April 4, 2014

NYT columnist Thomas Friedman, called a "sensitive man" by Tina Brown at last night's "Women in the World" event, said he'd heard that when Hillary Clinton wore her hair tied back...

... she was about "to deliver unpleasant news."

Hillary, icily, and with strange new hair (and face!) said: "Really, Tom?, and everyone laughed and laughed, because the topic was whether there's a "double standard" (gender-wise) and there's always been so much talk about Hillary's hair.

(I mean, I was totally distracted by her new look, which you can check out at that link. I think I notice how everyone looks, and I don't like feminist efforts to deprive us of our engagement with the visual world, but I've got to concede that our emotional reaction to the way female power-seekers look is much more complicated than how we feel about their male counterparts.)

Hillary said:
“There is a double standard, obviously.... We have all either experienced it or at the very least seen it. And there  is a deep set of cultural psychological views that are manifest through this double standard.”....

“Some of those attitudes, we know, persist.... And that’s why it's important that we surface them, and why we talk about them, and help men and women recognize when they are crossing over from an individual judgment — which we’re all prone to make and have a right to make about somebody, man or woman — into a stereotype.”...

“Too many young women are harder on themselves than circumstances warrant... At this point in my life and career I’ve employed so many young people — and one of the differences is, whenever I would say to a young woman, ‘I want you to do this. I want you to take on this extra responsibility. I want you to move up’ – almost invariably they would say ‘Do you think I can?’ or ‘Do you think I’m ready?’”

“When I’ve asked a young man if he wants to move up, he goes: ‘How high?’ ‘How fast?’ ‘When do I start?’... There is just a hesitancy still about women’s worth and women’s work that we’re going to have to continue to address.”
Notice how she holds women responsible too for their own failure to advance. Was that subtle enough to avoid the wrath of millennial females? She knocks her own female employees as insufficiently cocky and ambitious. We've got to "continue to address" the "hesitancy." These are careful words. Good enough to stay out of trouble as long as the women she needs to wrangle are allied in keeping her out of trouble, but if a handsome new man arrives on the scene — as in 2008 — she's got to worry that once again the Alliance of Women will collapse.

54 comments:

richard mcenroe said...

Let's go tell Chris Christie (that fat Jersey F---) about this double standard. Might get him a hug from Hillary, too.

Charlie said...

She'll have it tied back when he announces her candidacy.

Revenant said...

There IS a double standard. If a man ran for office with no qualifications other than "my wife is a famous politician", he'd be laughed out of the room. Hillary was elected to the US Senate.

Hm.

peacelovewoodstock said...

Vive la différence.

How dull a world it would be if men and women were the same in every way except physical appearance.

PB said...

How about a tell for when Hillary tells the truth?

Michael said...

Some women executives I have known over compensate for hesitancy with a barely concealed wrath. The great ones, and I have worked with some very well known female CEOs, are quite natural, unforced, and are hesitant, aggressive, cool, fiery, thoughtful and brash as required. And all of the remarkable ones had a sense of humor. Yep.

Illuninati said...

Ms. Clinton said:

"“At this point in my life and career I’ve employed so many young people — and one of the differences is, whenever I would say to a young woman, ‘...I want you to move up’ – almost invariably they would say ‘Do you think I can?’ or ‘Do you think I’m ready?’”

“When I’ve asked a young man if he wants to move up, he goes: ‘How high?’ ‘How fast?’... “There is just a hesitancy still about women’s worth and women’s work that we’re going to have to continue to address.”

Typical leftie propaganda. Who said women are more self confident than men? Has someone done a study that supports that premise?

YoungHegelian said...

...whenever I would say to a young woman, ‘I want you to do this. I want you to take on this extra responsibility. I want you to move up’ – almost invariably they would say ‘Do you think I can?’ or ‘Do you think I’m ready?’”

I have no idea how you teach people, especially women, courage, but unless you have courage it's tough to do anything with whatever gifts one possesses.

Maybe it's just one of the better side-effects of testosterone.

Heartless Aztec said...

The 19th Amendment is suborned by a candidates good looks and the sharp crease of his pants. Oh wait, I'm confabing the women's vote and the gay vote. Pardon the newly coined verb.

Seeing Red said...

Of course there's a double standard she had it easy! It's not like she trail-blazed, made it on her own.

Seeing Red said...

Certainly didn't do it on her own in cattle futures.

Sam L. said...

Tommy "Chinese" Friedman is "sensitive"? Never saw that one coming!

Big Mike said...

Speaking of icy looks, Professor, that latest picture of yourself makes me think "based on my answer she knows I didn't read the assignment."

Anonymous said...

Belligerent Drunk Stand-up Comic says:

It wasn't that long ago that women did not have the right to vote; I'm not gonna argue that this was a bad thing, ladies, you can unclench the Victoria's Secret. (sips drink) In a way though, it did devalue my vote as a man, my vote is worth less now, any woman's vagina can cancel my one vote. (sips drink). Now, I'm not saying women shouldn't have the right to vote, but I do think men should've all
received an extra vote, to keep the proper balance - like a draft pick as compensation in the NFL. I notice only the women are booing, I see these things (sips drink): it's OK, little flowers, Daddy will drive you home...

