Longtime journalist critical of representation of women politicians in media

Longtime journalist Teri Finneman was critical of representation of women politicians in the media from 1870-2000 during a presentation in the Al Neuharth Center Wednesday night.

Finneman said she became interested in this topic after watching a video called “Sexism Sells But We’re Not Buying it,” which she showed at the beginning of her presentation.

This video inspired her to write her dissertation about the newspaper representation of women in political history, which became a published book, “Press Portrayals of Women Politicians.”

“It has become more important to point this out as we may be on the verge of electing the first woman president,” Finneman said. “Both parties have experienced sexism in recent years toward their politicians, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, and are starting to realize that this is a problem and needs to change.”

Finneman focused on four women in particular: Victoria Woodhull, Jeannette Rankin, Margaret Chase Smith and Sarah Palin.

To start, Finneman discussed Victoria Woodhull, someone many people are unaware of, she said. Woodhull was the first woman to run for president in 1872.

“The reason we are not taught about Victoria Woodhull in suffragette history is because she was cut off from the suffragette movement,” Finneman said. “Victoria Woodhull was part of the movement, she was sitting right next to Susan B. Anthony, but Woodhull’s ideas became too radical for Susan B. Anthony.”

Finneman said many people didn’t support Woodhull’s thoughts on free love, a concept that allows people to love whoever they want.

Finneman showed newspaper clippings throughout the presentation to help the audience visualize how these women were represented in the media.

“With Woodhull and Rankin, the media pointed out more personal reasons these women were not fit for politics,” Finneman said. “But with Smith, they didn’t even acknowledge her personal attributes — they simply said that no woman was fit for the presidency.”

Finneman repeatedly said women were considered in the wrong no matter what they did.

“It’s one of those things where you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t,” she said. “Women are criticized for being too masculine, and when they embrace their feminine side they are criticized for being weak.”

After discussing these women, Finneman mentioned her interest the struggles of colored women in the media.

“They’ve got a completely different issues in the media,” she said. “Their coverage is far less and I think that is my next project of research.”