What Will It Take to Make a Woman President by Marianne Schnall

Author:Marianne Schnall [Schnall, Marianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781580054973
Publisher: Seal Press
Published: 2013-11-04T18:30:00+00:00

MARIANNE SCHNALL: Why do you think we’ve never had a woman president?

KATHY NAJIMY: I think, even with the advances that we’ve made, which are considerable, there’s been a lot of backlash as well. I believe that sexism and misogyny are as alive today in some places as they were twenty years ago. We know women are as smart as, if not smarter than, men, and as capable as, if not more capable than, men, and we actually had a woman running for president who was more qualified than the men running for president. But still, all the knowing doesn’t affect the gut sexism that lives within. Across America and the world, there are still men and women who believe that women are second-class citizens, inferior, and that their sole purpose is birthing, mothering, wifing, and maybe . . . kindergarten teaching. It seems we are not ready to hand our beloved country over to someone who we really believe—not instinctually or authentically, but because we’ve been taught and conditioned to believe it—is not as qualified simply because she is a woman.

MS: Are you feeling hopeful? Do you foresee a woman president in your lifetime?

KN: Yes. In my opinion, I think Hillary Clinton is, at this moment in time, the most qualified person for president. She spent eight years in the White House, not just planning tea parties but affecting change and legislation and traveling the world, building foreign relations—accumulating experience. And for those reasons, I think she is supremely qualified to run this country. One of the only things keeping her out of the White House is our shared agreement that we will care more about her hairstyle and her pantsuit than we do about her experience, intelligence, and how fiercely qualified she is. I can’t think of anybody who would be better for the position. But I also would not be surprised if the wave of fear washes over our country and she never gets the chance.

MS: I remember interviewing Sheryl Sandberg, and she was talking about the likability hit and the backlash that powerful women often experience—about how women who are openly ambitious or confident are often perceived as unattractive and unlikable, and how one deals with that conundrum in terms of a very intrinsic problem. I’m not sure what the simple answer to that is, other than seeing more women leaders and becoming comfortable with that.

KN: Well, wanting to have a likable president is human nature. I think if somebody got up there and they reflected all of my personal values but they seemed like the most unlikable person ever, I think I might be hesitant, because it’s human nature. We gravitate toward things we like. So, man or woman, I don’t think unlikable is going to be voted president. However, we know the reasons that Hillary Clinton is called unlikable are not issues of personality. She’s actually hilarious—hilarious, smart, kind, fierce, committed, charming, perceptive, gracious, and a wonderful, supremely intelligent person. It’s the sexist misconception of

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