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Is Valerie Jarrett Anti-Woman?
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President Obama’s choice to lead the newly created White House Council on Women and Girls has done virtually nothing to advance women’s rights. We should support her anyway.
Today President Obama signed an executive order creating a White House Council on Women and Girls. The president’s council will have as its mandate: “To provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families.” Women should be cheering, right? Not so fast. Why are so many feminists up in arms about the choice of Valerie Jarrett to chair the council?
One comment on our blog read: My concern with Valerie Jarrett is that I don’t think she has been “kicked to the curb” enough.
For many women, even the mention of Valerie Jarrett is feminist dynamite. Jarrett was among President Obama’s inner circle during the 2008 presidential campaign—a campaign which took down two promising female candidates along the way. Forgive and forget? Not for many women on both sides of the aisle. Somehow this pick by President Obama has stepped smack dab into the middle of one of the most argued notions of the current women’s rights movement: Can a woman who does not support other women be a feminist?
I wrote a piece for The New Agenda blog last night after seeing my email inbox fill with angry protests about President Obama’s selection of Jarrett. The grounds for their dismay were many, and the comments are raw and telling. First and foremost was the notion that Jarrett is perceived to be a major villain in the plot to bring down then Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Sarah Palin: Did Jarrett stand up when Obama was using sexism, when the Democratic party was and the media was throwing mud and spitting in our faces? No she did not. Second, feminists ask: Where’s the beef? Show me something, I mean anything, on Jarrett’s resume that demonstrates the vaguest commitment to women’s rights: I’ve been trying to find the answer to this question myself. Can anyone point to any work Jarrett has done to advance women’s equality?Third, Jarrett is still linked to the Chicago-style scandals that plague politicians from that city (some rightfully and some wrongfully): She does have her detractors, and is a highly or lowly regarded slum landlady from Chicago. And finally, women feel that Jarrett is not in touch with our needs. One comment on our blog read: My concern with Valerie Jarrett is that I don’t think she has been “kicked to the curb” enough to understand the depth and breadth of the problems that women in this country face.
While I see the merit of these concerns, I have to say I respectfully disagree. I believe we should set aside our differences and cheer President Obama for establishing a White House Women’s Council and for his pick of Valerie Jarrett. This is one of the things we have been asking for, isn’t it?
Valerie Jarrett is another fresh face for our country’s women’s movement, which so sorely needs a makeover. As I wrote on this blog in January, the current women's rights movement is hardly recognizable to those who are trying to advance the discourse on gender. The women’s movement has devolved from brave and bold to an exclusive clique. Valerie Jarrett is a leader who can change that. Jarrett is self-made woman who has a lifetime of accomplishments.Jarrett is a woman who can garner support in a nonpartisan fashion.
We need a pragmatic woman who has demonstrated that she can get things done. Our country is littered with crises that affect women disproportionately and that have not had national leadership. Take, for example, violence against women—so-called domestic violence—which impacts one in four women and one in three female teenagers. Or the flat funding for the prevention of HIV/AIDS—a disease that is the leading cause of death for women of color between the ages of 25-34, and the fifth leading killer of women in America. Or the fact that women still make only 78 cents on the dollar compared to men.
I say to all feminists of all stripes, let’s stand with Valerie Jarrett. Let’s unite and focus on women’s issues that unite us rather than divide us.
Amy Siskind is president and co-founder of The New Agenda, a nonpartisan organization devoted to advancing women’s rights.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
"Valerie Jarrett is another fresh face for our country's women's movement, which so sorely needs a makeover."
Considering that she has been no-show in the women's movement, this statement is an understatement. You can't even list any of her accomplishment which has helped any woman along the way.
Can we not just admit that as a good friend and loyal supporter of Obama, she's getting her kickback? Especially since the senate thing did not work out, yet. If Obama was serious about women's progress AND reconciliation, he would have chosen Geraldine Ferraro for this post.
You mean the slaughtering of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin by Obama and his people hasn't shown you how little he regards women?
He thinks women should be pretty and on the cover of magazines, like Michelle, but not REALLY in charge of anything........
It's curious how the "women's movement" routinely turns silent when a conservative female is getting kicked to the curb. No, let's stop the dishonesty, there is only a "liberal's only women's movement."