(Long sip)

There are some smart women out there, don't get me wrong, but -- and this is science, you can't argue with science -- any given election day is going to come at 'that time of the month' for a lot of you ladies, a whole lot of you. (sips drink) Emotions going haywire, all sense of perspective lost, you know how it is (sips drink). And a vote in this condition counts the same as mine. A large percentage of women out of their minds deciding who should control our nuclear weapons -- does anyone else see the problem with this? Stop the booing, it only makes you seem even more emotional: take a deep breath and pretend you're in yoga class (sips drink) And have some ice cream when you get home, it'll make you feel better, and thanks for coming...

Rob said...

I'm sure I'll go to hell for saying it, but those bags under her eyes do not the face of a presidential candidate make. I reckon there's an eye job in her future. But please, Madam Secretary, don't go to the guy who botched Nancy Pelosi's job.

Bob R said...

Yes, there are different standards. Try running for office in a suit that isn't charcoal or navy. (I remember Reagan wore a brown double-breasted suit, but I think it was in his second term.)

MathMom said...

When Hillary(!) was running for prez she had the first flattering hair style she has ever worn. She had good makeup, she wore strong colors, and she looked great. She had a little botox around the edges, too. She dropped all that pretense when she became SOS. Got fat, wore muumuus, grew her hair long and tied it back like a 10-year old.

If she decides she needs our votes again, she will drop 50 lbs, her face will stop sagging, she will get rid of the grandma hair, and she will go back to the flattering jewel tones with black slacks. In other words, she will conceal her true self again, because her true self is unpleasant in almost every way.

Especially her bossy personality.

O. M. Gaia...did I say "bossy"???

Robert Cook said...

Illuminati said:

"Ms. Clinton said:

'At this point in my life and career I’ve employed so many young people — and one of the differences is, whenever I would say to a young woman, ‘...I want you to move up’ – almost invariably they would say ‘Do you think I can?’ or ‘Do you think I’m ready?’

'When I’ve asked a young man if he wants to move up, he goes: ‘How high?’ ‘How fast?’... “There is just a hesitancy still about women’s worth and women’s work that we’re going to have to continue to address.'


"Typical leftie propaganda. Who said women are more self confident than men? Has someone done a study that supports that premise?"


Have I missed your point or have you missed hers? She's not saying women are more self-confident than men, she's saying they're less so.

Moreover, I would think that such hesitancy on the part of women does not necessarily (or always) bespeak a lack of confidence so much as a greater awareness on their part of the ways in which they may not be ready to move up. Men, too often, are over-confident with no good reason; women are usually quite well aware of their own weaknesses.

madAsHell said...

I started shaving my head, and now the Canadian border cops always ask if I have a gun in the car.

Richard Dolan said...

The run-up to the next election means that we will be inundated with endless meditations on all things Hillary!, including her hair styles. But I don't get the fascination with her -- a person so deeply committed to every little jot and tittle of approved Dem group-think is the definition of boring hack (certainly here at the home of the cruel vortex).

Bill was (still is) a slippery dude, capable of embracing contradictory policies and untroubled by any need for consistency to principle. Above all he was a salesman who wanted to sell himself, and he was quite good at it -- whatever worked was OK with him. That flexibility that served him so well in office, making it able for him to reinvent himself after the '94 debacle, is just what she doesn't have. As bad as she is at politics, she would be worse at governing -- wooden, inflexible, hackneyed.

Surely, if we have to be blessed with a female president, the Dems can come up with someone better than her.

Gahrie said...

We need an alliance of men to repeal the 19th Amendment so that our country is no longer held hostage to the whims of the Alliance of Women.

mccullough said...

Young people don't listen to senior citizens' advice about what young people should do.



66 said...

It is, without question, Thatcher-hair. Why do you suppose she would want to bring to mind an iconic female leader?

Saint Croix said...

That is a Thatcher 'do. Also Reagan. That is power hair right there.

Fen said...

“There is just a hesitancy still about women’s worth and women’s work that we’re going to have to continue to address.”

Moving up in Hillary's world means its more likely Bill will put the moves on you and Hillary will throw you under the bus as a "deranged stalker slut".

Maybe thats why they are hesitant?

Saint Croix said...

Watch out for that hair vortex!

mikee said...

I for one look forward to my new Hillary! overlord.

All the self-righteousness of Jimmy Carter with the charisma of Richard Nixon and the honesty of, well, a Clinton.

mikee said...

I for one look forward to my new Hillary! overlord.

All the self-righteousness of Jimmy Carter with the charisma of Richard Nixon and the honesty of, well, a Clinton.

MathMom said...

Charlie...you made a good point that flew right over my head for a while!

She ties her hair back when she has bad news. She will have it tied back when she announces her candidacy for prez.

Subtle.

Dude.

Doug said...

PB Reader

Insufficient data

David said...

whenever I would say to a young woman, ‘I want you to do this. I want you to take on this extra responsibility. I want you to move up’ – almost invariably they would say ‘Do you think I can?’ or ‘Do you think I’m ready?’”

