By Anne Wilson

No one likes to identify with “isms” in the 21st century. We like to believe that we have moved beyond labels and that we don’t let backwards ideologies define us or control us.

And yet, the 2008 presidential campaign has resurrected issues of sexism. We claim to have moved beyond gender divides, but the reality is that sexism is not only still alive, but still ingrained into our mentality, as individuals and as a nation. Republican strategists, who are mostly white males, can, and do, go on prime time and talk about “beating the bitch in November.” They attack Hillary Clinton not because of her policies, or her record, but first and foremost because she is a woman. And not just a woman – a bitch.

Not only does this reinforce the age-old notion that women are second-class citizens, but it derails any opportunity for Clinton to engage in a policy discussion because before anything, she must first fight for her right to stand up next to a man and have a policy discussion. Let’s be honest about something – if Hillary Clinton went on television and talked about “beating the bastard” in November, she would not only be completely discredited as a politician, but she would be labeled as a weak, whiny woman. As a woman myself, this outrages me. (And I’m an Obama supporter.)

However, perhaps more alarming to me than our failure to move past traditional gender roles, is the new wave of feminism that
blindly waves the “Girl Power” banner solely for the purpose of exalting a female for being female, not for any sort of accomplishments or abilities. Countless women have berated and shamed me for not voting for Hillary. They say things like, “As a woman, it’s your duty to help put another woman in office,” or, “Regardless of what I think of Hillary’s healthcare plan, I’m still going to vote for her because we need a woman in the White House.” As a woman, this also outrages me.

Women have come a long way in this country, and thanks to the women’s movement, we can choose to become doctors, teachers, homemakers, pilots or presidents. Regardless of what we become, we have to work hard in order to rise to true greatness. So when we, as women, fail to see past Clinton’s gender and pull the lever next to her name solely in the name of feminism, we are actually no better than the society that held us back for so many years. Instead of applauding her accomplishments, we are reducing her to “just a woman” and that makes us the new sexists.