Why is it that women who blog get loads of attention if we’re criticizing one another, but not if we want to engage in a real discussion on important issues?
The number of blogs dedicated to women discussing and hashing out issues important to mothers seems to be growing everyday — The Soccer Mom Vote, DC Metro Moms Blog, BlogHer, MomsRising and, yes, a little plug for myself over at PunditMom’s Spin Cycle. We’re trying so hard with the right words to express ourselves. But it seems that it’s only when we use our ‘mean girl’ words that we get the attention.
I don’t know of a many news outlets pounding down our doors to learn why we want to express our political views or what those views are. I don’t hear the presidential candidates getting many questions about whether they’re listening to women even when they say we are the key to victory in 2008.
So why is that? Is it my cat fight theory all over again?
Or is it time to adopt the ‘if we can’t beat ‘me, join ‘em’ philosophy.
If we can find a way to make our political views look like a cat fight, maybe we’d be getting some calls from Good Morning, America.
Or is there another way? Help me out here — I’m losing my patience!
On another note, if you’re wondering about how the war in Iraq should end, check out PunditGirl’s thoughts over at the Spin Cycle.
September 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Seriously!!!
That’s exactly why I sent that invitation to the candidates. I wanted them to know that we think, we have opinions about what is going on in the world, about how it affects us…our families.
Do we do it to ourselves or is there something else at play?
I wish I had an answer. I think the only way to move forward is to keep putting our words out there and ignore the fights.
But it gets hard some days…
September 14th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I so agree. Snark gets all the press and I truly wish it was different. There is so much good writing going on about issues that matter from a community building perspective rather than a chipping away at someone’s character.
And yet I think SVMB (the founders; Jill, etc) has held on and been clear about what they are about and how to work w/ what must have been a surely unexpected onslaught of attention. Good for them.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
you know why, PM. The folks who say the media has a liberal or conservative “bias” are wrong.
The media has a negative bias. The media is attracted to controversy in all its forms. When the moms are having a dustup, they report on the dustup, not the moms.
And it’s not just moms. I’m a sports fan – when I watch SportsCenter at night, what highlights do they lead with? The guy who has a base hit, or the guy who throws a pitch at the batter’s head?
Need a political analogy? OK – when Barack Obama gives the same foreign policy speech a bunch of times, does the media cover it? Of course not. But when he talks about the theoretical possibility of military action against Pakistan, what does the media do?
So yeah, call it the “cat fight” theory or whatever you want. The traditional media always has been and always will be attracted to controversy like a moth to a candle.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Great minds think alike! Clearly we both have this same topic on our minds. Frankly I’m getting sick of well educated and articulate women bloggers being ignored unless the media can somehow relate us to the Mommy Wars. Enough already!
Unfortunately, I think David’s onto something. Maybe we should stage some figurative ladies mud wrestling on our blogs!
September 15th, 2007 at 2:23 am
It’s the perception of interest, measured through power and money.
The “family values” thing is well-established so “women’s issues” aren’t forefront right now.
Therefore, the media focus on the mom and female point of view isn’t there this time.
In a way, I’d be hopeful that it means we are focusing on “average person” rather than divvying up by gender, but the focus on men seems so pointed.
Good post.
Julie
Using My Words
September 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
This issue is clearly in the zeitgeist these days. Let’s keep talking about it!
In a similar vein, this morning I wrote about my challenge of continuing to develop as an opinionated woman in the face of criticism on the Mojo Mom blog.
After two hours of pouring my thoughts out I needed to stop by to get my PunditMom fix.
September 17th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I totally agree with you, but there is truth to David’s take on this. The media wants to cover the mud-slinging because it’s entertaining. Serious, meaningful discussion gave way to the barking heads screaming entrenched views across a table at each other a while ago.
So, the challenge is, how do we make serious discussion entertaining and meaningful?