United States: women politicians face the presidential glass ceiling

Text by: Baptiste Condominas Follow

The race for the Democratic nomination is now a duel between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, two white men of a certain age. While the campaign had started with several female candidates, their successive abandonment questions the difficulty of women to establish themselves as "presidential" figures in the United States.

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New York State Senator Kristen Gillibrand retired from the race in August 2019, California Senator Kamala Harris did the same in December, followed by writer Marianne Williamson on January 10. The day before Super Tuesday, March 2, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar drops out, and finally, March 5, Elizabeth Warren. Officially, only the Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard remains in the running, but her chances of winning are insignificant.

Never before have the Democratic Party primaries offered its voters so many female candidates. On arrival, however, it is of course two men that their choice will go to face Donald Trump in the presidential election. And the defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016 is still in everyone's mind. So “ why can't America elect a woman leader? " Wonders Time , when other countries have already done so.

The question of " eligibility "

Gender bias is the first answer, say most observers. " There is an element of sexism in the question of eligibility, which always arises more for a female candidate than for a man , analyzes Hélène Quanquin, professor of history and civilization of the United States at the University of Lille . It is estimated that women leave with an additional obstacle . ”

A recent study by University of Ottawa political scientist Regina Bateson shows that voters do indeed find women " less eligible " than men. And a survey conducted by Avalanche Strategy last summer confirms that gender is considered a more important barrier than a candidate's " age, race, ideology or sexual orientation ".

Ambition and competence

The image of women in politics suffers from stereotypes that do not affect men. Especially regarding ambition. In a 2010 Yale University study , researchers Victoria Brescoll and Tyler Okimoto explain that " people are less likely to vote for female candidates if they are seen as seeking political power, but perceptions related to the search for power does not affect voters' preferences for male candidates . ”

In addition, assets such as experience and competence do not seem to play in favor of the candidates. A lawyer trained in Yale and involved in politics from an early age, influential first lady, senator and secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has an impressive resume. However, she lost in 2016 to Donald Trump, whose political career is non-existent. Amy Klobuchar, despite her years in the Senate, was quickly overshadowed by Pete Buttigieg, a young 38-year-old mayor. In June 2019, she estimated that a woman with the same curriculum as the elected official of South Bend " would not have been taken seriously ".

Democratic nomination contestants Elizabeth Warren (L) and Amy Klobuchar (R) on March 1, 2020 in Selma, Alabama. Joshua Lott / AFP

But it is undoubtedly Elizabeth Warren who paid the heaviest price on this aspect. Former assistant to the president and special advisor to the secretary of the Treasury under Obama, senator and vice-president of the Democratic group in the Senate, professor of law at Harvard, she was nicknamed " madam know-all " or " the teacher ", he was accused of being " condescending ". A criticism which " cannot be dissociated from the sex of Warren ", estimates The Atlantic . " The paradox is subtle, but nonetheless penalizing : the more it tries to prove to the public that it is worthy of power - the more it offers proof of its competence - the more it becomes" condescending " ". And the magazine summarizes: " it is because of its successes that it represents a threat ".

Two weights, two measures

Being "too competent" would therefore work against women politicians, and at the same time " women are subject to higher standards ", said candidate Amy Klobuchar during the November debate. " Otherwise, we could play a game called " Name your favorite female president ", which we cannot do because they are all men, including the vice-presidents. "

Hillary Clinton expressed a similar sentiment after her defeat in 2016. " It shouldn't be an impossible task for more women to reach their own goals ," she told Time . But we are faced with a pernicious double standard which is carried and encouraged by the idea of ​​perfectionism. "

Hillary and Bill Clinton, November 9, 2016 in New York, the day after the defeat of the former First Lady against Donald Trump. JEWEL SAMAD / AFP

And if the gaze of others is an obstacle, the opinion that women have of themselves shower their ambitions. " Studies show that many women do not show up because they doubt their own abilities, " said Hélène Quanquin, professor of American history and civilization at the University of Lille.

An obstacle course

However, social perceptions and representations are not the only problem. " The primary campaign is a very long, difficult race, which requires a lot of money and network ," explains Hélène Quanquin. And this is done to the detriment of the candidacies of women and minorities ”, whose access to resources is more limited and who are figures less installed in the political landscape.

And even when the obstacle course of the primaries is successfully crossed, the system can continue to be a brake for a candidate. " We must not forget that Hillary Clinton obtained three million more votes than Donald Trump ," recalls Hélène Quanquin. It was the electoral college that distorted the deal. An important nuance, because the popular vote thus suggests that " a woman could be elected " at the head of the country, according to the specialist of the United States.

The vice-presidency ?

In the case of this year's primaries, analysts believe that the defeat of Hillary Clinton in 2016 probably influenced Democratic voters in their choice, considering that it was perhaps too risky to appoint a woman to face Donald Trump. There is also the strategic factor of candidates who do not necessarily aim to "win". " Many people come to the primaries to show that they exist, with the crosshairs of the election after or the place of vice-president, " pointed out the professor at the University of Lille.

However, the vice-presidency is now the new issue for women in the race, and it is an important issue. " A vice-president could change the situation, it could be a real step forward for women and a springboard for 2024 ", analyzes Hélène Quanquin. It would also be historic. So far, only two women have applied for the post, Sarah Palin in 2008 and Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. And in the democratic ranks, more and more voices are rising, militant or elected, so that a woman appears on the ticket alongside the party candidate, reports the New York Times .

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have always said they are in favor, and their close associates believe that this choice would constitute " solid political arguments ", in particular arousing " the enthusiasm of the voters, who constitute the backbone of the party " and in " Accentuating the contrast " with the president-elect. " Women remain the strongest opponents of Mr. Trump " recalls the American daily newspaper, which wonders: breaking "the second tallest, most solid glass ceiling would not be so bad, right? "

Kamala Harris's name is circulating to appear on the Democratic ticket as a vice-presidential candidate. She supported Joe Biden after quitting the race. JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP

Strong women

But while waiting for a woman to one day win the presidential election, the arrival of Donald Trump in power has brought about a significant change and the mid-term elections are proof of this. Not only did the 2018 election constitute a historic record in terms of the number of women elected , but above all it highlighted a new generation of women politicians.

If the American system is far from perfect, " it also has this specificity of giving space to strong women profiles ", comments the professor of history and civilization of the United States at the University of Lille, Hélène Quanquin . And to conclude: “ after all, if we ask ourselves the question of a woman's victory, it is because a lot of women can claim it. "

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