When research meets reality – Dr. Jill Biden donates historical clothing

The serendipity of our professional lives is underestimated.  We end up “doing stuff” – if we are lucky – because we stumbled upon something that held our interest, and others’ interest, even, dare I say fascination in a way that we never planned.  Almost thirty years ago I huddled in our family room with my two young children and watched Elizabeth Dole descend the steps at the Republican National Convention as she spoke from the heart about “the man I love.”  She was, frankly, more charismatic and articulate than the candidates themselves. Like many people watching, I wondered why she wasn’t running for president (which she did four years later). It has been so fun to research and write about topics of women in politics for most of my career. And my latest project focuses on our First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.

So, when I was graciously invited to the historic Smithsonian event where Dr. Jill Biden would officially donate her inaugural clothing, as first ladies have done since Helen Taft in 1912–well, I was “so there.” Like in here. As I write this I’m in the lobby of the hotel getting ready to head to the Smithsonian, negative Covid-19 test in hand. You see, this is especially special because Dr. Jill Biden does not talk about what she’s wearing, perhaps the first time ever for modern First Ladies, because maybe she believes too much of the conversation about women in the public eye is about what they look like. More than that, she is the first First Lady to keep her professional work. Dr. Biden is an instructor at Northern Virginia Community College, a position she has held since 2009. So, just on those two counts, she is a barrier-breaking spouse of the president.

Events like today are always historical events, but this time even more so since Dr. Biden’s two ensembles, her teal blue dress with coat she donned at the swearing in and her ivory silk wool dress and cashmere coat ensemble she wore at the White House later that evening, are not gowns at all—they are both dresses.  I believe the only other first lady who wore a dress and not a gown was Betty Ford, since the events surrounding her husband’s presidency were sudden because of Watergate.

Usually, first ladies donate the gown they danced in at the many Inauguration but there were no inaugural balls in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic was raging. So, in addition to her dresses, the matching face masks – for the first time in history – will be part of the donation.

For the ceremony at the Capitol, Dr. Biden chose an ocean blue wool tapered tweed dress embellished with pearls and crystals, a matching overcoat with a dark blue velvet collar and cuffs, and a face mask. They were designed by Alexandra O’Neill, founder and designer of Markarian. In the evening, she wore an ivory silk wool dress, an ivory double-breasted cashmere coat and a face mask, all embroidered with the flowers of every U.S. state and territory. They were designed by Gabriela Hearst, founder and creative director of Gabriela Hearst.

This is truly an dream come true for me.  My mom’s been gone a long time, but if she were here with me, well she’d be right here in DC today with me.  This would be one of those “memories” since she was as interested in women and politics, okay and what they wore as I am.  Pinch me!

Amplifying the Voice of Eartha Kitt DOWN TO EARTHA

This past weekend, Geoff and I took in an off-Broadway show called Down to Eartha, written and directed by Deirdre McDowell! Wow! All I knew about Eartha Kitt, was that she gave a memorable performance of the song Santa Baby! It has been covered by everyone from Madonna to Michael Buble, but Eartha’s is the best. What I didn’t know about Eartha: that she spoke out at the White House as a guest of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and was subsequently blacklisted from working in the US for ten years is the subject of this thoroughly entertaining one-woman show at the Gene Frankel Theatre that is closing soon. Go. Get your tickets and support this advocacy performance Deirdre McDowell who is a major talent. The show makes you think, entertains and enthralls!

I tried Acupuncture – This is my experience!

My experience at Lisa Baas Healing Arts!

Acupuncture has always been something that intrigued me.  How could tiny (and I mean tiny) needles inserted into my flesh make a difference in my energy, anxiety, and overall wellness?

Will it hurt?  How often should I do it?  Are the results immediate?

So, as part of my ongoing mission in life to grow, discover new things and dedicate myself to feeling as well as I can, I decided to try acupuncture at Lisa Baas Healing Arts in South Allentown.

This is my experience! 

When I entered the space I was struck by its calming and lovely environment.

Shades of greys and blues, seashells and natural plants shape her lovely space. Lisa  is a calming presence, too!  She is an herbalist, and a practitioner of Oriental medicine and holds a Master of Professional Studies in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, as well as other degrees and certifications.  I knew I was in good hands.   

