The Media and Their Constant Scrutinization of Woman

 Typically I try to keep things light on the blog but lately things that the media have been putting out have really been bothering me.  This magazine cover is case and point, are you kidding me?  Let's see one of the male political candidates portrayed on the cover of Newsweek like this, with the message below.

I am fed up with the media overly scrutinizing every female politician that has had the gutso to get out, stand up, and speak their mind.  I am not just talking about strong republican woman such as Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann, but Hillary Clinton who has also  been scrutinized to the tenth degree in the past.  It seems like every day there is something in the media about some mistake these woman have made, and a whole lot of criticism from every media outlet on the planet.  My view is that people are intimidated by woman that stand up for what they believe in.  People are intimidated by the Hilary Clinton's, Sarah Palin's  and Michelle Bachmanns of the world because they rock the boat and they are different.  At the Iowa GOP Debate a few weeks when Michelle Bachmann was asked "If she was a submissive wife" I almost fell of my chair.  Would that ever be rephrased differently to another one of the candidates on that stage that night?  Absolutely not.  Would the question be asked to a man?

I am fortunate to know many strong woman in my life.  Family, friends, colleagues, that are successful and have rose to the top despite the challenges that woman are faced with.  I just read this article yesterday on women in health care C-Suite positions, and the future of health care reform. The message is precise, and crosses throughout all industries.  While woman have come a long way, we still have an uphill battle that  we will eventually win.

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-financial-and-business-news/shattering-glass-ceilings-women-in-the-hospital-c-suite.html


These are just a few reasons why I like woman such as Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Hilary Clinton to name a few. It is because they do rock the boat and they inspire woman both young and old that they can do anything if they dream a big dream, work hard, have passion, and stand up for their beliefs.  Take away the politics and look at the big picture of what these woman stand for, they are the ones that are paving the way for woman in the future to get after it,  and not be afraid to run for president, or be a CEO, or stand up in a board meeting with all men to speak their mind.  In a month I may be holding a daughter in my arms, and my wish is that as she grows she will dream big, reach for the stars, and have passion to go after whatever she believes in to accomplish those dreams because of woman that have started to stand up for what they believe in today.  Woman have come a long way don't get me wrong, but we still have a long way to go and we need to support, encourage, and push one another to get to where we want to be.  With that said will  Michelle Bachmann win the race to be the next president of the United States?  Only time will tell, but my view is that with the challenges and scrutiny the media plays in this game she will not.  I also think that because woman still have a long way to go in our country, and nations around the world that our country is not ready for a woman president.  Not because she may not be good, it is because she is different and as much as this countries needs a change that may be too much.  Yet at the end of the day we as woman will still be one step closer, we will get there, and that is what matters.