It really is hard to say - they are using the language of misogyny to attack a candidate, but it's hard to know if it's because they truly fear a woman candidate or because the language is available and she's a woman and the pundits, etc are not thinking of the connotations.
I don't think there is actually equivalent language - I think "bastard" is about the closest, or "jerk", but there are nuances there, too.
I personally think it's a combination of all of the above, and the fact that there has long been a genuine dislike of Hillary Clinton, largely fomented by her husband's political opponents.
I've even seen speculation that it is those political opponents who are behind the scenes for some of this - certainly, one of the more egregious things (Citizens United, Not Timid t-shirts) was done by Republicans quite openly.
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Date: 2008-05-22 04:33 pm (UTC)I don't think there is actually equivalent language - I think "bastard" is about the closest, or "jerk", but there are nuances there, too.
I personally think it's a combination of all of the above, and the fact that there has long been a genuine dislike of Hillary Clinton, largely fomented by her husband's political opponents.
I've even seen speculation that it is those political opponents who are behind the scenes for some of this - certainly, one of the more egregious things (Citizens United, Not Timid t-shirts) was done by Republicans quite openly.