Mass Senate Race: The Personality Parade
Much of the media coverage of the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s senate seat has focused on the leading candidates’ personalities, or perceived lack of personality in the case of Attorney General Martha Coakley. Reporters are quick to point out voters know more about Coakley professionally than personally. She has been referred to as an ice queen and a mean girl, monotone, robotic, with no fire in her belly, and the “personality of a frumpy substitute teacher.”
The Boston Globe says,
“She hides her personality behind a businesslike veneer.”
Inherent in many of these articles I believe there is an unconscious gender bias. Many career women, especially women from Coakley’s generation, have been conditioned to separate their personal and professional personas. We are taught that in order to be taken seriously, we must be serious. We are told that to get to the top, we must emulate those at the top. And the reality is, most of the people at the top are still men. As a result women are trained that sports talk is okay. Girl talk is not.
When I was pregnant, I tried to change the topic and redirect any conversations about my pregnancy while at work. This despite the fact my protruding belly took up half the conference room. When I returned from maternity leave, I did not bring any pictures of my children to work and never discussed motherhood for fear I would be seen as a flight risk by my bosses.
But so much political coverage these days focuses on a candidate’s personality and so-called likeability. Is the candidate warm? Do we know them personally? And the all-important question, would we want to have a beer with them?
The above-quoted Globe article goes on to reveal some personal details about Coakley.
“Behind the scenes, Coakley reveals a quick wit and an almost easygoing personality that is striking in its contrast to her campaign identity. She expounds on her preference for pale ales (and Sam Adams or Harpoon over Guinness). She quotes lyrics from Broadway musicals (favorite: “Man of La Mancha’’). She describes hearing former governor Mitt Romney sing show tunes (yes, he can sing). She explains her unusual accent (it reflects her youth in North Adams, her career as a lawyer, and her parents’ Rhode Island origins).”
The reality is, most voters will never sit down for a beer or belt out show tunes with our elected officials. And really, why would we want to? What matters in an election is the candidates’ track records, voting history and stance on the key issues of the day. Results are what matter. At least, that’s what they taught all of us working women at the office. So to judge a woman candidate’s lack of so-called personality is to dismiss the realities of professional women. Furthermore, we are still a long way, baby, from a woman centerfold being taken seriously as a senate candidate.
Perhaps, the most ridiculous coverage I saw of Coakley, was an interview with Andy Hiller of local news station WHDH. His bio claims he is “regarded as the most provocative political reporter in New England.”
Here is some of the exchange between Hiller and Coakley:
Hiller: “With respect to your sense of humor- what’s your favorite joke?”
Coakley “Oh, I’m a horrible joke teller. I’ll be the first to tell that…” I have a horrible memory for jokes. I know them when I hear them. But I can’t give you one now.”
Hiller: “How can you replace Sen. Ted Kennedy if you can’t tell a joke? He was the best at it.”
Provocative? Hardly.
Adrian Walker at Boston.com wrote of Coakley,
“She is solid, sane, and responsible, and in a short race, that will have to see her through.”
Fine with me.
[...] you haven’t been following this race closely, you may be interested in this summary of the media coverage. Coakley has been criticized a la Hillary Clinton — too stern and serious. Let’s agree, [...]