Letters to the Editor
Published Letters: 228 Editor's Choice: 9
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The male equivalent of "bitch" is "bastard"
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]See also: jerk, dick, prick, cock, etc.
So if it's impossible to say a woman is a "bitch" without being sexist, consider this: have you ever said a man is a jerk, bastard, dick, prick, etc?
If so, wouldn't that mean using any of those terms was also sexist?
As for sexist campaign coverage, let me say this: Hillary has probably faced some sexist negatives. But she has also gotten breaks that no man has ever gotten before, or will get *ever*.
Case in point: if any man running for president ever cried on the campaign trail, unless he was holding a dying soldier he would be FINISHED.
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@ -- AKA Smith - sorry, not nonsense
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But please, prove me wrong and post some video or audio or even newspaper story link, to ANY man campaigning for president who cried in public and **wasn't** then ruined as a candidate.
There's a reason why it's so rare - it's instant death.
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@ AKA Smith - that's not a specific incident
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That's someone mentioning in 1996 that Bob Dole cried about his war experience, or his tough childhood. And not even anything about Bill Clinton, besides "being a master of the misty eye".
Got specific incidents of a man candidate crying in public on the campaign trail, in some way that does not reference his macho nature, and then not being completely finished?
'Cause I think if Obama was caught doing exactly what Hillary did, it's pretty clear he would be finished.
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@ Melthough, @ AKA Smith - ok then
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I can see your points somewhat.
I admit I am surprised that Romney was able to tear up at all, and not immediately be chased out of the race. And also that he was able to pull this off as an apparent political move, to "humanize" him. (Which seems like a path Hillary took with her tears, also.)
In defense of my original thesis, I could point out that Mitt Romney, despite being the darling of most of the conservative pundits, lost utterly to Macho McCain among the masses...Might not be a fair comparison, tho. As a GOP candidate, Romney already had 2 1/2 strikes against him, on account of being Mormon and only *moderately* conservative.
On the other hand, I don't think the tearfulness is anywhere near the same scale. See for yourself:
Hillary's sustained tearing up, broken voice, and difficulty speaking through the course of several questions -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GqRMorSp7dw
Romney's brief voice change and no tears, while remembering the past -
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ab1_1197835088
I do think that if a man broke down to the same degree that Hillary appears to have, he would be labeled by his opponents as weak from that point on.
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@AKA Smith - every time I look at the coverage of this election
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Do you ever cry metasailor?
Whenever tsome new kerfuffle substituting for actually covering issues that matter - soldiers' lives being wasted; our civil liberties disappearing; our budget being blown to line our wealthiest 5%'s pockets; and on and on.
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@AKA Smith
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You are setting up a phony standard here. Women have tough childhoods as well so how is that a macho experience.
You are misunderstanding me. I'm not setting up any standard. I'm describing to you the reality of our current culture.
The default standard for men, is that we have to look tough at all times. So a man who is emotionally free enough to cry risks being seen as a weakling and a fool.
One of the few circumstances that allow men the freedom to cry without ridicule, is the excuse that it's because they've done something difficult and **specifically** macho. Something tough as in **manly**, that can excuse or compensate for their "weakness" of in fact showing vulnerability.
This is how our culture's sexism damages *men*. Women aren't the only people harmed by our culture, you know.
This standard is changing somewhat, but it still remains very strong in our culture. And *especially* towards anyone seeking a position of authority in our country.
In point of fact, although Bill Clinton did tear up on the campaign trail -- I remember him doing so
OK. I don't. Should I take your word for it? Would you take mine, if our positions were reversed?
-- nothing I say nor any link I found would satisfy you because you are mentally operating from a paradigm of sexism.
OK, well, I say nothing I find would satisfy you because *you* are mentally operating from a paradigm of sexism.
Nyah nyah to you too.
As for looking up more links for you, go find your own you blithering bitch!
I'm too tough and macho to have to do that, sorry. I'd insult you back, but I try to be nice to you ladies.
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@AKA Smith
[Read the article: But see, some women ARE bitches]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Would you rather be called a dick or a bitch?
Dick, since I'm male.
And as for you, AKA Smith, would you prefer to be called a "dick", or a "creator of false equivalences"?
I say the latter, because I see this as a false equivalence; a metaphor that doesn't match.
And I think that if calling someone a "bitch" is sexist, then calling someone a "dick" is sexist. Whether or not the insult crosses genders as well, is not really relevant to that.