Know Your Enemy

Women vs. The System (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry)

Dec 27, 2024

Dorothy Fortenberry, a talented screenwriter known for her work on 'The Handmaid's Tale', joins to discuss the unique challenges women face in political campaigns. She explores how gender shapes perceptions and experiences of female candidates, especially as outsiders in a male-dominated system. The conversation touches on societal dynamics behind the pursuit of pleasure and success, and critiques the normalization of misogyny in politics. Fortenberry's insights highlight the complexities of navigating gender and authority in today's political landscape.

01:07:32

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Episode guests

Dorothy Fortenberry

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Female politicians face significant hurdles as outsiders due to societal gender expectations that favor male candidates who break norms.

Misogyny persists in politics, limiting women's opportunities and framing them within caretaker roles that clash with voter desires for change.

Trump's political strategy has redefined authenticity in leadership, prioritizing emotional connections over traditional political norms and platforms.

Deep dives

The Role of Gender in Political Identity

The podcast discusses the challenge female politicians face when trying to position themselves as anti-establishment candidates. Dorothy Fortenberry points out that women, like Kamala Harris, struggle to embody the outsider energy often required for successful political campaigns, largely due to societal expectations around gender roles. The historical context shows that while women have made strides in various professional fields, they often adhere to institutional norms that do not resonate with voters looking for candidates who defy traditional roles. This creates a landscape where men, characterized as rebels or outsiders, have a demonstrably easier time gaining support from an electorate hungry for change.

Intro

2min

Exploring Gender and Politics in a Troubling Landscape

1min

Podcast Housekeeping and Engagement with Listeners

3min

Women in Political Campaigns: Challenges and Dynamics

21min

Fun, Rebellion, and the Politics of Pain

3min

Troubling Politics and Misogyny

11min

Politics and Pandemic Perceptions

26min

Back in October, before the 2024 election, we had on our friend—and brilliant screenwriter and playwright—Dorothy Fortenberry to talk about gender and the presidential campaign. Amid all the postmortems and Democratic soul searching, we wanted to have Dorothy back on to revisit some of those questions, starting with the difficulties women face in running as "outsiders" or against "The System"—an especially relevant consideration given the prevailing anti-incumbent, burn-it-down sentiment among voters across Europe and the Americas. Along the way we discuss Sarah Palin, Trump's "bad sex" cabinet and administration, how "having fun" is coded in American culture, and more.

Sources:

Dorothy Fortenberry, "The J.D. Vance sperm cups were probably a troll. But they got me thinking," Slate, Aug 23, 2024

— "Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore," Commonweal, Nov 5, 2020

Martin Pengelly, "RFK Jr sexual assault accuser says she chose to speak out after Super Bowl ad," The Guardian, Nov 21, 2024.

Eric Lutz, "Matt Gaetz Accused of Sex With Minor in House Ethics Report," Vanity Fair, Dec 21, 2024.

Eric Tucker, "Trump’s Pentagon pick paid woman after sex assault allegation but denies wrongdoing, his lawyer says," AP, Nov 17, 2024.

Tony Tulathimutte, "Our Dope Future" in Rejection (Sept 2024)

Robert Hanley, "Donor Apologized to Sister for Seduction of Husband," NYTimes, Jan 13, 2005.

Damon Linker, "The Bestial Politics of Masculine Self-Assertion," Notes from the Middleground, Nov 22, 2024.

Sam Adler-Bell, "MAGA Misfits vs. Nationalists vs. Reaganites vs. Dorks: The battle of the Trump transition," NY Mag, Dec 14, 2024.

Listen again:

"Suburban Woman," Oct 29, 2019