Lisa Baas

After spending time discussing my medical background and any anxiety triggers or pains, Lisa prepared me for my acupuncture session.  I was very comfortable on a cushioned table with a pillow for my head and feet, and could barely feel the needles being inserted in my hands, feet and neck area.  I felt a tiny prick (less than a flu shot) on my hands, more so than the other parts of my body, and Lisa says that is likely where I need it most.  Before long, flutes and string music filled the air, the temperature was raised, and I was in a state of complete relaxation and bliss.  I rested completely for about 45 minutes (I may have even nodded off) and when Lisa came back, the needles were removed and I felt a sense of calm that I have not felt in a long time. 

I recommend Lisa Baas Healing Arts because it is another way to take care of ourselves and create a calm, relaxing persona.

Please note!  I am not being paid for this endorsement.  I just want you to feel good, too! Call Lisa Baas 610-841-9300 or email her at lisabaas@ptd.net.  You will be glad you did.  Lisa Baas Healing Arts..where science meets wisdom.

The foyer at Lisa Baas Healing Arts

Kathryn Garcia for President 2024? It looks like the path to NYC Mayor

​Last night the New York mayoral candidates faced off in the second debate and in their 45-second opening statements a few things were apparent:   

• Each candidate has polished their “elevator pitches” very well 
• Andrew Yang is afraid of looking small
• Kathryn Garcia is the most experienced candidate

For more than twenty years I’ve been researching and writing about women in politics and I’ve seen this happen before: a qualified woman candidate is overshadowed by a flashy male newcomer who knows how to handle the media.  The basic question: When will we elect more women? The basic answer: When experience is more important than fame.

In the debate last night, Andrew Yang’s first words were:  

“Hello NYC! It’s great to be with you! (he has totally nailed the cheerful optimism many voters crave). For those watching at home, my friend Ray McGuire is 6 foot four.”   He was referring to the candidate who had just made his pitch, and not only is Ray McGuire tall, he has an impressively strong, baritone voice.  I had not noticed McGuire’s height, especially since the camera moved from McGuire to Yang individually.

What made Yang look especially small had nothing to do with the difference in height.  

The most experienced candidate is Kathryn Garcia. Endorsed by the Daily News and the New York Times, Garcia served as commissioner for the New York City Sanitation Department.  She started her career in NYC as an intern in the NYC Sanitation Department and then worked as a policy analyst for the NYC Department of Finance.  She worked at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, including as Chief Operating Officer. She was interim chair at the New York City Housing Authority and food czar, during the COVID-19 crisis. 

And Yang is worried that he looks small next to a 6’4″ man on stage?  He looks small, but that’s only because he lacks the experience that Garcia has to run the city.  Will New Yorkers value experience over media savvy and cheerleading? 

This is a problem as old as time in American politics, and New York City has the opportunity to solve it.   

If the mayor’s race doesn’t go to Garcia, I recommend that she run for president of the United States in 2024.  For Yang, it has been his path to the NYC mayor’s race and when women run, women win.

Nothing against Yang, he is thoughtful and smart, but he simply is not the most qualified candidate.  Will New York City voters see that?

If not, I suggest that Kathryn Garcia for President 2024. Looks like it is a stepping stone to the NYC Mayorship.

Hearing Bella Abzug’s Voice Again

One of the joys of teaching and writing about women who have made significant contributions to American life, but who have been all but forgotten, or even sadder, never even heard of, is making them come alive again.

When I teach about the history of women who have run for the United States presidency, I ask students:  “Have you never read or heard of Margaret Chase Smith or Shirley Chisholm?”  So often hands go up in the air.  We’re going to fix that, I think to myself.

That was certainly the case when we began to discuss Bella Abzug, also known as “Battling Bella.” She was an outspoken member of the United States House of Representatives and a leader of the Women’s Movement.  She was unapologetically herself, and she made an impact.  She was a vociferous opponent to the Vietnam war, and she fought for women to gain access to have credit cards in their own names.

So why did a man play her?

The first reaction I had was, “Well, its an off-Broadway, New York play, so anything goes, right?”  But my students and a good friend said, basically, “Wait–what? a man is playing an iconic feminist — it just is not right!”

