In 2015, Hilary Clinton was accused of “shouting” about gun violence. “I’m not shouting,” she responded. “It’s just when women talk, some people think we’re shouting.” Clinton’s comment alludes to the double-standard that is experienced by many women vying for leadership positions. The result? An unlevel playing field that hurts qualified women.
Sexism has been entrenched in society for thousands of years. In The Aeneid, published in 29 BCE, Vergil juxtaposes a qualified male leader with an equally qualified female leader. At first, Aeneas and Dido are portrayed in similar lights. Aeneas, after suffering defeat in the Trojan War, leads his people to establish the city of Latium. Likewise, Dido, after fleeing from her brother’s corrupt rule, leads her people to establish the city of Carthage. However, Aeneas and Dido end up very differently. Aeneas becomes a hero who makes Latium the foundation for the prosperous Roman empire, whereas Dido falls in love with Aeneas during his brief visit and kills herself due to tragic heartbreak when he departs.Through Aeneas and Did’s contrasting fates, Vergil illustrates sexism and makes his perspective clear: regardless of their qualifications, women can’t become leaders.
Now, over 2,000 years after Vergil wrote The Aeneid, it would seem that sexism is obsolete. After all, six women recently entered the 2020 US Presidential Race — a record high. However, the article “‘A Woman, Just Not That Woman’: How Sexism Plays Out on the Trial” shows that, under the surface, the situation is not so simple. Stereotypes and double standards present the aforementioned female candidates with an uphill battle.
According to the article, this “uphill battle” manifests itself in many ways. For one, the quality of likability is weighed differently for males and females. While voters will support a qualified man whom they dislike, they will not support a qualified woman whom they dislike. Also, a man is naturally associated with strength, toughness, and valor — traits expected of a political leader — while a woman is quickly judged by her appearance: Is she attractive? How does she dress? Furthermore, even if a woman exhibits the desirable “masculine” reputation, she still falls short of her male counterparts: while an authoritative male is seen as capable and confident, an authoritative female is seen as arrogant and bossy.
Sexism hurts everyone, from the women who are deprived of leadership positions to the society that deprives itself of everything female leaders can bring to the table. Fortunately, this modern age has brought some progress towards gender equality as women have begun to assert themselves and win leadership positions — Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, among others. Now, it’s the US’ turn to tear down its sexism and give females a chance.
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