Women Support Women

Snippets of a conversation overheard in my water aerobics class:

  • Bernie Sanders sounds so intelligent when he talks. I just don’t know how he’s going to pay for all of his programs. Free college sounds good but someone has to pay for it!
  • I could never vote for Trump. He has a lot of good ideas but he just sounds so demeaning to people who disagree with him. Can you see him in a meeting with Putin or that guy from Iran?
  • I like Rubio but he needs a little more experience. His policies sound good, but he’s so young. I like the way he talks about his parents being immigrants, but I don’t know if he’ll be tough enough on illegals.
  • I’m not sure about Ted Cruz. A lot of people seem against him, but he sounds pretty smart. That whole Canada thing was ridiculous.
  • I sure wish Governor Kasich would do better. He would be a great president. Look at how much better Ohio is since he became governor!
  • How old do you think Hillary is?
  • Have you seen Bill? He’s lost so much weight. I wonder why Hillary hasn’t lost as much as he has. I heard he’s a vegan, maybe she should try it, too.
  • I don’t know how old she is, but Hillary looks older than me; maybe 80? She needs to do something about her makeup and her clothes.

Wait, what? 

These were all women in their 50s, 60s and 70s. It doesn’t matter to me if they support Hillary’s policies or her candidacy for president. But, why comment on policy and qualifications when discussing the male candidates and then switch to weight, age, hair and makeup when talking about a female candidate? Can’t we rally around the fact that, by all accounts, an amazingly intelligent woman stands on the threshold of doing something no woman has done before; be president of the United States and the leader of the free world?

Disagree with Hillary’s stance (or, Carly’s, for that matter) on the issues and have an intelligent debate. Have an opinion and engage in substantive conversation. Don’t vote for her, if that’s what you feel is best for our country. But don’t dismiss her – or any woman – for her looks!

So many women were outraged when Donald Trump made remarks about Carly Fiorina’s face. Women (and men) around the world reacted strongly when he insulted FOX news anchor Megyn Kelly saying she “had blood coming out of her wherever.”

I propose that women who make comments like these are no better and we should be just as outraged.

I did insert myself into the conversation and asked the group what they thought about Hillary’s economic plan. They looked at me like I had two heads.

What do you think about women showing bias against other women for superficial reasons?