And so, of course, we had to check it out for ourselves.  I had the supreme pleasure of seeing the show at The Manhattan Theatre Club with some students this week and it was terrific.  What I learned is that Harvey Fierstein not only plays Bella in the one-man/women show, he wrote it.  And, he did try to get a leading female actress to play Bella, but none was available.  Harvey Fierstein is not just some man playing Bella Abzug. He is a gifted actor and offers up such a passionate portrayal that I had a hard time picturing anyone else in the role–really.  He is fantastic (even if the jaded playgoers complained about the teleprompter)!  New Yorkers!

The highlights of the play:  it is a great biography of the irrepressible Bella Abzug.  If you walk into the show knowing some but not that much about her, you leave knowing a lot more.   And in between the biography, the show is filled with a lot of funny moments — especially Jewish humor.  The audience roared when Bella collected campaign money in a Tzedakah Box, because of course, “You can’t use a piggy bank!”  The set is minimal and doesn’t change, and yes, there is a big red hat–Bella’s trademark.  It just works.  It is a history lesson come to life.

I love it when something cultural brings to life the lessons in a textbook.

And Harvey Fierstein really brings Bella Abzug to life again.  Not only on the page but on the stage.

And isn’t that just grand?!  Go see it.  And bring someone who has never even heard of Bella Abzug with you.

You will Abzug-lutely love it!

 

Who Speaks At Commencement? More Important: Let’s All Listen!

Commencement season is upon us.  Can you remember who spoke at your graduation?  I do. Mary Alice Williams, a former CNN anchor gave the address at King’s College in 1985 and I remember not only that she spoke, but some of the words she said: “Your diploma is a significant achievement,” she said as she encouraged us to keep learning and to try to change what we think is wrong in our society.   Those words meant something to me then, and I’ve recalled them many times in the more than thirty years since she said them. More than that, I took them to heart and try to live by them.

As a first-generation college graduate, commencement still sends a chill through me because I can palpably feel lives improving and minds opening when I attend the ceremonies. When the music of Pomp and Circumstance starts, I pinch myself and take in the full and wonderful scene. Lucky me, because as a college professor I have the joy of attending commencement every year.  As a proud mother of two college graduates, I also attended, with great pride and joy, our children’s commencements.

Commencement speakers matter because they impress upon the graduates the importance, even the reverence of their achievement.  To graduate from college is a life-long achievement, and speakers offer graduates inspiration to go into the world and live passionately to make a difference in a way that makes a difference not only in their lives, but also for society. Here in the Lehigh Valley, we have commencement speakers at the ready to address audiences at upcoming graduations.

Bill Spence, Penn State alumnus, and chairman, president and chief executive officer of PPL Corporation, will be the featured speaker at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s 2019 commencement. 

Cedar Crest College will feature Shabana Basij-Rasikh, the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), as commencement speaker.

Former United States Ambassador to India Richard Verma, an alumnus, will deliver Lehigh University’s address.

Author and Attorney Scott Turow will speak at Muhlenberg’s 171st Commencement.

Dave Zinczenko, a fitness media leader, and a Moravian College alumnus will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2019 commencement ceremony.

DeSales University will also feature an alumnus, Paul Meiklejohn, at their commencement event this year.

Wes Moore will address Lafayette College’s graduating class.

When we look beyond the Lehigh Valley, here is a glimpse of the commencement speakers set to inspire our college graduates this year: James Patterson, best-selling author will speak at the University of Florida ,  Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-director of Caring Across Generations, will speak at Smith College, Mary Daly, CEP of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will address Syracuse’s graduates, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will speak at Manhattan College, and Angela Merkel will speak at Harvard University.

Commencement speaker controversies are also a part of commencement season.  Here are a few you may recall:

Barbara Bush at Wellesley, Christine Lagarde at Smith,  Ted Turner at Macalester College, Henry Kissinger at University of Texas, Austin, Fred Rogers at Old Dominion University and  George W. Bush University of Arizona.  In some of these cases the institutions relented and changed speakers, which I think is a mistake, although some universal selection guidelines seem like no-brainers to me:  at the thirty-four women’s colleges that we have in the United States, why not always choose a woman to speak at commencement?  Woven into the fabric of every one of our women’s colleges is the mission to develop leaders of their students, so it seems obvious to me that presenting them with a woman leader as a commencement speaker is natural and right.

