One of the interesting political trends here in Arizona is the number of candidates (usually Conservative Republicans) who are putting their families on campaign posters and literature. Interestingly enough, all of the candidates doing this are male. No female candidates seem to have felt the need to exploit their families for their own political purposes, and that is a good thing. Apparently, women aren't willing to be so openly shallow and expolitative.
But no posters of female candidates posing with children have been spotted. Men running for office, it seems, strive to be seen as sensitive family men, while women don't believe showcasing their role as mothers would draw votes.
Arizona State University political science Professor Kim Kahn said that while researching her book The Political Consequences of Being a Woman, she found that women were less likely to show off their families, perhaps because they believe voters may think "this woman shouldn't be running for office. She should be home with her children."
That certainly fits with the message from Mary Judge Ryan, a Tucson Democrat running for Congress. She pictures her two sons on her campaign Web site, but with a caption that reads: "Mary's sons are now grown, and she is ready and willing to commit full time to serving as your representative to the U.S. House of Representatives."
State Rep. Deb Gullett, R-Phoenix, touts her young family on her re-election Web site, but not on her campaign signs.
"There are plenty of people who still live in the Dark Ages in their thinking about women and careers," Gullett said, adding that she's not concerned they will cost her the election.
However, she rejects the idea of putting her husband and three daughters, ages 6, 8 and 11, on her roadside signs.
"I think that's silly," Gullett said. "Signs are there for name identification."
Men say they put family photos on their campaign signs to show how involved they are with their children and education.
All that men putting family photos on their campaign signs proves is that they can get their kids to sit still for a photograph. I cannot see how using one's family to further their political career is anything but exploitative.
One candidate mentioned that he puts his family on his campaign signs because it "lets people know that I'm a family man". And just what does that prove? Since when does the ability to father a child have anything to do with one's ability to serve the public as an elected official? I know plenty of "family men" that I would not vote for if my life depended on it (our non-elected President comes immediately to mind). Frankly, using one's family as a political tool is represhensible. How about we talk about the issues? What about the things that you should be running to accomplish? Surely, male candidates have more to offer than merely using their families as window dressing? Or do they??
