Elevating Motherhood as a Political Qualification Isn’t the Feminist Move We Think It Is
This trend is just another patriarchal strategy that keeps women trapped in traditional roles
“I’m a mom of four, a business owner, and I’m here to win your vote.”
“I’m a mother, first and foremost. I’m also a lawyer and have been in local politics for the past ten years.”
“I’m a wife and mother, and that’s how you know I’m the best person for this job.”
It’s hard to decide what I feel about the dozens of political ads that begin with female candidates reciting these words.
On the one hand, I’m thrilled that women are insisting that being a mother is a role worth more than social clout. We’ve spent decades insisting that women stay home with their children, shaming them for chasing any ambition beyond the domestic realm, silencing them and dismissing them as “just moms.” It’s long past time that we recognize the skills and wisdom that mothers have that make them valuable members of society.
On the other hand, I’m concerned that the trend this year seems to be that motherhood, and motherhood alone, uniquely qualifies these women for public office. I can’t help but worry that normalizing such a claim will be…