Let's give her a shot - we need a council like this. If we had true gender parity in our government the needs of women and girls would be woven naturally throughout the cabinet.
Since we don't have parity we have to create things like this.
Sure, I would rather have a radical feminist heading the Council too...but maybe she will do a great job.
If, as Sec of State Madeline Albright said" Hell has a place reserved for women who do not support women" is correct that Jarrett as a place reserved...shame on her for the attacks on Clinton and Palin and her not coming to their defense or stopping them for coming from the campaign in which she was in the inner circle
Valerie Jarrett is a very poor choice to lead a women's council. It's another stick in the eye to women. Obama "sweetie" disrespected women and especially Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Valerie Jarrett was right there with him, saying NOTHING. Jarrett has no record on advancing women's rights and her questionable dealings in Chicago warrant further investigation.
How about it, writers of the Daily Beast, could we further investigate Valerie Jarrett?
In my view, Valerie Jarrett is simply another Chicago political sewer rat from arguably the dirtiest political sewer in the nation who swims with the other dirty rats who inhabit it, just like Obama.
Obama could have made a far better choice. Another of his many failures. I am a very disappointed Democrat. Hillary Clinton (the one who should be our President) is the only bright spot in this sorry administration. As bad as Bush was, Obama is proving to be far worse.
It's going to be a long four years..........
Let's all celebrate Women's History Month and ask the media to do likewise. A great deal of attention was paid to Black History Month despite the black population at only 11% of the population particularly on CNN and PBS focusing more on the black male population. Enough already about MLK, how about celebrating the great Coretta Scott King who spent many more years on civil rights issues?? No such attention is being given to Women who make up 52% of the population. Why?
HBO should be replaying their excellent "Iron Jawed Angels" about the early suffragist movement focusing on the wonderful Alice Paul. That movie should be required watching in every high school in America during March in a curriculum that includes Women's History. Why isn't it?
Women comprise 52% of the population yet we have so little representation in all levels of government. Why?
It's time to change that. To understand where we are going we must understand where we have been. Celebrating women this month is a good start. Let's do it!
Today, I thank the great Hillary Rodham Clinton for a lifetime of public service which continues to impress the world.
please Jarrett will be an advocate for minority women's rights, end of story. Ok, fine. Advocate away but let's call the office what it is in reality. And what Michelle will allow to happen in that office.
If women are to advance in this world we need to focus on much more than the needs of minority women.
We need someone to focus on the glass ceiling problem and Jarrett IS that problem!!
I'm not buying this crap at all.
I believe Valerie Jarrett will do just fine representing women and the issues that concern us.
I think one of the pressing issues will be domestic violence, amazing how many intelligent, talented women put up with this. I don't believe for many it is a matter of low self esteem, maybe it is a mothering need (big baby men) that gets out of hand.
Do you really think a slumlord should represent women? Who do you think lived in those apartments, with no heat or water, and vermin and cracks in the walls? Probably disproportionately women, and single mothers, and young children. Does Obama know anyone with integrity?
This is really a non-issue for most people. I watched the news, both Right Wing and supposedly liberal left wing (which means the news with no agenda but a juicy story) and I saw no sexism in the Obama campaign.
And what do detractors make of Hillary taking her secretary position then? Does she enjoy abuse? No the answer is she was going after Obama just as hard as any political foe.
I find this stuff annoying, since it isn't based on facts just a feeling that "she hasn't been kicked to the curb enough". Do they want her to be missing an eye from spousal abuse or something? Don't get me started on Palin. She as much the average American woman as Rush Limbaugh is.
"For many women, even the mention of Valerie Jarrett is feminist dynamite. Jarrett was among President Obama's inner circle during the 2008 presidential campaign-a campaign which took down two promising female candidates along the way."
Let's not conflate "female political candidate" with "feminist." Sarah Palin is not what I'd call a shining example of feminism--case in point, charging women for rape kits--if that isn't anti-feminist, I sure as hell don't know what is. As for sallyma's absurd comment, the issues of minority women DO include the glass ceiling, and a million other things too (ever heard of the double burden?) "Womens" Issues like domestic violence and pay inequality affect minority women at disproportionately higher rates than found in the general population as a whole, due to the confluence of political marginalization and socio-economic disadvantages. Such a remark is needlessly incendiary and a testament to your ignorance.
