(Sarah Palin spread in my local newspaper, El Norte, September 21st, 2008)
In economics a positive externality occurs when an individual or a firm making a decision does not receive in full the benefit of that decision. The concept can be easily applied to what I consider to be an unintended effect of the current presidential campaigns in the United States: Hillary Clinton’s bid to become the Democratic nominee and Sarah Palin’s candidacy have done no small favor to the struggle of women politicians across the border.
In Mexico those women who have managed to achieve national recognition have not followed through by actually becoming members of the tight group of key decision makers. Neither Patricia Mercado, nor Cecilia Soto or Rosario Ibarra received each more than 5% of the vote when they contended for the Mexican presidency. It is safe to state that women politicians in Mexico have yet to build a generally credible counter hegemony, to use Adam Przeworski’s term, which would allow for the effective dismantling of the current male monopoly of national politics.
Yet, both Clinton and Palin have been the object of widespread attention by the Mexican media and the coverage is having the inadvertent effect of reassuring the general public on the idea of women occupying the highest positions of power. Moreover, the healthy ongoing debate in the United States about what constitutes a double standard in the vetting of a female candidate will prove to be of immense value for those Mexican women attempting to break their own political glass ceiling.
(Note to Nonna: no more Palin entries for a week I promise. Don't want to be held responsible for inducing assorted nightmares!)
In Mexico those women who have managed to achieve national recognition have not followed through by actually becoming members of the tight group of key decision makers. Neither Patricia Mercado, nor Cecilia Soto or Rosario Ibarra received each more than 5% of the vote when they contended for the Mexican presidency. It is safe to state that women politicians in Mexico have yet to build a generally credible counter hegemony, to use Adam Przeworski’s term, which would allow for the effective dismantling of the current male monopoly of national politics.
Yet, both Clinton and Palin have been the object of widespread attention by the Mexican media and the coverage is having the inadvertent effect of reassuring the general public on the idea of women occupying the highest positions of power. Moreover, the healthy ongoing debate in the United States about what constitutes a double standard in the vetting of a female candidate will prove to be of immense value for those Mexican women attempting to break their own political glass ceiling.
(Note to Nonna: no more Palin entries for a week I promise. Don't want to be held responsible for inducing assorted nightmares!)
1 comment:
There's something about Sarah, alright. I am nearing my self-imposed no writing about Sarah Palin week, and it has been tough. Good luck!
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