New opinions have surfaced following Martha Coakley's loss of the Senate seat last week that perhaps Massachusetts itself has a problem electing a woman to a high-standing political position. It seems odd that seemingly the most classically liberal state in the United States would be the one with an anti-woman problem, but so the case seems. In all of Mass's history, only five women have been elected to a constitutional office, and none to the Senate.
I find this to be a very strange phenomenon, especially coming out of Massachusetts. However, I will concede that while Mass is one of the most liberal states (being the first one to legalize gay-marraige) it is also one of the most traditional states. Since the beginning of the country, all the way back to the Puritans, Mass has valued traditions, order, and structure. However, for the many liberal-minded people living in the state, it seems odd that this would be where they consciously or unconsciously draw the line. I personally don't think gender should decide, or even influence an election, but it would be nice to see a little more diversity in the political structure of one of our most powerful states.
Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/us/25mass.html?ref=politics
http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/centers/cwppp/index.php
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