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| Carol Glanville, Winnie Brinks,Gretchen Whitmer, Rachel Hood. |
As a woman I have been delighted to see more and more females running for office. Thanks to redistricting, I'll be able to vote for a whole slate of female candidates on Nov. 8 from the statewide trifecta (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson) to Hillary Scholten for Congress, Winnie Brinks for State Senate and Carol Glanville for State House. And, of course, myself for County Commissioner.
But I have noticed a trend that concerns me. We tend to refer to women officials by their first names and men by their last names. It's Biden and Kamala. Gretchen and Gilchrist. Today at the Democratic office I received a request for three yard signs : " Hillary, Winnie and Rachel."
I don't think this is intended to be demeaning...but it is. I like to think it is because women are more approachable, friendlier, so people feel at ease calling them by their first names. But we'd be foolish to not realize it's a not-so-subtle jab at female authority. You might get elected, you might even be able to do the job well. But don't expect to be treated with respect.
So, ladies, what are we going to do about it? Since the beginning of time women have been the fixers, the ones who know how to smooth over an awkward situation. Can we defang this insult and turn it to our advantage?
I'd love to hear what female voters and candidates think.
