Madeleine Albright’s quotation about gender at her New Hampshire primary appearance caused a backlash. But, politics aside, a valuable discussion has been cut short.
Albright’s quotation, “there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women,” has context. She first uttered these words in defense of other women in the foreign service. She has used it since to explain her presence, to explain why SHE shows up, and to remind all that the struggle for justice is ongoing.
The most famous event, at least until now, where she used her “saying,” as she calls it, was at a “Celebrating Inspiration” luncheon honoring the WNBA’s first all-decade team in 2006. She shared stories of her interaction with the world’s most downtrodden, and of their hope and perseverance. She spoke of a 3-year-old girl who lost an arm to a soldier’s machete, about women being trafficked as a commodity, about 600,000 women a year who die of pregnancy-related illness or childbirth. She spoke of men and women being decimated by AIDS, and the inspirational work of those who struggle against disease with truth-telling campaigns and the distribution of contraceptives. She spoke of making a difference, and that the empowerment and respect of women will contribute to reducing global despair. She concluded with her now-famous saying.
That speech sounds a little heavy for young women who in just a few hours were about to play a big all-star game, but the session was extended while they peppered the feisty ex-diplomat with questions about diplomacy in a man’s world, Korea, Iraq, gender income disparity, personal heroes, and Title IX. These young women were not offended.
Albright’s life story is relevant. In the late 1950s, when the women who went to school did so to find a husband as a societal expectation, Albright went on scholarship to all-female Wellesley College. She would become U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. She served as the first female U.S. Secretary of State. She had reached the highest position ever attained by a woman in American history. Short in stature, she was, and is, a giant pioneer in a man’s world, that of world power and diplomacy.
Special place in hell? Although Albright was speaking to a friendly audience who laughed in surprise, the media and television audience didn’t appreciate the guilt trip. The quote is blunt and surprisingly undiplomatic.
But I think I understand.
I remember scratching my head in 2008, in Obama vs. McCain, when an African-American on TV said he was undecided. I was thinking, given this country’s long, tragic crisis in race relations, if I were in his shoes wouldn’t I feel the pride of symbolic recognition of equality and respect achieved with the election of a black President? Later, I remember feeling very proud that America had evolved and sent an important message to the world.
I certainly understand that the reasons for a citizen’s vote is intensely, and rightfully, personal, and need be justified only to oneself.
Still, voting probably should not be based solely on religion, race, or gender. I’m a feminist, but you won’t catch me voting for a certain lady from Alaska to be President just because she is a woman.
But, surely, the election of a female American President and leader of the free world will not only be a precedent for men and women and a milestone in power relationships between the sexes, but it will also be a role model for boys and girls. I believe my grandsons and granddaughters will see a woman president, and that will have wonderful significance, whether it’s next January or in another generation.
Albright, too, sees the big picture. Yes, Hillary has been there for her before, and now she stands with Hillary. Thus the quote. But Madeleine deserves credit for her own struggle, perseverance, and accomplishments, all in a man’s world. Now, as a professor, she expresses herself freely, which explains why she smiles at the foreign media’s characterization of her as “elderly but dangerous.” And, in her frankness, she chides us that ending gender inequality requires more of us to step up.
Edmund Burke explained that for tyranny to win requires only that good men do nothing. Albright’s saying, for two decades now, has merely changed the gender. This lifelong humanitarian does well to remind us, even through controversy, that women’s equality is a goal not yet realized.
— Rep. Chris Babbidge (D-Kennebunk) is a legislator and retired history teacher living in Kennebunk. He may be contacted at babbidge@roadrunner.com.
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