females in politics

Women in Politics

Political leaders require many things, strength, power, patience, intelligence and a willingness to learn. These are only some of the virtues that should be the qualifications for leading people. However not all people who are leaders are first held up to those standards. What am I talking about? Well I am discussing women in political history. It is my view that no matter what women do, no matter what they accomplish the first thing they will be remembered for is that they were a woman. Almost saying wow a woman could accomplish all this. I know not everyone feels that way but that is how many people act. As human beings we think that the sex life of a woman and her role with males is just as if not more interesting than the things she did to change the world around her. Throughout history there are many examples of this. Why is this?

Throughout our history women were mostly seen either as mothers, sex symbols, whores, or things that got in the way. Ok I know not all women were but what does our history record? One famous example is the story of Cleopatra. She was most noted for her affairs with César and with Mark Anthony. That and well killing herself with a snake bite. However what do all of our movies and books and fictional writers focus on, not the fact that she united two empires, fed millions of people and fought wars, defeated her brother and was basically the last pharaoh, nope they just focused on her body, her sexual habits and her affairs. yes this was a big part of her. However she was more than just her libido.

Another famous example is none other than the good old queen of England herself queen Elizabeth the first. Now days I will admit that we give her the credit she was due. She defeated the Spanish armada, prevented England from going into civil war, encouraged our greatest English writers and united England in many other ways. However today and most of all back then she was known first and foremost as the virgin queen. Her sex life was more important to her people than the decisions she made for them day to day. I must say I felt sorry for her I feel sorry for her. Excuse my poor grammar. People always wondering who she was going to marry was more important than who she was leading.

One exception in most ways to my argument is Joan of Ark. Except for the pants issue she was most noted for her visions and leading the French people to freedom and independence from outside English influences.

Ok now that I have mentioned many women in the past I will touch on our modern political women leaders. First let us look at our own lady in the white house Hillary Clinton. After class I was shocked at what I saw. Ok so I am a republican but I was sad and angry at those people who were yelling iron my shirt b… . I mean seriously how people can do that. I may not agree with the woman on a ton of issues but I do admire for one thing. That one thing is that she is willing to step out into the political arena and let her voice be heard. As I heard those chants it only proves my statement all the more. Society still views that women should be in the home barefoot and pregnant. Yeah it made me angry and ashamed of my own party. We should be encouraging every citizen to get into the political arena and not make it hard or difficult for anyone based on race or gender or religion. Will this kind of stuff ever stop?

As a young woman in school I barely heard about women’s suffrage. When I did it was not really stressed as all that important. However these women wanted to say that no their husbands do not represent them in their views. They wanted to choose who was going to lead them instead of other choosing for them. They wanted to be equal citizens. For if women were under the law of the united states they should be able to take part in shaping those laws and their own futures. I admire those women who worked so hard to give me and my other women kind a voice in our system. Also I admire any woman who goes out into the political sphere.

I see women like Clinton, Palin, Pelosi, Dole, and many others go out and fight for their beliefs. They do not dress in household dresses nor do they dress like hoes, they dress like business professionals. So why can we not treat them like professionals? Why can we not as the most free country in the world get over the fact that yes they are women but no they are no less smart or efficient. I am sad to say that I have heard from many that women do not have what it takes to lead a military. That they cannot make the kill. Well we can but also it should be celebrated that we think of everything else first before we think of killing.

Ok maybe I got a little carried away there. However there is merit in what I said. As women how often are we told that it is a man’s world and that often we just have to accept that. I don’t know maybe I am wrong but I feel that in this world a woman can either be a house wife a career obsessed beast or a whore. Personally I do not want to want to be any of those things. However when women such as those I have mentioned before try they are treated in terrible ways. I know that I would crumble if people were yelling at me to iron their shirts. Is this what I want to go after no way not if women are treated like this no matter what party they are a part of?

I know that in many ways I could be mistaken however I do believe that I am not. Woman in politics should not be looked at for their fashion, their hair, their sexual activities, or their abilities to be a mother. They should instead be looked at for their ability and to make an educated decision based on the research they have conducted. They should be given a chance be women of good moral fiber and not just women who want to play with the big boys. Women have the ability to lead a country and county a state or a school board. They also have the ability to live the way they want to without it being extorted by the media when a man in the same position would have no questions at all raised about him.

Last I implore my fellow women in our society look up in history how hard other women have worked so hard to give you the chances they never have. Also stand tall and insist that you be look at for more than just your breast size or how long your skirt is. Honestly we have to stand together and insist that we are more than just the female of a species but equally important participants in our society and we deserve the credit we deserve. Stop saying that it is harder for a woman than it is for a man. Today it may be harder for us but by working together we can show the rest of the world that it will not be that way for long. No one day perhaps we will be treated equally as men. We will not have to deal with men shouting iron our shirt or how high does your skirt go up. No one day we will be seen as we should be as citizens of this country.