Voting for Hillary Just Because She’s a Woman?

March 12, 2008 · Filed Under Politics

The topic of being a feminist and Hillary Clinton has come up quite a bit across many websites that I read and I have been meaning to address my feelings on the topic for quite some time now.

Are people counting on the population of feminists to secure Hillary’s standing in the presidential election? Are people counting on the population of women as a whole to secure Hillary’s standing? I think some are, but in a way I feel that that specific way of thinking is doing nothing but addressing women as nothing but sheep who believe that just because a woman is looking to find her way into the white house that other women will help her get there. I do not believe that by being a woman, or by being a feminist, that I am trumped to vote for Hillary no matter what just because she’s a woman.

This argument also reaches to Obama. Are black people voting for Obama just because he’s “one of them?” When putting it that way, of course it sounds racist, but by believing women will vote for a woman candidate based purely on reproductive organs, it is treating that situation the exact same way if people were to come right out and say “Well the only reason you’re voting for Obama is because you’re also black.” Or the same goes for McCain with “You’re only voting for McCain because he’s an old, white man and you also happen to be an old, white man.”

What ever happened to voting for a candidate based purely on how they stand on issues you feel strongly about? If Hillary was pro-life, would women still feel the need to vote for her based solely on her gender? I sure as hell hope not.

Some feminists believe that by not voting for Hillary, you are being a bad feminist and to me, this sounds a bit out of line. Sure, a woman president is good for history and on the same line, an African American president is also good for history, but does that really play a part in who would do the best job in office? Feminism is a movement that is based on equality and being granted the same rights and freedoms that men have, so by voting for a woman candidate just because she’s a woman, aren’t we taking a step in the wrong direction? Are we saying to hell with the men candidates just because there is a woman running for president? Isn’t that a bit sexist?

I am a firm believer that when it comes to voting someone into office, we must look closely at what their mission is and how they stand on issues that I care a great deal about. I believe that we must vote for the person whom we can agree with the most and who has our same ideals. I believe that who I vote for can be a man or a woman, as long as I can agree with what they are saying.

Our primary here will take place in April and when I vote, I will not be voting for Hillary. I do not believe that I am being a bad feminist or a bad woman by not voting for her, I simply do not believe that she will do the best job in office. By voting for someone who I believe would do the best job as president and who stands firmly on issues that I care about is what makes me a good feminist, it is what makes me a good woman and most importantly, it makes me a good citizen.