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Grand Central Political Magazine
Could A Little "Sex" Help Female Political Candidates?
By Jennifer Nedeau
If Hillary Clinton took a few cues from Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, or Charlotte, could she have locked down the Democratic Presidential nomination?
In an election season where the definition of femininity has never been more hotly debated, in addition to the premier of the Sex and the City Movie, the question of whether to add a little "Sex" to political campaigns seems all too timely. Since Barack Obama took the Democratic Presidential Nomination, I have come to wonder: if Hillary had harnessed some of the powerful imagery of SATC, could she have done better among women like me who think she just wasn't female enough to earn the title of "First Female President?"
Sex and the City has had a remarkable following among a large, diverse female demographic throughout its existence as an HBO series and now as a Hollywood movie. The New York Times reported that the weekend premier of the SATC movie garnered nearly $56 million during its opening weekend, with 85 percent of the ticket buyer's women all from the ages of 20 to 40 years old. Talk about hitting a target demographic; single women now make up 51 percent of the female adult population and in 2004, they were 54 percent of the electorate. As fewer women vote in step with their husbands, it is time to treat them like a unique voting block, not one that will fit in neatly with the male voter archetype.
In the SATC movie, Miranda remarks to Carrie as she looks for a Halloween costume - "These are the only two choices for women - witch or sexy kitten?" Currently, the ability for a female leader to rise above these stereotypes is difficult, if not impossible. If we are ever going to get past these stereotypes, we need a female leader who is brave enough to prove that being powerful and female isn't a detrimental condition corrected by a short hair cut, a figure less suit and emotionless campaigning. I think Hillary in particular would have had more success if she had tried to embrace her gender instead of treating it like a handicap. Perhaps then, the females turned off by her decision to fit in all too nicely with the male political paradigm, might have decided she was someone worthy of their vote.
While SATC may politick to the materialistic, superficial, and trite - the values of being a professional woman, dealing with family hardships, and making friendship and love work are what make SATC more than a story of "labels and love." The excitement surrounding the movie demonstrates how Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha have defined a generation of females far beyond any political leader, rock star or sports figure.
While drawing a connection between Hollywood and politics may seem far-fetched, the two have often been intertwined. For example, Playboy heir, Christie Hefner has held an instrumental role in the founding of EMILY's List, The Chicago Network, and The Committee of 200. In the 2004 election, Rahm Emmanuel's Red to Blue Program created a bi-coastal revolving door of money and influence via his brother's contact list, the Hollywood agent, Ari Emmanuel. (Both Emmanuel brothers also have television counterparts - Rahm as Josh Lyman character on "The West Wing" and Ari as Ari Gold, in HBO's "Entourage"). Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush embraced the idea of an "entertainer-in-chief" with Bill's saxophone serenade on Arsenio Hall and Bush as John Wayne's doppelganger.
The next female who wants to be commander-in-chief could try to embrace her gender as a plus, rather than a minus. Simple things such as an upside down stiletto could easily take the place of the "V" in "Vote for Me" as a start. Instead of stuffy suits, add some fashion to the political stage and allow a popular female designer to dress the candidate for a day. Work with Mommy Bloggers, admirable female celebrities, female sports stars, and sorority girls to create the solid base of female support to carry the campaign. Most importantly, meet women in their element. Organize the female electorate such as Mobilize.org did with a voter registration drive at the Sex and the City Movie Premieres. Or host a Cocktail Caucus at CHANEL similar to what Polichicks Online has done.
I chose to be a Barack Obama supporter in part because I did not agree with Hillary's misogynistic branding of her campaign. When Obama took the nomination it became clear that in targeting the 20 to 40 year-old demographic he found success - they wanted to have a beer with him and listen to his policy - something Hillary could not seem to achieve. However, when another female wagers for the White House - instead of seeking a candidate to drink a beer with, why not a one who might sip a Cosmopolitan? Bridging the gender gap in politics is not impossible; it just takes a little creativity.
Around the world, women are finding a place on the political stage and using their femininity to get there. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is a respected, successful woman in a traditionally masculine dominated part of the world, who is perfectly comfortable wearing very girlish, high fashion, non-suit attire. Add her to the likes Michele Bachelet, the Presidenta of Chile, and Cristina Fernandez, the Presidenta of Argentina, and you have good examples of women leaders embracing the female narrative, the female body, and gender as a defining trait within an ultimately male world. Hillary should have done more to demonstrate that a change has begun; rather than business as usual, a woman trying to fit into a man's world, instead of creating her own.
For females who want to run for office, set up the ultimate Trojan horse, take some notes from the fearsome four SATC females, and apply it to politics. There is power in femininity. Let's use it to sell the leadership qualities and accomplishments of our female political leaders.
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Jennifer Nedeau works for New Media Strategies in Arlington, VA. She helped craft the nationwide effort by Mobilize.org to bring voter registration to the Sex and the City Premieres and blogs about pop culture and politics at http://humanfolly.wordpress.com.