A woman’s right to anger

Marc Theissen’s recent editorial claiming the “Kavanaugh debacle cost the Democrats the Senate” (Nov. 9, 2018) overlooked the gender bias every woman experiences in American politics and business. During the Supreme Court nomination hearing Judge Brent Kavanaugh and Sen. Lindsey Graham were literally spitting mad. They growled, sneered, spat and yelled their way through their testimonies. Republicans and right-wing pundits interpreted these out-of-control displays of emotion as “righteous anger.”

In contrast, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Sen. Dianne Feinstein maintained their composure, showing sadness and concern but never once showing anger. No scowling, raging or spittle-flying evident in their testimonies. Why? Because of the gender double standard. Men are allowed to show anger in public, women are not. Women showing displays of anger are immediately labeled as either emotionally unstable or simply “a bitch.”

Men in power readily display their anger without being labeled unstable. Women cannot. When powerful women have the right to sneer and growl in public without being labeled an emotional shrew, then and only then will we have gender equity in politics and business.

Paul Oman

Clarkston