Can A Woman Be a Good President? The Kids Don't Think So
2007 is beginning to look a lot like 1977. At least that’s what you’d think if you logged into Facebook this morning and were presented with a poll asking if a woman can be as effective a president as a man.
Out of the 69,388 people who clicked and answered by midday, 21 percent said, “No, a woman cannot be as effective as a man.”
Don’t tell MoDo.
Besides stating the obvious – that these kids have been Facebooking during history class and missed that lesson on Margaret Thatcher – this highly unscientific gauge of American values reveals one surprisingly scientific reality: the youngest American Facebookers are the least likely to agree that men and women can do the same job equally well.
Of Facebook’s youngest crowd – the 13 to 17 set – 39 percent say a woman cannot be as effective as a man and another 37 percent says they just don’t know.
That’s right. Only a quarter of 13 to 17 year olds know that women and men can do the same job equally well.
Meanwhile, their Facebooking parents haven’t forgotten the Iron Lady: an overwhelming majority of users aged 35-49 say women can do the job, plain and simple.
According to a December Gallup poll, 86 percent of Americans said they would vote for a qualified female presidential candidate; only 12 percent said no. But the number of those willing to say no is growing – it’s up two percent from nine months ago. In 1999, only 7 percent said they would not support a qualified female candidate.
In 1978, 76 percent of Americans said they would vote for a female president, 19 percent said no. If Facebook’s numbers are any indicator, we’ll be back to the 1970s before you know it.
Can a woman be as effective a president as a man?
Facebookers by political orientation:
By gender:
It’s not surprising that self-described conservatives are more likely to say no, nor is it a shock that more women than men say a female can do the job just as well. But to think that America’s youngest females don’t think they’ll do as good a job as their brothers should be a call to arms for leaders and voters alike.
Facebook has clearly taken over the social world and has its sights on the political, but maybe it’s next big app can be: Gender History for Young Americans – Why Seneca Falls Matters More than Ever.
What happened to America's kids?
Thank goodness politics aren't like the internet: dominated by 13 to 17 year olds. If that were the case this poll would be a moot point because Ron Paul would walk over everyone (including Clinton).
wow. great post.
moot point = still a little disturbing
what's scary is that if only 25% of those high-schoolers said that a woman is capable of leading as well as a man, then three quarters of america's teens aren't sure a woman has it in her. and that's only a little disturbing?
against stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain - schiller
Dennis Kucinich, as listed on facebook "Politicians" page:
Position: Yes, a woman can be as effective as a man
"Hello? Yes. I don't think a woman could be as ineffective as George Bush."
Of course you would pick this up. Nice piece.
women are calmer, more rational.
women have more of a sense of honor.
if they say they will, they usually do. Women are more honest.
They are better mediators. They can be emotional, but it's tears not ranting and raving. Women don't always have to have their own way. If there was a smart confident woman who could get men to take her seriously not just think of her as a skirt to be chased she could make a god president. Maybe SHE could be president of OUR United States, not the queen of the world. Women are great at taking care of their own, without wanting to be the boss of EVERYTHING! We need someone to work on our economy, our job situation, our healthcare problems. 300 million people in America need to be taken care of.
It would take a strong women to do it.Are you out there?