Sexism

h/t Sociological Images

As Rep. Stacey Newman notes today in the Post-Dispatch, April 20 is "Equal Pay Day," which symbolizes "how far into 2010 women must work to earn what men earned in 2009."

The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that women who were full-time wage and salary workers in Missouri earned just 75% of the median income of their male counterparts.  The national average is about 80%.  The following chart compares the women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s.  

State Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) followed up with the Post-Dispatch's Tony Messenger about his great column in today's paper, to clarify his concern for Iraqi and Afghani sensibilities regarding homosexuals and women serving openly in the Armed Forces.  

He is indeed very concerned that repealing the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy will jeopardize the safety of Americans here and abroad. He is also concerned that allowing women to serve in combat is similarly offensive and dangerous. 

Asked — as he was at the hearing — how that philosophy [trying not to offend Iraqi and Afghani sensibilities] applies to women already serving in combat, Nodler suggested that might be a problem, also.

“I agree that is happening now [women serving in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq]," Nodler said. “But I am not certain that is advancing the goals of the U.S. military.”

Holy sexism, Batman!

Buried in a new National Journal story on the potential role of gender in the Blunt/Steelman primary, we find one heck of claim from a Roy Blunt supporter:

Gender Back In Focus In Missouri Race
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Gender politics has a renewed focus in the open Missouri Senate race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, in part because of last year's vice presidential candidacy of GOP Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

The issue will first come into play in the developing GOP primary between former House Minority Whip Roy Blunt and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who just launched an exploratory committee...

Some Republican strategists pointed out that Palin used gender but in a way that didn't resonate, as pocketbook issues superseded social ones in the 2008 race. Steelman, some say, is in a better position, as she has begun to develop a reputation as "Palin with an economics degree."

Such assessments rankle Steelman. "People don't scrutinize male Republicans who run for office like that," she said, suggesting a "different standard for women than for men."...

A Republican in Blunt's camp countered that with Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill already in office, Missouri voters might be better served balancing that with a male.

Really?  What does this anonymous member of Blunt camp think Roy Blunt's boy parts will enable him to do in the Senate?  Why is this anonymous Blunt person afraid of two female Senators? 

I couldn't help but notice a disturbing double standard in Kevin Elmer's commitment to keep his young children (ages 4, 7 and 9) in Nixa schools if he's elected to Congress.

Can you imagine how that decision would be received if Elmer was a mommy instead of a daddy?  There aren't any mommies in the race to replace Roy Blunt yet, but I think we can all agree that a woman promising to keep her children in Missouri while she's in DC four days a week would be treated quite differently than a man. Elmer, for his part, is convinced that his decision as a father will be attractive to voters.

This isn't a comment on Elmer's decision -- he knows what's best for his children -- just a comment on the sexist double standard.

Maybe Blaine Luetkemeyer can weigh in when he gets the chance.  I recall some pretty strong feelings from Blaine about Judy Baker's decision to even consider running for Congress (she had two children in college and one in high school at the time).