A little harsh? Maybe. But, talking about the importance of being a woman in a political campaign is one thing. Printing materials with hearts for bullets is another. Yuck.
This comes from Louisiana State Senate candidate Yvonne Dorsey. It’s accompanied by a letter, and parts of it read like an episode of the Tyra Banks show. The worst part is, she’s got a strong record that gets lost in hokey language like this:
“I’m wonderful friends with all of the Senators (many of whom are endorsing me) and I love them like brothers (and sisters), but the Senate is still basically a smoky men’s club and needs a woman’s touch.�
Not quite the same as this:
"This is a historic moment — for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today, we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit, anything is possible for them."
I’m just saying. But really it’s the hearts that get me. Did I mention yuck? I wonder if she thought to send it on perfumed stationery?
Many thanks to Sunshine for being from Louisiana and scanning this stuff for me.
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I'm not sure I agree with you here, after looking at the letter and the ad. While there are a few women-as-prototypical-caregivers touches here and there, the center of her campaign seems to be the slogan "Brave Heart, Bold Voice". That seems to go against several sexist stereotypes all at once: It's not, "Caring Heart, Quiet, Respectful Voice". The hearts as bullets aren't sweet and smarmy (to give her the benefit of some doubts), but rather represent boldness and bravery, which are often seen as traits of male masculinity.
So, while there's some gender essentialism involved in some of what she's saying, I dig that she's going for the 'voting for education is a brave, strong stance, for instance .
I find the heart-shaped bullets to be a little cutesy and over the top, but the letter itself seems quite competent. No, it's not on the same level as Speaker Pelosi's speech...but this woman isn't going to be Speaker of the House either, is she? The bulk of her letter isn't much different from other campaign letters: it speaks of her accomplishments, her goals and her endorsements. And she's doing all of that without resorting to attacks on the other candidates.
Hopefully someday we can live in a country where a woman can put all the damn hearts on her materials that she wants and not be judged on what are traditionally considered "feminine" symbols, but on her ideas. But I don't think we're there yet...
I'm sorry, but when I read this letter, it screamed out to me "I have a vagina, so vote for me." I am all about having more women in our state legislatures, especially women, but shouldn't she be touting her accomplishments simply as accomplishments? Why is it necessary to say that she pushed through pieces of legislation because she is a woman?
I'm torn on this. While, the implication that all women are nurturing and the cutesy graphics are sending mixed messages, overall, I agree with much of what she is offering. It is very hard to assert any feminism in America's political sphere these days, without being attacked from all sides. It seems that she's trying to be a feminist without appearing to be a feminist. Does that make sense?
I wouldn't vote for her because she has a vagina, but I would vote for her because she seems to care about mine.
I live in Baton Rouge, but don't live in her district. I saw her on t.v. and she seems like a nice lady, but I hate those hearts in her name. They drive me crazy. But I like the letter. She seems caring and actually concerned about the people she serves. Plus, she can not be as corrupt as Cleo Fields.
I live in Baton Rouge, but don't live in her district. I saw her on t.v. and she seems like a nice lady, but I hate those hearts in her name. They drive me crazy. But I like the letter. She seems caring and actually concerned about the people she serves. Plus, she can not be as corrupt as Cleo Fields.