Smashing the Glass Ceiling and Electing a Woman President

Women and the American Presidency 1964-2012 with

a look toward the Global

Nichola D. GutgoldPenn State Lehigh Valley

October, 2012

No woman on a major party ticket

What have we learned from past women candidates?

Where are the Women in 2012?

A little-

known governor from

2008 Was Quite A Year

Sarah Who? John McCain’s Running Mate

Video: Palin/Hilary

Over 500 college age women were asked:

“Did the bids of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin make you think that a woman would become president in

your lifetime?”

Poll Conducted

The year 1992 was dubbed “The Year of the Woman” because more women were elected to Congress than ever before.

Fifty four women took congressional oaths of office in 1992.

On the heels of the Anita Hill trial women said “we will remember in November” and they did.

The Year of the Woman?

Carol Moseley-Braun

First African American woman elected to the US senate.

Reports that in 1992 people at the Capital mistakenly took her for staff (such as a secretary or cleaning person).

What happened?

Other Women who ranMargaret Chase Smith

(1964)Patricia Schroeder

(1988)Carolyn Moseley Braun

(2004)

Elizabeth Dole (2000)

“After I went to Congress, a student asked me why all our presidents had been white men. I knew why, but the reasons weren't good ones. So I decided to run. I campaigned in 32 states. People looked at me funny. I suffered disappointment, and disillusionment because of my race.”

Ms. Chiz

- Shirley Chisholm after her 1972 bid for the presidency

“People are more sexist than racist”

Margaret Chase Smith

Pat Schroeder

Elizabeth Dole

What is the major obstacle to a woman President?

The fact we have never had a Woman President in the White House makes it

difficult for people to picture it.

A heartbeat away

In 2008 Sarah Palin was the Republican candidate for vice president.

• In 1984 Geraldine Ferraro was the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Previous to 2008 the women who ran for

President were

SYMBOLICCANDIDAT

ES

Candidates need to care about their appearance and style.

“When a man shows feminine qualities it is accepted far more easily than a woman who acts in a male fashion. A woman politician who appears feminine is soon regarded as a little mother. She is not regarded as being decisive. A woman leader must be tough, strong, and caring, all at the same time.”

---Marie Wilson, president of The White House Project

The Politics of Appearance and Style

The first non-symbolic or viable candidate for president who is a woman endured harsh media criticism.

Hillary Clinton

Tee Shirts that read:

Top Ten “Must Haves” for Women Presidential

Candidates

1.Credentials

2. Fundraisin

g

3. Charisma

Video: Democratic Response

4. Assertiveness

5. An Attractive Appearance

6. The Right Look .

7. The Denis Thatcher Spouse

8. Heterosexual Orientation

9. Restraint

10. Rhetorical Finesse

Twenty countries have women presidentsIncluding:

IndiaArgentina

BangladeshAustralia

Costa RicaBrazil

Who Are The Most Powerful Women in the World?

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany as most powerful.

According to 2012 Forbes

Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, 2nd

Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, 3rd

Melinda Gates, Co-Chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 4th

Jill Abramson, Executive Editor, New York Times, 5th

Sonia Gandhi

President of the Indian National Congress, 6th

ConclusionsParliamentary systems in other countrieshave allowed for the election of more women to office.

Tough media treatment of women candidatesin the United States may keep more would-becandidates away from the US presidency.

Programs that encourage women to run are helpful.

When we have a critical mass of women willing to run, possessing the “top ten” qualities --- and who beats her opponent --America will have a woman president