In Hillary Clinton’s Nomination, Women See a Collective Step Up
Jodi Kantor, The New York Times
Last night, history was made when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic party’s nomination for the top office in the nation — the first woman to do so. Whatever one’s personal politics, the significance of that moment, and what it means for women in America, cannot be denied. This piece spotlights how female voters think a potential Clinton presidency might impact them directly. Some express hopes that a female POTUS would tackle issues that affect women, such as equal pay and paid family leave. Others cite concerns about the sexism she could face while in office — and what any failures on the job would mean for those who hope to follow in her footsteps. But most express what Kantor describes as “dawning possibility” in the face of a proverbial glass ceiling forever shattered.


The Role of First Gentleman
Faith Salie, CBS Sunday Morning
If Hillary Clinton were to become president, her husband — former President Bill Clinton — would be making history himself as the first-ever “first gentleman.” While no man has occupied this role in the White House, others have blazed this trail in other tiers of American government and in other countries. Through this TV segment (above) and article, CBS Sunday Morning’s Salie looks at what being first gentleman has meant for six men who have stood by the sides of women governors. Dan Mulhern, husband of two-term Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, describes the experience of reversed gender roles as a mix of “extraordinary… magical. Really confusing. Frustrating. Disempowering. Humbling. Very sweet. Lots of pride at my wife. Extraordinary feelings of pride for my wife.”


Meet the Woman Who Wrote Michelle Obama’s DNC Speech —  Sarah Hurwitz
Krissah Thompson, The Washington Post on Medium
Sarah Hurwitz, the first lady’s speechwriter for the past 7 years, created the magic behind Michelle Obama’s hugely successful DNC speech on Monday night. Historically, most first ladies have not had speechwriters, but as public exposure increased that changed. The current first lady depends on a practiced and careful writer to balance the prosaic telling and re-telling of her life story, while staying removed from politics and policy. Hurwitz, who has been with the Obamas since 2008, has spent her time mastering and admiring the voice of Michelle Obama — sometimes getting lost in the words she helped to mold. In an early meeting, Obama told Hurwitz: “Okay, this is who I am. This is where I come from. This is my family. These are my values, and this is what I want to talk about at the convention.” Hurwitz recalls: “I realized then that Michelle Obama knows who she is, and she always knows what she wants to say.”


How Women are Harassed out of Science
Joan C. Williams & Kate Massinger, The Atlantic
Young women in science, technology, engineering and math struggle to succeed in a surprisingly hostile environment of sexual harassment, assert Williams and Massinger. Many female professors and students face harassment at universities, and new hires often lose their jobs once becoming pregnant. Much research has been done about the dearth of women in STEM, but the authors argue that harassment, sexual or otherwise, is overlooked. Though more young girls are choosing these careers, most are harassed out of the field by the time they reach the last two years of school. “‘Don’t bother doing a postdoc,’ a male neuroscientist advised aspiring postdocs who want to have kids. His advice? ‘Work at McDonald’s, which would pay you equally or more, would give you more respect, and [offer] a ray of hope through promotion.’”

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