The Secular Party of America was looking for candidates for president. Former president Troy Boyle resigned unexpectedly in March, and the party needs a new head. Potential candidates were urged to apply if they fit the presidential profile.
Well, the actual qualifications for president are here. Presumably you don’t actually have to be a man in a suit and a tie. Still, the period to announce a candidacy ended August 31. Do you think they might be wondering why few or no women applied?
Yes, I’m sure that to make this image, they simply used a picture of Boyle and replaced his head. I’m sure they want female candidates for president. I just wish people would think about the implications of these things.
Stephanie Zvan is one of the hosts for the Minnesota Atheists' radio show and podcast, Atheists Talk. She serves on the board of Secular Woman. She speaks on science and skepticism in a number of venues, including science fiction and fantasy conventions.
Stephanie has been called a science blogger and a sex blogger, but if it means she has to choose just one thing to be or blog about, she's decided she's never going to grow up. In addition to science and sex and the science of sex, you'll find quite a bit of politics here, some economics, a regular short fiction feature, and the occasional bit of concentrated weird.
Oh, and arguments. She sometimes indulges in those as well. But I'm sure everything will be just fine. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.
Cue “it doesn’t make any difference! That’s not what it meant! People won’t even notice!” from the same people who, if it had been a female president and the photo was a person in a dress, would have said “Hahaha, but I’m not going to do that if I have to wear a dress!”
Ahhh, but don’t you know it’s just women’s fault if they’re discouraged by such things. Evidently they don’t really want it enough if they don’t overcome obstacles and hostility guys don’t face in the first place
Hm…. I feel weird about third parties even bothering with the presidency. The only place they can win is where they should spend their efforts – local elections. You could argue that running for president gives you a national platform on which to promote your party’s agenda, even if you can’t win. But what is that platform? A blurb in the voter’s pamphlet? Anyone remember Virgil Goode’s speeches from the last election cycle?
Don’t sell yourself short. I’ll bet you look quite dapper in a tie. Stephanie for President. Yay! (Riffing on the title of your post, not the content.)
I think that the artist who created this picture was being a bit lazy about stereotypes. He/she should have (say) tried to avoid stereotyping by blanking out that oval.
As to third parties pushing Presidential candidates, I think that it’s for advertising.
First Past The Post produces a two-party system, because of many voters unwilling to waste votes on unlikely candidates. They thus end up choosing the lesser of the two major evils. That’s a part of Duverger’s Law. Another part is that more third-party-friendly voting systems like proportional representation tend to encourage several parties.
So we ought to try to introduce proportional representation.
Cue “it doesn’t make any difference! That’s not what it meant! People won’t even notice!” from the same people who, if it had been a female president and the photo was a person in a dress, would have said “Hahaha, but I’m not going to do that if I have to wear a dress!”
Clearly you’re just looking for a reason to be offended!
Stop playing the victim!
Well obviously only men can be presidents of things!
(oops did I say that last one out loud?)
That graphic screams BOLDE FREEDOMES. Can’t a secular America not include the religious zeal of patriotism, or do I just hate bald eagles?
Well, leading anything? Guy thing. Politics? Guy thing. Secularism? Guy thing. What are you complaining about? It’s just how things are.
Ahhh, but don’t you know it’s just women’s fault if they’re discouraged by such things. Evidently they don’t really want it enough if they don’t overcome obstacles and hostility guys don’t face in the first place
Hm…. I feel weird about third parties even bothering with the presidency. The only place they can win is where they should spend their efforts – local elections. You could argue that running for president gives you a national platform on which to promote your party’s agenda, even if you can’t win. But what is that platform? A blurb in the voter’s pamphlet? Anyone remember Virgil Goode’s speeches from the last election cycle?
Don’t sell yourself short. I’ll bet you look quite dapper in a tie. Stephanie for President. Yay! (Riffing on the title of your post, not the content.)
Yeah, I bet you could out-tie the guys if you tried. Suits are not just for men, you know.
Great American Satan: this is recruiting a president for the party, not for a national presidential candidate.
And is hardly a special background worth keeping, why not just have the whole oval blank with the question mark?
I think that the artist who created this picture was being a bit lazy about stereotypes. He/she should have (say) tried to avoid stereotyping by blanking out that oval.
In addition I reject the idea that male candidates need to wear ties.
When will we ever get over Louis XIV’s childish fascination with Croation military fashion?
As to third parties pushing Presidential candidates, I think that it’s for advertising.
First Past The Post produces a two-party system, because of many voters unwilling to waste votes on unlikely candidates. They thus end up choosing the lesser of the two major evils. That’s a part of Duverger’s Law. Another part is that more third-party-friendly voting systems like proportional representation tend to encourage several parties.
So we ought to try to introduce proportional representation.
er, Croatian. Sorry.
Did they use the same designer as the TeaBaggers?
Looks like it.
Jafafa Hots @12
The Croats were among the best light cavalry during the 17th and 18th Centuries. It was the cravats which put them at the top. :-b
Being president isn’t a guy thing, it’s a tie thing. Totes different.