Watch What You Say: How Geraldine Ferraro’s Statement Can Hurt Business Women
May 21, 2008 by Bridget Wright
Filed under Business
When Mrs. Ferraro made this debatable statement a few months ago, perhaps she never considered the repercussions of what her words would have on Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Could she have realized then how her words would be perceived as majorly negative and divisive among the Democratic ranks? Did she care?
Women have to continually fight battles in and out of the “situation” rooms and board rooms. We are continually defending our rights to do business, transact business and engage in economic trade whether it’s on our three way conference call to our District Managers or in front of a sub-committee review hearing. We are totally responsible for what we say and how we say it and to whom we say it to. Geraldine Ferraro is responsible for what she said and I’m certain it caused Hillary some points towards her White House goal. How could it not?
There are numerous people who are not all that excited about having a future female president – we know that. We know that right now, Hillary is even struggling just to keep her head in this race. Literally. But what we can take away from this little lesson as women in business is simply to watch what we say. Even though we may feel passionate about something and want to broadcast it to the world, the timing or the audience may not be the right setting to do it in.
People don’t want to do business with what they consider “loose canons.” If they feel that investors will pull out of deals because “she talks too much”, you can believe they will pull out and won’t be doing business with you or your firm any longer.
Damage control was done in the Ferraro case, but maybe just a little too late. Geraldine should have thought about that before she spoke too soon.
It might have possibly caused Hillary the nomination. Possibly.
I think that Ferraro is right. The clip contains “analysis” that consists of nothing but politically correct platitudes.
That is the real weakness of the democrat party.
Obama has no qualifications whatsoever, but he is charismatic and he is black.
Even Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were given a place at the table in previous elections, but they were not viable because they were racist and divisive.
Wait until the riots in Denver before you start getting worked up over the split in the Democrat party!
I think Ferraro had a valid point – Obama is a very young, new Senator and if he was “just another” white male junior Senator he would NOT be in this position. Certainly, we can see that John Edwards wasn’t so lucky being a white male this particular year.
The media “made drama” around it – as they have obviously enjoyed doing this election.
There are a LOT of different elements that have worked against Hillary Clinton in this election.
It’s not fair to place blame on Geraldine Ferraro for voicing a valid opinion about what makes Obama so appealing for many voters.
We can only control what we say and not how other people will react to it. If people are looking for a reason to take offense – and I think they were looking for a reason in this case – they’re going to find that reason.
Certainly there is plenty to say about Hillary being a woman – some good and some bad – depending on who you are. I’ve heard tons of commentary about Hillary’s feminine status that has been very unkind, but hasn’t created the kind of media uproar and outrage that Ferraro suffered.
You’re point is valid – women do need to watch what they say in the business world.
But, I think it’s also true to say that women are expect to censor themselves more than men in the business world as well.
It’s a very tight rope and a very fine line women still walk. Tread carefully – but for God’s sake tread!