Womenomics
ABC News' Claire Shipman and the BBC's Katty Kay on women, work and what it really means to "have it all."
Claire Shipman is Good Morning America's Senior National Correspondent. She covers everything from politics to international affairs to family issues.
Katty Kay covers American politics and society for the BBC. She can be seen in the US on BBC America.
Claire and Katty have a new book called Womenomics. For more information visit the web site www.womenomics.com
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Women Leaders: Competent or Likeable, But Not Both?
September 19, 2008 6:46 PM
September 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (28)
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Accordingly to Obama's own words, "Hillary, you are likeable enough". What an elitist Obama has always been.
Posted by: young_voter | Sep 19, 2008 7:10:17 PM
Sarah Palin is a Bimbo!
Neither Likeble, nor she is Competent!
She just Lies good, let her Husband run the Alaska and tell stupid Pig, Pit Bull jokes!!
Her Foreign policy knowledge is as good as seeing Russia from Alaska!!
SHE is a Joke!!
Hillary is a real leader, she supports Obama!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 08!!
Posted by: RC | Sep 19, 2008 7:10:20 PM
umm try likable ...who does the proof reading for abc news anyway? no spellchecker on your computer?
anyway palin maybe likable ,i dont know.
(she looks like a real b---h though honestly)
but as far as competent goes , perhaps the author (and readership) should give chuck hagels' opinion some weight?
Posted by: bah | Sep 19, 2008 7:14:56 PM
The reason why Palin has gathered men and women alike is very simple! She is very down to earth, speaks in language that everyone can understand and is more like the neighbor next door! That speaks volumes! Being very intelligent and one that bucks the system does not hurt either!
Posted by: mfmros | Sep 19, 2008 7:25:29 PM
Palin is seen as competent and likeable by both genders perhaps because she appears to be authentic (no false front), genuinely "likes" the male gender (no hidden hostility towards the opposite gender), genuinely "likes" being female (no hidden self-loathing towards one's own gender), communicates with a confident and firm tone, and achieves goals which are clearly defined and established through "fair play" (as much as can be fair in politics), hard work, and tenacity. and .
Posted by: ed | Sep 19, 2008 7:34:40 PM
I don't support the McCain/Palin ticket because I don't agree with their policies. However...I am dismayed and frightened by the vitriolic hatred that is being directed at Sarah Plain, often by other women...Democratic women (of which I am one). You may not like her policies, you might think she lacks experience (much like our nominee, perhaps?) but why the hatred, the sheer venom? I've been getting anti-Palin e-mails from women I haven't heard from in years- women that never e-mailed me about any other past VP nominee. Hateful anti-Sarah Plain e-mail. Misogyny seems to be the true elephant in the room this campaign season.
Posted by: Cathy | Sep 19, 2008 7:43:11 PM
I think this is a valid question. It's been my experience that women in positions of authority are looked at as either/or but not both. With a man, it is different. Women seem to have to develop a certain 'aloofness' if they want to be respected and listened to. They can't chat with their staff about everyday annoyances nor let anyone in on any apparent weaknesses. A man can do both without any threat to his position of authority.
Posted by: mak | Sep 19, 2008 7:44:05 PM
uh, to bah...likeable and likable are BOTH proper ways of spelling the word. In fact, likeable is the more commonly used version. More importantly, can you only express your disapproval of a woman by using the word b--ch? You say she "looks like one." What does that even mean? My God. Is this the intelligence level of some of our voters? If so, heaven help us all.
Posted by: chris | Sep 19, 2008 7:49:20 PM
Palin should count herself lucky that she hasn't been the target of the Bush/McCain/Rove Swift Boat Committee.
Once that group gets through with you, you're no longer perceived as fit to drive a garbage truck.
Image what that clique would do to Gov. Palin if she were a Democrat?
I suspect her proximity to Russia would not suffice as grounds for experience in foreign affairs.
Posted by: Gus | Sep 19, 2008 8:05:37 PM
Palin makes Obama look like a simpleton. That's why the hatred!
Posted by: dl | Sep 19, 2008 8:11:24 PM
I cannot STAND Palin's voice! She is so whiny and annoying. It was ok in the beginning, but the more I hear here its like chalk on a blackboard. She comes across as false and tries to hard for everyone to like her. She's so out of touch with the lower 48 states by living in Alaska. She doesn't have a clue!
Posted by: Emily | Sep 19, 2008 8:12:07 PM
Gov Palin is the ultimate Western woman. Men of the Western culture have always respected their women.
Women bashing Gov Palin is proof positive that women have not evolved as much as men. They are still fighting over the man who can bring in the most mastodon meat.
Uh, females, we're OK now, we are not man dependent; we are partners now. Especially you media feminists who are the worst "she should be at home with her family." That was amusing.
