How do you think her policy knowledge compares with the President of the United States? If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that there is an enormous gap between the level of competence and expertise expected of men and that of women.
I didn’t intend to go on a rant with this but now that I’m all fired up, here goes. As a young woman, I can tell you from experience how many of my professional interactions begin with the assumption that I have no idea what I’m talking about, and I don’t think I’m alone here.
This usually happens with men but not always, because women are often conditioned to adopt the attitude of their male colleagues. No matter what I accomplish professionally, the unspoken belief that I am less knowledgeable than men in my industry has persisted.
This usually doesn’t manifest in ways anyone could put their finger on. I can’t often point to something concrete that was said or done to minimize my expertise and credibility, which is how it’s so easy for others—and sometimes myself—to question whether it’s really happening.
This is more a subtle undercurrent to the way young professional women are often treated in many fields. Its effects only become obvious when we take a step back and examine our careers as a whole in relation to those of men our age with less credentials and more prestige.
My point is that the way @Ocasio2018 is treated in much commentary & analysis is a perfect example of how the bar is set infinitely higher for women than men. Her policy “gaffes” are emphasized in a particular way they would not be for men & used to paint her as naive & clueless.
I imagine I’ll get pushback from men about this, but frankly they’re not in a position to understand this phenomenon any more than an elephant could understand what it’s like to be a bird. I think many women will agree we live in different realities where this is concerned. End.
