I’m finally catching up on New Yorker articles, and was fascinated by the recent piece on Silvio Berlusconi, the scandalous President of Italy. Although he has been roundly criticized for alleged sex with underage girls and Bunga Bunga orgies, Berlusconi also made women central to his cabinet, appointing them as parliamentarians, and supporting them in mayoral elections.
How to consider a man who simultaneously objectifies women and lifts them to play previously unheard of roles in Italian politics? My initial instinct was to think fondly of a leader with the courage to elevate marginalized women – women from humble backgrounds, perhaps some who had earned money in less socially acceptable ways than we’re used to from public officials. I love the Victoria Woodhull story.
On the other hand, it’s clear that Berlusconi wasn’t scouring the backstreets of Italy looking for brilliant political minds. And it’s likely that these women are more Berlusconi stooges than they are advocates for innovative public policy. They are part of the government because they ponied up for powerful men. Their looks and willingness to be the women ‘men want’ got them their jobs.
When you think about this paradigm it doesn’t feel all that good. And it reminds me of Sarah Palin. Palin capitalizes on her looks, her simultaneous domesticity and sexuality, and a stereotype of ‘what men want’. As a stooge for the Republican party, how different is she from Berlusconi’s ladies of the night?
This is also why Palin’s brand of political ‘feminism’ is so odious to many of us. If your political power rests on being cute, but not too bright, attractive but ineffectual, you do nothing to advance the role of women in society. If you got where you are by pleasing an man – directly or indirectly – you’re just a modern Victoria Woodhull. A novelty candidate there for laughs.
There are Republican women who provide important role models. I don’t agree with them, but they add value to discussions about the issues. Olympia Snowe. Kay Granger. Kay Bailey Hutchison. This isn’t a political divide, it’s about how women in politics position themselves relative to their peers. It’s about sounding intelligent and well-prepared. It’s about elevating our best people, not because they adhere to someone’s idea of what a woman should look like, but because they can create effective public policy.
