Mom for President!

Two of the most prominent women in American politics have been presenting their “motherly side”. Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton believe that portraying themselves as mothers will help get them ahead in politics.

The two women are trying to soften their images. Pelosi, who the republicans have labeled as a ‘tax-raising liberal’, would rather be seen as a grandmother who lets her grandchildren hold the gavel in the eyes of voters. The New York Times article notes that women “who are weary of a long and difficult war and the intense partisanship in Washington in recent years” are especially likely to be attracted by Pelosi’s new image. For similar reasons, Clinton is exploring what the image of mother can do for her. After having six years of a “Big Brother” approach coming from the white house, a trusting mother may be very attractive to Americans.

Is the image of female politicians being mothers actually beneficial to women? Female politicians have tried to get away from the mother stereotype for decades because it reinforces the traditional family mentality that has kept women out of politics for so long. But, if women are using the mother image to their advantage and to get to higher levels of government, doesn’t that make it ok? Clinton and Pelosi are both seen as intelligent, competent, powerful women—all characteristics that we see in our own mothers and that we would love to see in more government officials.