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Female Voters Feeling The Bern?

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John's chapter.

While in New Hampshire this past Saturday, February 6th, Hillary Clinton had special guest Madeline Albright speak onto why women in particular should cast their vote in favor of Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Albright had a few interesting words on the topic of specifically women voters who are casting their choice for Bernie Sanders. She had a brief speaking time and she used it to speak honestly, but almost too harshly.

As a feminist movement supporter I was disgusted by the idea that I should be persuaded and ridiculed to vote for Hillary simply because she is a women and has had to face some challenges in order to get to her past positions. I understand the challenges that she has had to face fighting against gender inequality, but to have a supporter bash individuals because they refuse to vote because of a gender factor was highly inappropriate.

I personally have never been persuaded to vote on something due to race or sex. Only on the tense of what the candidate stands for.  Gloria Steinem also had comments to say on the fact of who was actually voting for Bernie Sanders versus Hillary after looking at gender percentage polls after the Iowa caucus. The need to bash Bernie who has not said direct or indirect comments of belittlement to Hillary’s voters seems immature and petty, which only further tarnishes the feminist movement by reassuring the idea that women are petty and catty when things don’t go their way.

As an independent woman looking to be successful in our generation I will look for a leader that will support all opinions and not those who vote off a criteria sheet, or someone who is simply of the same gender as I.

Since the speeches, both Gloria and Madeline have apologized on social media for their abrasive comments, but Bernie supporters have not been so accepting when it comes to forgiving and forgetting. They took Mrs. Albright’s comment, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women” and ran with it. Since Mr. Sander’s common phrase of attention is feel the Bern his supporters had an interesting time showing where their opinions still lie. 

 
Carissa is majoring in Mass Communications and has an idea to pursue a double major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Business all while advocating for animal rights and sustainable living!
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