Obama's 'Sweetie' Problem
Reader Comments
Eeuzbeef
ez4n19
Adding to my thoughts
BTW: "Sweetie" is not always considered as flirting. Sometimes it shows that a person is a source of loyal affection, friendliness or even love (whether that be relationship type love or other). I do not think any logical person, who is a candidate for presidency, would flirt on a woman or vice versa to show their indecency, especially while being married. I mean c'mon, if you think that flirting is indecent or wrong against a woman or vice versa, then you should consider people flirting with eachother on the streets to be commiting an act of indecency also. I am Muslim, so i believe that it is indecent in all cases except for married people, but do not put double-standards on classes of people. If you say that it is just not meant at a time when people are supposed to discuss politics then you are correct; except that a bit of flirting, such as one word shouldn't be wrong, since flirting is everywhere... unless if you believe flirting is all wrong.
Now "sweetie" is considered sexist?
Dear Bonnie Erbie,
By saying "sweetie", Barrack Obama wanted to send a message of loyal affection or friendliness(even the definition in dictionary.com supports this). This term has been shaped through many years of expressions and it is not intended to make a woman be viewed as a sex-oriented object. Even if it is for the woman to be complemented that way, she should be proud someone called her beautiful. Truthfully, some women like you don't even deserve to be called that, because inside you are simply not. This is because you doubt too much, and opress loyal men, such as Barrack Obama, who want your rights and even rights that you do not deserve. Such rights that are not deserved are spread in the U.K and many other places, even the military's standard has been lowered for women to enter. Will you please just quit this meaningless whining? If a man is called "cute" by a woman, is he supposed to say that she is sexist? Please stop these double-standards and don't make situations more serious if they really are not. People would think as people grow older they learn more about life, but this is just infuriating and sad at the same time. I hope you realize your ways, and fix them. Please do not waste life on switching between justice and injustice; instead, improve life and strive to make your community a better one.
Yours Truly,
Shamlan
The point isn't so much that he said "sweetie" - which is certainly innappropriate - but that he used it intending to be dismissive; "hold on a second sweetie" (exit stage right). It's alarming but not particularly surprising - I'm male and find most male-only culture deeply if often subtly sexist, including among very progressive-minded friends.
But Obama was on a factory floor, campaigning to a bunch of blue-collar men. He gave them a picture of exactly the kind of guy who answers their worries about him - that his cultural roots are alien to theirs. Putting down women is something men can generally agree about, even if they won't voice it.
His mistake, somewhat surprisingly for a relatively Internet-savvy candidate, was that he forgot he was, as always, simultaneously campaigning on YouTube.
Anyway regardless of whether he's purely playing a part, seeing how easily he plays it will lose him as many points as believing in what he hears himself say. We're pattern-watching animals, and all we have to watch is behaviour.
Not quite the same as offering your wife up for a biker beauty contest, of course, but that was a different subset of a different audience. And a different wife (if Obama tried that line I think he'd be defenestrated at home).
Soula,
In other words, it was a deliberat put down of the lady. Nice!!! Of course, I am sure you have a record of the many times Obama referred to male reporters with a diminutive like, buster or boy or dude. Move on, nothing to see here. No sexism here. Everbody calls women "sweetie".
sweetie??
And you wonder are we more rasist than sexist, if she had called him boy she would bave been arrested,and if McCain had called a woman sweetie we would never hear the end of it.
sweetie??
And you wonder are we more rasist than sexist, if she had called him boy she would bave been arrested,and if McCain had called a woman sweetie we would never hear the end of it.
"sweetie"
Gov. Palin should call him "stud muffin wannabe!"
Sweetie
Each time Obama says sweetie there is an article or two about it. Why are there no articles mentioning that Obama continues to use the term even after he has offended numerous people? Shouldn't he be responsive and be able to change his behavior?
Further, each time I've seen reports of Obama using the term "sweetie", it is to dismiss a woman. To me this seems highly problematic.
what you intend
what a speaker intends to impart with use of a certain word, like sweetie, is not as important to me as the fact that he used it. He must be aware, and if he is not he should not be running for president, that many women will consider this to be a put down. I also believe that he must be aware that it sounds like he is talking to a young child, not an adult. Habits are formed, they do not just *occur suddenly*. so over the years he has chosen again and again to call unknown women by slightly demeaning names. I think the fact that he has formed the habit is proof that he is sexist.
