In the wake of Carly Fiorina's strong debate performance on Wednesday (opens in new tab), journalists and pundits alike are speculating that the former HP CEO could finally help the Republican Party, which hasn't captured a majority of the female electorate since 1988, win over women. "She took a big stride toward filling a role her party badly needs: a credible antidote to the gender gap and the Democrats' claims of a Republican 'war on women,'" the New York Times asserted (opens in new tab) Thursday of the GOP's only female contender in a field of 16 presidential candidates.
But there's a problem. These claims fail to recognize the fact that yes, Fiorina may have been wearing a skirt on the debate stage—but otherwise, she's not any different from the dudes wearing pants.
Fiorina may have been wearing a skirt on the debate stage—but otherwise, she's not any different from the dudes wearing pants.
Her policy positions on issues of importance to women are the same as her rivals': She supports (opens in new tab) the current Republican effort in Congress to ban most abortions after 20 weeks, and Fiorina has said (opens in new tab) she "absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself." She has vowed (opens in new tab) to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood if elected, which would deny vital health care to millions of women (opens in new tab). (She also made a false allegation (opens in new tab) against Planned Parenthood during the debate.) Her fiercely pro-life stance won't help the GOP make inroads with female voters—according to Gallup (opens in new tab), a majority of American women now define themselves as "pro-choice."
Fiorina also opposes many policies designed to improve the lives of working women. She is against raising the minimum wage, even though nearly two-thirds (opens in new tab) of minimum wage earners are women and 80 percent (opens in new tab) of women support raising the minimum wage. She dismissed (opens in new tab) the Paycheck Fairness Act as something that "wouldn't help women advance"—a puzzling claim, since the law, if passed, could dramatically narrow the gender pay gap by making it easier for women to discover and challenge pay discrepancies. She has also said the U.S. should remain the only developed country (opens in new tab) without mandatory paid maternity leave.
Further, Fiorina thinks (opens in new tab) feminism is a "left-leaning political ideology" that positions "women against men." And in last Wednesday's debate, she said booting Alexander Hamilton off the $10 bill in favor of a woman was nothing more than a "gesture." In doing so, she failed to recognize that many women are excited about the prospect of putting a woman on paper money—rather than relegating trailblazers like Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony to barely-used dollar coins—because doing so would be a visible acknowledgment by the government of women's history and contributions to the nation.
Fiorina thinks feminism is a "left-leaning political ideology" that positions "women against men.
It's insulting to suggest that women will be *so* bowled over by the fact that Fiorina has a vagina that they'll be more likely to vote for her than male Republicans with the same exact platform. It's also worth noting that she won only 39 percent of women voters in her 2010 California Senate race.
And as for the proposal that if Fiorina doesn't win her party's nomination, the GOP can woo women voters by putting her in the vice-presidential slot? Just ask Senator John McCain how that worked out in 2008.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
The Agenda: Los AngelesHow to prepare for a visit to the City of Angels.
-
Our Editor's Favorite Curl-Defining Leave-In Conditioner Doubles As a Moisturizer for Skin
Stay hydrated, stay happy.
-
Lucy Liu Opened Up About Her Decision to Have a Child Via Surrogate in Her Late 40s: "I Didn't Have a Plan"
It felt like the right time for her.
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
It's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
-
Roe Is Gone. We Have to Keep Fighting.
Democracy always offers a path forward even when we feel thrust into the past.
-
Her Love of Basketball Left Her Stateless
One athlete’s quest for freedom from Afghanistan, where the Taliban's restrictive and regressive policies on women's sports put her life in danger.
-
The Supreme Court Is Hearing Arguments in a Case That Could Overturn 'Roe v. Wade'
'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization' is the most consequential abortion rights case in decades.
-
Education for Women and Girls Is Crucial for Climate Justice
In an excerpt from her new book, 'A Bigger Picture,' Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate discusses the impact educated African women and girls can have on solving the climate crisis.
-
It’s Time to End Equal Pay Days and Pass the Equal Rights Amendment
The passage of the ERA is a chance for our country to prove it truly values women.
-
EMILY's List President Laphonza Butler Has Big Plans for the Organization
Under Butler's leadership, the largest resource for women in politics aims to expand Black political power and become more accessible for candidates across the nation.
-
Anita Hill Believes We Can End Gender Violence
Three decades after her landmark testimony in the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings, the esteemed professor and lawyer has a message for leaders: The time is now to prioritize anti-gender violence policies.