 In my view, the same is true for the thirty-seven historically black colleges in the United States.  I believe they live their missions through the rhetoric of graduation when they choose black commencement speakers because like the students at the women’s colleges:  if the students can see it, they can be it.

But beyond those two exceptions, I believe that  audience members at commencements do not have to agree with the perspective or even the choice of the commencement speaker. And certainly they do not have to believe in everything they say in their speeches. It is unlikely that every member of the audience, let alone the graduating class, will embrace the views of the speaker and be in 100% agreement with them.  But isn’t that the main benefit of education?  To have tolerance, empathy, understanding and to truly listen to opposing views with civility and respect?

Here’s to a harmonious and truly celebratory, tolerant and civil commencement season!

Congratulations graduates and your families!

Three Media Mistakes That Hurt Women

The media has already decided:  Beto O’Rourke is the one.  And he seems to

have begun surveying “the women” to see who might be a good running

mate.  “It would be very difficult not to select a woman, with so many

extraordinary women who are running right now,” O’Rourke told reporters in

Iowa. Thanks, Beto, but women in the 2020 presidential field are running to

become the leader of the free world, just like you.

If we really want to elect a woman president of the United States, or at least

give the women who are running in 2020 an equal playing field as men who are

running, we need to call three things out right now:

MEDIA:

• Stop featuring O’Rourke so prominently
• Do not lump all the “the women” candidates together
• Do not cast –or let other candidates cast –women running as vice-presidential hopefuls

Beto is already the media darling

           I have heard various pundits rationalize that “Because he is so handsome,”

people want to look at Beto O’Rourke and the Annie Leibowitz cover of Vanity

Fair is doing nothing but advancing the well-worn narrative of the individualistic

male leader.  Why is there not a cover featuring a woman who is running for

president?

Isn’t that the real story and picture of progress? As Margaret Sullivan from

The Washington Post noted, “Most Americans wouldn’t

see the magazine itself, of course, but the rest of the news media — including

network evening news — helped spread the image around as they gave over-the-

top coverage to O’Rourke’s kickoff.”  Media:  You are doing it again.  Stop it.

Women are not monolithic!

The media is covering women running as a group, and so far no woman in the

race is being singled out for anything, except  for Amy Klobuchar toughness,

portrayed as meanness.

 

Vice is Not Nice This Early in the Race

Casting women presidential candidates as vice presidential hopefuls is

nothing new. Back in 1988 Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who by then had

served ten years in the Senate was often mentioned as a vice-presidential candidate,

even though she had as much or more experience than men running for president.

A number of articles undermined Elizabeth Dole’s ethos as a presidential

candidate in 2000 by describing her as more likely to be better suited for the vice

presidency, rather than the presidency.  Hillary Clinton’s campaign effectively

confronted this phenomenon in the primary season by suggesting that Barack

Obama would make a good vice president.  Only once it was certain that Barack

Obama was the nominee did the Hillary Clinton camp allow media speculation that

she could be a vice presidential contender. If the United States is ever going to level the

playing field in politics, we need to get these media missteps corrected.  Fast.

Gender Breakthrough: 50% of the Candidates for President in 2020 are WOMEN!

Every four years, Americans, led by the media, ask:  who, among the many possibilities will run for president and, as each candidate announces his or her bid, the media and public assess whether or not that candidate is presidential material.

For many years, all the candidates have been male.  So extraordinary was it for a woman to be a candidate for president of the United States, that some of us have written about their trailblazing bids.  In a book I published in 2006 and re-issued in 2017, only six women were profiled.  There have been bids by other women, however, many of these women have been completely forgotten about and never in the history of United States political campaigns have four of the eight people announced for president–been WOMEN.

As of January 21, 2019, there are eight people who have announced that they are running for president and four of them are women.  The significance of this is something to write about, and appreciate.  For the past twenty years scholars, the press and the public have been asking:  When will America elect a woman president?

One thing is sure:  when more women run for president the likelihood that we will elect one, increases.

Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.)

The latest announcement came from the California senator who spent a lot of time traveling to key battleground states before the November election.  She is running because she says that America’s values are on the line.

Getty Images

California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.)