Posted by: Kate | Sep 19, 2008 8:18:32 PM
As a conservative male I was very excited about the pick of Sarah Palin for VP,
since we all know that Mc Cain was nothing more than Democrat-Lite. Unlike liberal men, conservative men aren't intimidated by strong women. I was very much behind her as a VP pick. But lefty female bloggers and TV commentators have perhaps changed my position. After seeing the hatred spewed by women at Palin, I tried hard to figure out why. All I heard from supposed "feminist groups was, "she's not right on womens issues". I then tried to figure out exactly what "womens issues" are. I remember one point was "equal pay", but since Obama pays his female staff LESS then men, while Mc Cain pays them MORE then men, I figured that wasn't it. Maybe education?..No men and women are BOTH interested in their kids education.
Hmmm..what could it be?...Then it became obvious, the ONLY issue is abortion.
Now this brings me to my change of heart in supporting Palin. The DEM men were right, in keeping the glass ceiling in place as evidently the only issue women can comprehend or care about is abortion. Russia flexing it's muscles, China building 6 new aircraft carriers and 3 new attack subs, Iran trying to get the bomb, economic issues, etc., etc., and yet many women will judge the fitness of a person that associates with, and endorsed by our enemies as preferable to a man with military experience and a strong woman. Perhaps that glass ceiling SHOULD remain for another half century. My hat off to the DEM guys, they got it right.
Posted by: Jack | Sep 19, 2008 8:20:06 PM
Emily
Bet you can't keep a man. Can you? Anybody who makes decisions on assertions instead of facts as you do isn't likely to keep a mate too interested.
Posted by: dl | Sep 19, 2008 8:20:58 PM
As an obama supporter, when i saw Palin for the first time, i was quite impressed her first speech in Ohio when Maccain introduced her.
And of course, i was panicking because i myself started to like her.
But then, drop by drop, the facts came out which was quite dissapointing.
power abuse (troopergate), lies (bridge to nowhere), dealing with human resources (choosing friends for the job)
the Likability as an public officer is gone. Of course, she is quite fun, and exciting figure... but in this crisis, we don't need to elect high office with American idol. the stake if too high.
Posted by: zen | Sep 19, 2008 8:21:47 PM
zen = creator of fairy tales.
Posted by: dl | Sep 19, 2008 8:25:49 PM
Sarah Palin comes across as genuine, down to earth, likeable, pretty, and, by the way, she just happens to be the most popular governor and has an 80% approval rating. Governor Palin comes across as someone you know and yet she has led a very remarkable life. Her story is the quintessential American story and she is even from the West to boot. She is exciting, and I think McCain is pretty darn exciting for picking her too. (By the way, I think John McCain must really be a cool guy to have been able to get Cindy McCain to marry him. Cindy McCain can fly a plane and races cars. Exciting Americans. I love it.)
Posted by: i like sarah palin | Sep 19, 2008 8:30:45 PM
The press has been unfair to Sarah Palin. The NY Times goes to Alaska and finds the few people who do not like her and try to deconstruct her systematically. So I guess the NY Times and the Washington Post and the rest know better than the people of Alaska that she has governed. Give me a break the media could tear apart Mother Teresa if they wanted.
Posted by: i like sarah palin | Sep 19, 2008 8:40:35 PM
You know, Jack may have a point. The Democrats have held the abortion issue as their ace in the hole for years. All the leaders have to do is say, "They are going to take away your right to abortion" and the women come running due to emotional blackmail.
Number 1 - Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned. McCain hasn't made it a priority nor has Palin. Yes, they have their beliefs but neither one of them spoke about taking away another woman's right to choose.
Number 2 - And I'm speaking to women here (sorry Jack). When was the last time that women sat down at talked about this? WE are the ones getting pregnant. WE are the ones having the abortions. WE are the ones raising the children. WE are the ones who should be working out solutions to the problems. I truly resent having men using MY uterus as a political football and I am shocked that more women don't feel this way.
As women, we should be talking about this in an honest, non-judgmental atmosphere ... if for nothing else, so our daughters will not have to be fighting about this in their lifetime. Solutions can be found. We are the stronger sex. Let's start acting like it.
Posted by: mak | Sep 19, 2008 8:43:08 PM
Another example of the nearly fascist dogma the dems and main stream media share. It is inconceivable to them that an intelligent person could 1) actually believe anything that is at odds with a leftist political world view and 2) (even more unbelievable) be a good leader if they did. They are perplexed when they encounter such a person, perplexed but also certain there must be some rational explanation for this obvious contradiction. Hmm, maybe this person has an undiscovered genetic defect; maybe it’s a human host under the control of an advanced alien race or, or …what, what could explain this thing that so clearly does not fit into the natural order of the universe? Whether or not an alternate explanation is found they are now duty-bound to enlighten this wayward soul about the one, true ideology, Liberalism and thus deliver them from evil clutches of extremism!
Posted by: dbp | Sep 19, 2008 11:23:51 PM
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