Talking about sexism on the campaign trail can also be seen as leveraging gender for political gain. They have been told to stay quiet about the troubles they face and shed signs of their femininity in an attempt to prove that they are “man enough” to hold the highest office in the land, Dittmar said. “She portrayed herself as a fighter, donning boxing gloves and being credited with having testicular fortitude.”Eight years on, in 2016, Clinton’s messaging changed, Dittmar noted over the phone. “She was more willing to talk about gender as an electoral asset.”That strategy, which may have helped Clinton win the popular vote, has since influenced the campaign strategies of women running for office in 2018 and 2020, Dittmar added. “I would credit her in switching the paradigm a little bit to say that ‘my perspective as a woman is different and that difference brings with it substantive implications.’”

Source: New York Times January 15, 2020 23:26 UTC