by Laura Olson
A majority of American women voted for President-elect Barack Obama, but that doesn't mean they liked how the female candidates were treated during the 2008 campaign.
Women surveyed in a poll released this morning by Lifetime Networks as a part of its "Every Woman Counts" campaign said they feel coverage of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was too negative and focused excessively on her looks and wardrobe.
That goes for coverage of her female counterpart on the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton, as well.
"It was a post-gender election in terms of women looking beyond their gender as voters, but not in how women believe that male and female candidates were treated differently," said pollster Kellyanne Conway of WomanTrend.
Pollsters from Lake Research Partners and WomanTrend, a division of the polling company, inc., spoke with 600 women across the U.S. between November 21 and 24, asking about the impact of the recent economic downturn as well as their impressions of the presidential election.
According to the survey data, 64 percent said they felt coverage of Palin was more negative than that of any other candidate. When asked about Clinton's coverage, 31 percent felt hers too was relatively more negative.
About half said they would have liked to see more discussion of Palin's policy stances.
These women told pollsters they remain optimistic about women in politics. Clinton's and Palin's presence in the race was a "step forward" for women, and it provided encouragement that a woman would earn one of the top offices within their lifetimes.
But on issues of being taken seriously by voters and by the media, they said women still lag behind dramatically. Results showed 79 percent saying it is easier for a male candidate to be taken seriously by voters, while only 5 percent believe it is easier for a female candidate.
Even so, as Obama continued to build his Cabinet, 67 percent said he should only consider qualifications, not gender, when selecting his incoming secretaries - thought Clinton's placement as Secretary of State earned strong support from survey participants.
Women in the poll were also asked to look to their next first lady, Michelle Obama, and their expectations for her. When asked about how women would like to see her role take shape, 49 percent supported her getting involved in several issues, such as education, work-life balance and health care.
Another 38 percent said they think she should focus on her role as a wife and mother, which Obama has said she'd like to do doing her first year.
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Comments
Blame the treatment on the Sarah and Hilliary for not having Socalist Tenachies-
Posted by: Inky | December 3, 2008 2:41 PM
I don't know about the media, but Barack Obama showed NOTHING BUT RESPECT during the campaign, even when he was being pummeled 3 0n 1 during the 'debate" with Clinton, Gibson, and Stephanopolous...that wasn't a DEBATE, it was an all-out assault on Obama!!!!...Even then, he tried to stay on-point.
Posted by: Dawson | December 3, 2008 3:17 PM
I don't blame Obama for this, but rather the media. They coddled Obama from the start. Any question about him was an "attack". I've never seen so many in the MSM in the tank for a candidate, and I hope I never see it again.
Posted by: Herbie H. | December 3, 2008 3:42 PM
Could the reason that so much emphasis was placed on Palin's looks and clothing was because her handlers at the RNC wouldn't trust her to speak at all in an unscipted forum - except in those rare interview instances (i.e., the Katie Couric interview) when the inanity of Palin's views shone through?
Posted by: Buster | December 3, 2008 5:08 PM
The media went overboard to attack anyone who stood in the way of Obama being elected.
They first went after Hillary and once she was out of the way it was Palin's time.
They were amazed by the response to Palin's nomination and they unfairly went after her.
Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann were by far the worse and they should be ashamed of themselves!
Posted by: Pat H | December 3, 2008 5:53 PM
Palin got slammed because she is a lightweight. She spoke, acted and dressed like she was running for homecoming queen.
The grown ups will be in charge in January. The frat boys and their female equivalents should stay out their way.
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Posted by: Steve | December 3, 2008 7:29 PM
Then teh MSM right after the election start saying, "we really don;t know much about Obama"
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http://somehavehats.typepad.com/some_have_hats/2008/11/tom-brokaw-and-charlie-rose-we-dont-know-anything-about-barack-obama.html
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Do you think they should have been doing their research the 18 months prior to the elction instead of getting tingly in the legs.
Posted by: Terry | December 3, 2008 8:39 PM
The person who placed more sexism on Palin was none other than Senator McCain. She was picked for her looks and her ability to just run people down. One never heard of her polices that she would like to see implemented as her ONLY job was to try and bad mouth Senator Obama.
If there is anyone that thinks she was picked because she is just so smart obviously listened to someone other that I did.
Colleen
Posted by: Colleen B | December 3, 2008 9:56 PM
If women in politics want to break the "clothing" barrier, all they have to do is buy 10 outfits of the same business formal style and keep wearing the same thing. Women typically want to draw attention to their attire. Hillary likes bright orange pantsuits, and Palin likes leather…..Ma-roon colored leather at that.
Posted by: Xcellentform | December 3, 2008 10:03 PM
Actually, the media behaved pretty much as it was taught in journalism school in this election.
If anything, they pulled the punches on Hillary.
They really never examined her record (in fact, lack of record) in the Senate, her flip flops, her falling in line behind Bush on the war. They never bored into the Marc Rich and other Pardon Money issues. They gave Bill C a big pass on most of his dubious financial dealings and the secrecy surrounding him.
Media also was pretty straight up on Sarah Baby. A lightweight, desperate Wasilla housewife type, she sunk herself in that Couric interview so brilliantly parodied by Tina and Amy on SNL.
Media also took it easy on McCain. No really big examination of Keating case, or his coziness with lobbyists, particularly the female ones.
Media was in fact toughest on Obama. Endless coverage of Preacher Wright, Real Estate Maven Rezko, Bomb Thrower Ayers, ad naseum.
Of the lot, I'd say Hillary got the easiest ride of all from the media.
Posted by: ornery | December 3, 2008 11:13 PM