Cory Booker on sexism and Hillary Clinton’s rise: People don’t call men ‘shrill’
Hillary Clinton has overcome many obstacles on her groundbreaking path to become the first woman presidential nominee for a major party, and sexism was certainly one of them, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said Thursday night in an interview with Yahoo News.
Chatting with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric at the Democratic National Convention, Booker cited descriptions of Clinton’s hard-charging personality as “shrill” among the subtle ways gender bias has been woven into the critiques against her over the years.
“There’s a different standard applied to women than is applied to men,” Booker said in a live interview with Couric and Yahoo News National Political Columnist Matt Bai.
“When people say that she’s shrill, I know lots of guys who could be accused of that, but I don’t think they are because they’re men.”
Booker, who was on the shortlist to be Clinton’s running mate, said the Democratic candidate for president has dealt with discrimination for decades.
Booker said he and Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea (who will introduce her mother Thursday night), have had discussions about how her mom was criticized for being a proactive first lady when former President Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas from 1983 to 1992.
“Because she wants to be a woman, but was engaged and involved and leading change,” Booker said. “And how she was assaulted for being that kind of woman.”
Booker said Hillary Clinton’s preparedness, knowledge and passion are misunderstood.
“She’s not a ‘shrinking violet,’ as they say,” the senator said. “She’s a strong, commanding, confident person, and I’m going to celebrate that. I want that as my president.”
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