Valerie Jarrett is much needed shot in the arm for the feminist movement as a whole, as (quotes from the long-dead Sojourner Truth notwithstanding) the modern feminist movement's most prominent spokespeople (and audience) have been largely white, privileged women. It's the 21st century ladies, and feminism should no longer be the bastion of nice girls from Connecticut who spent their formative years at Bryn Mawr and Wellesley.
Isn't it really the case that Valerie Jarrett should be leading the "Council for LIBERAL Women?" Because, based on Obama's (and the media's) throttling of Sarah Palin and, of course, any women who isn't "pro-choice", aren't they really interested only in women from their particular political persuasion?
typo: any women who AREN'T pro-choice.........
The panel's (White House Council on Women and Girls) mandate will be to make sure that all federal agencies take into account how their policies and actions affect women and girls. "We need to take a hard look at where we're falling short,"
- President Barack Obama
---
Hopefully Obama will "take a hard look" at the LIE of abortion.
And how thousands of post-abortion women are suffering.
The bottom line is......
Abortion hurts women, Mr. President.
Actress and author Jennifer ONeill gives her testimony about the pain of her abortion and how she found healing, as she speaks at a gathering of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. She is the campaigns celebrity spokeswoman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kcn9ZjBZ64&feature=channel_page
There is hope. I you or someone you know is suffering the trauma of abortion. There are trusted, reputable groups that have helped thousands of women heal from the wounds of abortion.
Silent No More Awareness at:
http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/
Get answers to your questions about post abortion health, emotions, relationships, men's issues, etc.:
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/
The Obama administration has sought many well qualified female nominees to cabinet posts. The campaign was not particularly sexist, although yes, it was a campaign and there was therefore the increasingly hysterical commentary on slights about women, colour, navy flyboys, hunting wolves etc. I cannot understand why this is an issue at all; Valerie Jarrett is an experienced political operator, with a long, varied and successful career behind her. I agree with xbainx's comment above that this seems to be totally irrelevant.
How do you justify putting a slumlord in this position? Don't you think a disproportionate number of the people living in those housing projects, with no heat or water, vermin, and cracks in the walls, were women and children? Does Obama know any people with integrity?
The bottom line is......
Abortion hurts women, Mr. President.
----------------------------------------
So don't have one ...
It's your choice maroon ...
Ask Mickey Steele ...
And stop whining about Obama's acquaintances ...
Amy Siskind has been whining since Sarah Palin proved to be one crumb short of a loaf on the campaign trail ...
It's NOT Obama's fault that he managed to get a maximum of the votes ...
The notion that Valerie Jarrett OR Barack Obama is "anti-woman" is specious, at best. To call her or her boss sexist is to misunderstand and underestimate both of them. You need look no further than Michelle Obama. Our president could not have married a strong, brilliant, ambitious woman if strong, brilliant, ambitious women make him feel uncomfortable.
I'm sad that Hillary Clinton's primary supporters are still bitter about her loss. The post above and many of the comments demonstrate a reluctance to move on.
Geraldine Ferraro? Please! Even Hillary tried to distance herself from Ferraro's rants during the Primary. I remember when Ferraro was selected for VP. I don' think I have ever been more excited about politics. But I don't know what has happened to her over the years.
What proof is there that Jarrett led the charge against Hillary and Palin? And, as a supporter of Obama, did she issue unfair charges or just the to-be-expected support for Obama over his opponents?
I do not understand why someone has to prove her feminist credentials by supporing Palin. I would think the opposite!
I no of no reaon why we shouldn't applaud Jarrett's appointment. It seems to me to be a positive thing that Obama appointed someone in his inner circle to this position.
"Take, for example, violence against women-so-called domestic violence-which impacts one in four women and one in three female teenagers."
These numbers are pure hokum.
Lets give Jarrett a chance! Rather than lamenting that she hasn't done anything directly for women's rights so far, let her know what you want her to get done and support her as she tries to do it. All the whining about what could have been is such a waste of time.
mindlessmissy:
Name calling does not reflect well on you.
"We need to take a hard look at where we're falling short,"
- President Barack Obama
Abortion hurts women, Mr. President.
Silent No More Awareness at:
http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/
Thank you.
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