With all political parties trying to win over women’s votes, their advisers may want to dip into a new book called If They Only Listened To Us: What Women Voters Want Politicians To Hear.
Soon after the 2004 presidential election, former New York Times journalist Melinda Henneberger interviewed 234 women in 12 states for their in-depth personal thoughts about politics and what they were looking for in the president they will elect in 2008.
They discussed policy issues high on the American woman’s agenda, including abortion and why many otherwise liberal pro-life Catholic women have switched parties over this issue, but continue to look for a way back to the Democrats with whom they agree on almost every other matter.
Henneberger discovered that women really wanted to be listened to, some women talked for hours, explaining how alienated they felt. It didn’t matter what background they came from, they still felt disregarded by both parties.
Henneberger describes a “shout culture” which exists in part to discourage precisely the kind of give-and-take and I-see-what-you-mean discussion that would help women work through what they think about and want from their government.
It seems from this book Bush won women’s votes because they found John Kerry an elitist and didn’t like his personality. That one point is so essential and cannot be underestimated, as I’m sure Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Ming Campbell are well aware.
However, while female voters are keen to elect a woman as their president, they have doubts about the authenticity, likeability and voting record of Hillary Clinton. It doesn’t look as if she can count on much support from them.
So what do women voters want? As Henneberger discovered, they do not want to be spoken down to, which is what they disliked about John Kerry and the Democrats.
As well as wanting to be listened to, I would say we want fairness and choices – why can’t all parents have the same choice as Ruth Kelly, for example, to send their child to the best school if he or she has special educational needs? Who is listening to other parents whose child is denied those same opportunities?
[…] Wesley Clark Link to Article hillary clinton What do women voters want ? » Posted at Ellee Seymour – MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 [ DG_77254_22.tif] With all political parties trying to win over women’s votes, … about the authenticity, likeability and voting record of Hillary Clinton. It doesn’t look as if she can count View Entire Article » […]
I want politicians to not concentrate on image and spin so much and to debate policy openly. I want to see the power of the PR matched by day to day experience of using services.
Good Day.
…Henneberger discovered that women really wanted to be listened to, some women talked for hours, explaining how alienated they felt. It didn’t matter what background they came from, they still felt disregarded by both parties…
To be listened to, to be appreciated, Ellee – aren’t these the universal themes of men and women both? To paraphrase Welshcakes – to be put first, to be appreciated.
The leader who can achieve this with the people becomes a statesman.
That’s a very good point that we don’t want to be patronised, Ellee. Remember when Blair got the slow handclap at the WI? That proved that point. If I were American, I’d be a Democrat but I wouldn’t vote for HC – you’d be getting Bill! I don’t respect women who haven’t got where they are through their own ability.
hmmm Elle, I can’t speak for women
though I’d be glad to stand up for them if they voted me into office.
I’m interested to know what women in America want from their next President, and what women here want from the next PM and/or local MP.
Alas though, can one person (other than the PM) influence 600 plus MPs in Parliament, and did the silent majority (even among women) support Blair’s foreign policy? – he stuck to his guns despite what appeared to be ‘massive’ opposition.
I do think it’s a shame Condoleeza Rice didn’t go forward.
She’d have been a great choice.
Catholics generally, along with African-americans have swung heavily towards the Republicans in recent years and abortion is a key issue there.
It’s interesting that the labour party takes the Catholic vote for granted on this issue. The tories don’t seem to be prapared to stand up on this, just as they didn’t with the adoption agencies, which seems foolish, because Catholic are there for the taking over here.
ciao, how about exchanging links?
(sorry for posting here, dont’ know your email)
“It seems from this book Bush won women’s votes because they found John Kerry an elitist and didn’t like his personality.”
Interesting! That makes sense, when I think about it.
Are you sure Bush didn’t win women’s votes the same way he won the men’s votes – they were sick of Clinton’s lot and wanted a tax cut?
As for the ‘best school’ thing, how can any politican promise to give everyone the choice of what school their kids go to? It’s impossible. Surely the only options are to keep the present system of ‘money talks’, go down the Brighton ‘lottery’ route, or to enforce national standards of setting on every school.
[…] Iain Dale is asking bloggers to select the top political bloggers for his 2007 Guide to Political Blogging in the UK. I have written an article on women bloggers for it. […]
>Welshcakes
>If I were American, I’d be a Democrat but I >wouldn’t vote for HC – you’d be getting Bill!
I can’t speak for women either, but how do you respect a man who abused his position of power with his female staff (jones, lewinksy) and wiped out the criminal records of people convicted of charges including fraud, sex abuse, perjury, and cocaine smuggling on the night before he left power. Some had personal connections to the Clintons.
I’m sorry – I just don’t see how you can.