Gillibrand has pointed out she was drawn into politics as a young girl.  She has been asked about her reversal on several positions since entering public office, but is a reliable liberal voice now and advocates for women’s rights.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Senator Warren was the first to announce her presidential bid for 2020.  Long an outspoken critic on economic issues, she is a well-known name, with a giant fundraising base and a demonstrated liberal record. Many wanted her to run in the Democratic primary in 2016 on the left of Hillary Clinton, but she didn’t, and the spot went to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

 

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

 

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard  of Hawaii announced that she will run for president.

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.  She explains why coming from the Aloha state gave her the incentive to  help others.

What my students say

Turn on any television station and you’ll receive an update about the differing experiences of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist in Northern California.  Ford asserts that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were both high school students, three decades ago.  I asked the students in a Women’s Studies course at Penn State Lehigh Valley to share their thoughts on the situation.  This semester, we are exploring issues facing women and surveying the history of modern women from the 1960s to now.   I was impressed with my students’ participation, and I thought their thoughts might help you to sort out yours. Here are their class contributions (with their permission to share):

There are many people that could be nominated for SC, so why didn’t they find someone without this over him/her?

Did she accuse him in high school? If not, why bring it up now?  Maybe it was “hush hush” back then, even a person who was assaulted did come forward, but now in the #Me Too movement, we listen to accusers now.

They don’t know for sure if he did it or not, and there is no way to know if she is telling the truth or not. It ruins his reputation and brings negative attention to her, too. The whole situation is negative and until the facts come out, it should not be in public.

High school! That’s a long time ago. It was wrong, but it is ruining his reputation.

Even though it was in high school, things like that can tell a lot about a person and it is something to think about. Because if it is true, and he is lying, what does it say about his character?

It’s funny how it is just such a convenient time to bring it out. Why didn’t she come forward sooner?

Maybe she didn’t want it to follow him everywhere in the past but it hit her that now he is going to be a Supreme Court Justice and it makes sense to me that she would speak up now.

I think something as serious as a sexual assault accusation should follow you the rest of your life because it shows your character.

He’s not being accused of stealing a piece of candy from the grocery store, he is being accused of trying to rape somebody.

Because Dr. Ford initially did not use her name, suggests that she did not want to become famous for this.  I mean, who would want this to follow them around the rest of their lives?

She is going to get negative attention. But it is all “what if” without any proof.

Will it be just he said/she said.

But how factual can you get when it happened so many years ago?

If he thought he got away with it in high school, how do we know he didn’t do it again after that?

No one else is going to come out and say it happened to them unless the first person comes forward.

Speaking as a victim who was raped by a well-known person, whether they are in the public eye or not, they should be investigated.

It is a touchy situation, but someone has to speak up.

In so many cultures people are shamed for speaking out because you can’t prove things, so you try to protect Dr. Ford’s reputation, but I think we have to remove the stigma of people who speak out.

You can’t investigate something if no one says anything.

 I am proud of my students’ participation and we will all be keeping up with this unfolding story very closely.  It is why I tell my students, don’t hold back:  Speak Up and Speak Well!

Nichola D. Gutgold is a professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley and author of numerous books and scholarly articles on women leaders. She is a 2018 Penn State Alumni Association Teaching Fellow.

Don’t donate your suits yet, women!

The mid terms elections will have more women running–seventy-eight– than anytime in history!  In a New York Times article a number of women running during the mid terms were quoted and shared that they are not shying away from their personal stories, something women would not have done as freely in past elections.  And they are dressing differently, too.  Gone are the John Molloy “Dress for Success” grey suit dictate.  Instead, women are showing their tattoos, and campaigning in jeans.

This is totally refreshing!

It reminded me of Washington senator Patty Murray who was once told that she could not get elected because she was “just a mom in tennis shoes.”  That was 1992 and she is still in office.

 

However, I would advise women candidates not to let their guard down and to remember that we are a country that has yet to elect a woman president.  While it is progress, absolutely, to see women feeling more comfortable about sharing their own stories, and dressing more casually, many voters still have an image of what an elected official looks like to them, and that image is still likely a male candidate in a suit and tie (blue or red).

Showing your children, talking about your own lived experiences is all great, but remember, post primary, voters will be looking at the overall set of qualifications which, in many minds is a more traditional set of qualifications.

What about Ronald Reagan in his jeans and Barack Obama splashing in Hawaii’s surf?

See above paragraph and  polish up those sensible pumps, and dry clean that navy suit.