New Republic cover story: "Yes She Can". Coming November 29th.

[Nonhlanhla]

96. Yes and no

It's entirely possible that Bernie will do a lot for women, simply because he is a progressive. I do not see a longstanding focus on women's issues with him, though.

And just as having a black presidents has been of immense symbolic power for black people, for women having a female president would be of immense significance. I do think that Hillary sometimes has to do things differently than a male candidate would simply because (just like Obama) she faces different expectations. As a result, there is the risk that she might overcompensate and then do less for women than a male candidate might, but I don't think the dynamics for gender are quite the same as the dynamics for gender, so I think that risk is less for her than it has been for Obama. After all, women are not an ethnic group. Given her solid track record on women's issues (e.g. her work on sex trafficking etc.) as well as the symbolic power of the first female president, I think her election would be of great benefit to women. Any time you get a "first" it breaks a barrier that makes it easier for the next person of color or the next woman to come along.

In any case, as a woman, I would be entirely comfortable with pretty much any Democrat in office, and literally fear for my life with any Republican.

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(I deleted my post above and move it here. I meant to respond to Live and Learn.)