Sexism alive and well--campaign advice needed!!

Fellow DUers, sexism is alive and well even in liberal California, I am sorry to say. I just completed my precinct walking today, and I ran into more than a few examples of it. On our lists of contacts, voters are identified as independent, declined to state, or Democratic. Sometimes the husband is not listed, which means he is a repug, and the wife is listed as a Democrat.

Every time I have approached one of these situations, the husband has manged to "convince" the wife that she should vote for *. And let me emphasize that the reverse has NEVER happened, in which the husband is a dem and the wife has convinced him otherwise.

It seems hard to believe, but here we are in the twenty first century, and grown women still believe that they have to vote with their husbands. And these are women in their thirties and forties who have previously identified as Dems!!! I find it hard to know what to say to them, especially with the husband standing right there. Any advice?

:eyes:

Look at Arnold, what do you expect? Ahhnuld likes to harrass women and Californians support him, so what did you expect?

The wives going along to get along.

Their husband will never know what happens inside the voting booth.

It's important to get women to hear about Kerry without significant others around. Get them to read and form their own opinions.

I've started writing LTTEs specifically addressing women's issues (including helath insurance, NCLB, child care). I can't honestly understand any woman, especially a mother, voting for Bush. I really can't.

:evilgrin:

Unless they vote absentee and he examines the ballot.

She may be aggreeing to keep the peace and vote as she wishes in the booth.

but to me, it's evidence of sexism that she has to state a political position that is untrue just to please the husband. In any case, that might be happening some of the time, but I don't think in all of them.

lever for the other candidate in silent protest of thier controlling husbands. Unless, of course, he goes into the voting booth with her.

It's a really depressing situation that there are so many domineering men out there and so many women who choose not to think for themselves.

I was calling a list of people who had DONATED money to a dem candidate in the primary. The husband had donated, but the wife answered. She said, "That can't be right, we vote Republican". Yes, dear.

And my father is a total republican. I can't imagine them trying to fight it out ... she'd argue her heart, he his brain (and wallet). But she talks to me (if in hushed tones)and I have no doubt she'll be heard come Nov 2nd. Hell, I think she even convinced my newly repub registered brother (he'll be 18 on the 15th) to vote for Kerry.

in texas.........lol lol lol

i hear what you say though. i get that so often here. the woman talks all the democrat issues in support and then mouth out what the husband says about the macho repug b.s. actually had one woman say not interested in politics so i just trust my husband to know.

gag me

They spoke for her"She isn't interested".I would ask to speak to the registered Dem and they would say"She isn't interested in talking to you".We support Bush and our country" I had this happen several times.I picture the wife tied up somewhere.I am not joking. It is creepy.

I know what you mean, and it is creepy. That's the perfect word for it. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

whose husbands are Republicans. One asks that we don't say we're from the campaign. She sneaks out and does tabling. I can't imagine living like that.

I can't imagine any Democratic woman doing anything but agreeing with her lump of a husband and then going into that voting booth and pleasing herself. Sometimes that "yes, dear" is just to shut the damn fool up before he embarrasses her more; it rarely translates into a true conversion.

That's why we have a secret ballot in this country. Bullies don't get to follow us into that booth and look over our shoulders, not even the ones we have the bad luck to be married to.

Just look at her and smile sweetly and tell her she knows best. Trust her to be ornery and trust him to be a puffed up idiot who will never know the difference.

I sure hope you're right!

My efforts so far have been futile.;(

Warpy's advice, then say, you're welcome to call/email me if you have any questions. Probably most won't but it might be interesting to see if some will talk with you without Hubby Dearest around. Of course, you may not want your identifying info given out to such people.

a little intimidated because these are my neighbors and I want to stay on good, or at least neutral terms with them. I can't get too aggressive, so I try to keep it light.