filed under: Politics, Stereotyping Tagged: | Barack Obama, michelle obama