Mass. Women Politicians React To Palin
Most Say Glass Ceiling Still Exists
POSTED: 12:10 pm EDT September 4,
2008
UPDATED: 12:27 pm EDT September 4,
2008
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BOSTON -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's speech to the GOP convention made for interesting political discussions all across the country Thursday and in Massachusetts, where female politicians said their reaction was generally all good.
Video NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that many female politicians attending a women's caucus felt discussions about women in politics are good, no matter which side of the political aisle a woman is on, even if some of the topics center around irrelevant issues, such as female politician's hair-dos or pantsuits."Women are chosen and looked at very differently. You don't ever see a man and say, "Well, he's wearing a blue blazer and khaki pants," said Senate candidate Sue Pope.Nevertheless, some said they do see the glass ceiling that exists for women in politics beginning to crack."We're breaking history here in that for the first time in history the Democrats really did have the first very competitive candidate who happened to be a woman and in the Republican side that we now have a vice-presidential nominee who happens to be a woman," U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas.Many felt that sexism is still very much alive, especially in national politics."I don't like the attacks. If it were a man in the same position, they wouldn't have started all this talk about her family as much. They might have done it somewhat, but I feel as a woman she faces double scrutiny," said Ann Murphy, president of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus.Rep. Katherine Clark supported Hillary Clinton, but now she appreciates that history is still being made."It's good to see a woman up there speaking in front of the Republican Convention speaking with such confidence and receiving such a good reception from her party," Wakefield Democrat Rep. Katherine Clark said.Most said, the hope is that in 10 or 20 years, gender will no longer be an issue in American politics.
Video NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that many female politicians attending a women's caucus felt discussions about women in politics are good, no matter which side of the political aisle a woman is on, even if some of the topics center around irrelevant issues, such as female politician's hair-dos or pantsuits."Women are chosen and looked at very differently. You don't ever see a man and say, "Well, he's wearing a blue blazer and khaki pants," said Senate candidate Sue Pope.Nevertheless, some said they do see the glass ceiling that exists for women in politics beginning to crack."We're breaking history here in that for the first time in history the Democrats really did have the first very competitive candidate who happened to be a woman and in the Republican side that we now have a vice-presidential nominee who happens to be a woman," U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas.Many felt that sexism is still very much alive, especially in national politics."I don't like the attacks. If it were a man in the same position, they wouldn't have started all this talk about her family as much. They might have done it somewhat, but I feel as a woman she faces double scrutiny," said Ann Murphy, president of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus.Rep. Katherine Clark supported Hillary Clinton, but now she appreciates that history is still being made."It's good to see a woman up there speaking in front of the Republican Convention speaking with such confidence and receiving such a good reception from her party," Wakefield Democrat Rep. Katherine Clark said.Most said, the hope is that in 10 or 20 years, gender will no longer be an issue in American politics.Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