“When I’ve asked a young man if he wants to move up, he goes: ‘How high?’ ‘How fast?’ ‘When do I start?’"


As we all know, this must say something good about women, and/or something bad about men. Women are humble, men are ambitious.

CStanley said...

I have a tendency to get dark circles under my eyes though so far (nearly 50) they aren't as bad as Hillary's. Every time I see her I think that with all the work she is having done, no one seems to have been able to fix them. I'm not inclined toward cosmetic surgery anyway, but that observation makes me think I'll have to just deal with my aging undereyes. I think general healthiness is the only key- eating well, proper rest, etc.

Illuninati said...

Robert Cook said:
"Have I missed your point or have you missed hers? She's not saying women are more self-confident than men, she's saying they're less so"

Thanks for pointing out my error. I should have proof read the post better.

I meant to say:
"Typical leftie propaganda. Who said men are more self confident than women? Has someone done a study that supports that premise? "

Rosalyn C. said...

Hillary has always been obviously smart (calculating, manipulative and dishonest), politically ambitious and has tremendous self confidence. It's always been an enigma to me why she married someone even more politically ambitious than her.

I don't think she is blaming girls for their lack of confidence, just expressing her frustration. No one ever had to ask her twice if she wanted to move up.

Christopher said...

I'm in my late fifties and have hired both men and women and worked for and with women. And I am now. I don't recall ever encountering this supposedly gender-specific reaction. My most assertive, I-can-do-anything subordinate was a woman, and that was like 12 years ago.

And she could do anything, too.

In short more Clinton b.s. People tell each other lies long enough and eventually you believe them.

SGT Ted said...

Moreover, I would think that such hesitancy on the part of women does not necessarily (or always) bespeak a lack of confidence so much as a greater awareness on their part of the ways in which they may not be ready to move up. Men, too often, are over-confident with no good reason; women are usually quite well aware of their own weaknesses.

Sexist bullshit. Women are no more self-aware than men are.

Roger This said...

Geez, all this time I thought it was the TAXPAYERS who employed all these people that Hillary hired and promoted. Wasn't aware that she was paying the bill and it was her company. Unless she's talking about the wife of Carlos Danger (who held down two jobs at the same time under Hillary). Under? Oops.

Roger This said...

"“At this point in my life and career I’ve employed so many young people..."

Geez, all this time I thought it was the Citizens of America that employed all these people that "work" for Hillary. Except, perhaps the wife of Carlos Danger, who held two jobs at the same time working under Hillary. Under? Oops.

Titus said...

She's starting to look like the amazing, incredible and brill Margaret Thatcher.

Howard said...

It's not that men are over-confident. It's because we are subject to oppressive patriarchy that demands we take on all challenges. This starts in gym class. Our greatest fear is to be called a pussy.

...the horror...the horror

Mark O said...

Women: The only majority considered to be an insular minority.

Mountain Maven said...

Y'all can debate her hair and gender as a side show.

1. She is a chronic failure, failing upwards in the DEM tradition.
2. She has demonstrated a severe lack of moral character
3. If her last name wasn't Clinton she'd be corporate counsel for Acorn.

gadfly said...

Hillary with her hair tied back ...

Unknown said...

If only re-set buttons worked as promised and weren't simply an over-hyped prop.

Conserve Liberty said...

Strange new hair?

She looks more like my Epicopalian, upper-middle-class, (though) Smith College, dyed-in-the-wool-Democrat mother with every passing day.

At least above the waist.

FleetUSA said...

Yes, Titus my thought exactly. She's channeling Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady!

Lydia said...

I don't know why I punish myself in this way, but I just watched the Hillary-Friedman exchange on YouTube.

Imagine eight long years of this, only multiplied a zillion times by the trappings of presidential office.

Seeing Red said...

Maggie "don't go wobbly, George" Thatcher vs. Hillary "what difference, at this point, does it make?" Clinton.


lololololol

Clyde said...

No. Just no. No more Clintons. No more Bushes or Kennedys, either. And for the love of all that is holy, no more Obamas!

Saint Croix said...

And here are 21 North Korean Hairstyles Approved By Kim Jong Un

Scott M said...

How high?’ ‘How fast?’ ‘When do I start?’ How are any of those responses to someone ostensibly offering you a promotion, "cocky"?

Cocky is a pejorative, isn't it?

Notice how she holds women responsible too for their own failure to advance.

It seemed to me like she was just pointing out that's how they are.

The responsibility is leveled a couple lines later.

"There is just a hesitancy still about women’s worth and women’s work that we’re going to have to continue to address.”

It's our fault, obviously.

I'm Full of Soup said...

I think it is fantastic that the world and the country is so hunky dory that Hillary! and Dems can worry about made-up issues like this!

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

She really isn't likeable enough.

Anonymous said...

Blogger Sam L. said...

Tommy "Chinese" Friedman is "sensitive"? Never saw that one coming!

4/4/14, 11:22 AM
-------------------------------

No, that would be Thomas 'Peking Man' Friedman.