DID SOCIAL AND GENDER BIAS DOOM SENATOR CLINTON'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN?

This question will be debated for years to come. I am writing from the perspective of a citizen of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The social bias FOR Senator Clinton in this area is extremely strong and difficult to measure.

Senator Clinton has roots in Scranton which is a major part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her father Hugh Rodham is from Scranton and he is buried there. The Clinton's still maintain a summer home in Northeast Pennsylvania. Hillary spent part of her childhood in Scranton.

Hillary Clinton is a national hero in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has lived a life that most people in this area only dream about. She came from a working class family, worked very hard her entire life, is one of the finest in her profession, and has changed the course of history. She is viewed as one of us, a successful member of the working class who is working hard to advance the interests of the working class. Unlike other politicians and leaders, she is not viewed as an elitist looking down at us.

I saw her speak at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Her speech was ideal for the area and the occasion. Generally, national politicians only visit Northeastern Pennsylvania when they want our votes, and after the election we are soon forgotten. Senator Clinton said and did some things that clearly demonstrated that she cared about the people she was talking to and wanted to serve them. She said that if she was elected President she would not forget us and would work her heart out for us. Then she explained how her program would benefit working class people. After she spoke she spent about an hour talking to people and signing autographs.

Senator Clinton trounced Senator Obama by a three to one margin in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Looking back on it, the social bias for Senator Clinton was so strong that it really did not matter what Senator Obama said or did people were going to vote for Hillary Clinton.

If the bias for Hillary Clinton was extremely strong in Northeastern Pennsylvania the bias against her in other parts of the country was probably very strong as well. The best article I have read on this issue is by Cathy Tinsley and is entitled "Social bias against women may have doomed Clinton's candidacy." It was published in the Citizens' Voice newspaper on June 4, 2008. Tinsley states that she and her colleagues have found social and financial backlash against strong and evenly mildly assertive female executives. In one study, people judged the behavior of male and female human resources managers negotiating a refund for unused hotel space. Although all the managers did that same exact thing, female executives were seen as significantly more offensive and less likely to receive any refund. Americans still appear to evaluate men and women differently, even when engaged in the same activity.

Learn more about this author, Mathew Paul.
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