You’ve probably heard the idea, sometimes offered by people who give work advice, that women’s best strategy in dealing with sexist comments is just to ignore them and move on (especially at work). That’s certainly understandable. We’ve written about the importance of carefully considering how to address sexist comments at work and the risks of confronting them.
A few weeks ago, a former Philadelphia TV news anchor, Larry Mendte, weighed in on the issue of whether women running for office should learn to adapt to the sexism they will confront. He was responding to a December article by Washington Post writer Anne Kornblut with advice for women candidates. Two of Kornblut’s suggestions were that woman candidates should prepare their families to be the target of criticism because, unlike the families of male candidates, they are considered fair game. She also suggested that “attractive” women candidates should “expect them to hate you because you’re beautiful.” Kornblut’s tips are well intentioned but, like so much advice for women that appears in the media, leave out the other part of the equation. Mendte points this out on his blog:
“. . . women candidates should not change the way they are to appease a sexist electorate and media. Instead, the electorate needs to change to respect female candidates, and the media should lead the charge by treating both men and women candidates equally.”
Mendte knows of what he speaks. His wife, a former Fox news anchor, is considering a run for office, and already she’s been subject to a sexist slur by a law professor who is a columnist on a popular local blog.
When we hear the suggestion that women need to adapt to the reality of sexism if they’re going to succeed, we may want to offer an alternative solution regarding just who or what needs to change. (Here’s an earlier post from Cynthia about this issue as well.) Had we followed similar advice in dealing with racial discrimination, Jim Crow laws, “separate-but-equal” schools, and poll taxes might still be alive and well.
Steve
Great Post! Why should women adapt to sexism? Why should they be enablers of bad behavior.
Good for Larry Mendte for sticking up for his wife and for all women and thank for you Steve for championing the cause.
It is men, not just women, who need to cry foul.