McCollum: Interview Assignment

Women in politics face a unique challenge in that they are not only stepping outside the private sphere of the home into the public sphere of work, they are stepping into the most public sphere, opening themselves up for criticism and attack. Authors Tolleson-Rinehart and Stanley describe the predicament: “political women…have had to walk a careful line: they must present themselves as at least ‘feminine’ enough not to raise any fears that they are not ‘womanly’; but at the same time they cannot be too stereotypically feminine or they will not be strong enough to lead.” In her life and her career, Gwen O’Looney has had to meet the challenge of stepping outside the traditional bounds of femininity in order to command respect in a public office, and in doing so brought her unique and valuable service to the city of Athens.
Gwen O’Looney served as mayor of Athens Clarke-County for eight years, overcoming the cynics who labeled her an “underdog” and a “dark horse.” In office and outside of office, she fought for the underdogs of society- underprivileged children, victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and citizens in need of health care. She became the first mayor to be re-elected under a unified government, an accomplishment for anyone- male or female.
In person, Ms. O’Looney comes across as very warm, down to earth, and a bit eccentric. She’s surprisingly unfiltered for someone in politics. She cocks her head to the side and listens intently, in a way that assures her company that she is actually listening. She has a fantastic lavender house with a bohemian vibe about it, full of interesting clutter. I feel at ease, and I get the sense that she makes a lot of people feel that way.
When I ask whether she identifies as a feminist she wrestles with the idea for a second, warning that she is a “feminine feminist.” I think that phrase in itself speaks volumes about where a lot of women sit when it comes to the issue of feminism. Women like her, who grew up in the 60’s and says she remembers bra burning, associate feminism with ascribing to be, essentially, like men. Second wave feminists wanted what men had. They left the women who grew up during the time with the image of these masculine females, unconcerned with fashion, family life, and other aspects of the female gender that so many women embrace.
On further thought, she nods her head submits to the idea that she is a feminist because she personally broke through several glass ceilings.
“I was the first woman ever hired on the national level of the Boy’s Club,” she says as she begins listing her “firsts.”
I hadn’t even realized that there had been a Boys Club- the predecessor to what I grew up with- The Boys and Girls Club. Gwen helped with the inclusion of girls, which to me seems like common sense, yet at the time was slightly radical.
She didn’t stop with the Boys and Girls Club. “The number of young children and women we have in the sexual assault center is outrageous,” she says. Seeing the injustice, Ms. O’Looney dedicated much of her time to creating places like the Family Protection Center. She married later in her life and didn’t have children due to biological reasons, and yet she has devoted much her public service to the children in the community. Her efforts were so recognizable that she was given the Beacon of Light state award for her humanitarian efforts, working as head of the Athens-Clarke office of the state Department of Family and Children Services.
Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards would likely view Gwen O’Looney as an activist. They explore the definition of activism in their piece “Manifesta,” and if an activist is someone who sees injustice and inequality and takes action against it, using one’s vote, voice, creativity, or whatever means one has, then I would agree that Ms. O’Looney is definitely an activist. It’s interesting to me that the closest parallel between her life and feminism I can draw lies within a third wave text. Previously I had considered third wavers to be in a younger age group, but perhaps being third wave is more about ideology than age.
Her parents, while supportive, did not exactly raise her to fight gender oppression. She recalls an instance when she was getting ready to go to college, walking with her father and he asked her what she’d like to do with her life. She answered that she wanted to get involved with psychology and sociology, to which he shrugged and replied, “‘It probably won’t matter. You’ll just get married and have children.’ ”
Her mother showed a similar attitude when Ms. O’Looney told her she was going to campaign to be mayor of Clarke-County. She says, “When I told my mother I had decided to run [for mayor] she said ‘Oh honey, does that mean you’re going to put your picture up around town?’”
Part of her mother’s concern was out of natural protection, but another part was just that women seeking public office are really stepping outside of the traditional bounds of femininity. “You need to have a thick skin,” she says. She insists that this is true not just for women but for men as well. Women, however, must be especially conscious of their presentation. She shows her knowledge of the science of campaigning by pointing out that “the first fifteen seconds are when feelings are determined.”
Gwen O’Looney was not, however, without her share of challenges and critics, and was in no way free of the patriarchal backlash any woman assuming a position of power inevitably faces. She says she never really thought she was treated differently because she was a woman, until one day at a meeting she was adamant about including citizens in the debate and one man countered her saying, “You don’t understand that this isn’t a place for that kind of attitude.’”
Had she been a man, being opinionated and outspoken might be better received or even respected, and it was then that she stopped making excuses and realized that it was because she was a woman. She describes how she was in Vietnam with the Red Cross for fifteen months, and men were all that she dealt with. Being so accustomed to the grossly unbalanced ratio made her in some ways oblivious to it. On Government Day, which involved a day packed with back to back meetings, by the fourth or fifth one her female friend accompanying her asked, “Are there going to be any women in this meeting?” That instance struck Ms. O’Looney because it hadn’t even dawned on her that they hadn’t seen any other women all day.
So I ask, why are women so underrepresented in the political arena?
“All the studies I’ve read say its money. Politics has turned into a major prostitution. It’s rough…it may be a good sign that women don’t want anything to do with it.” She’s just kidding about the last part, but coming from someone who has been there the sarcasm is not without a foundation.
The issue with the lack of women running for office is not solely lack of financial support. She continues, “You can’t ignore that women have the interruption of family.”
I find it interesting that women’s careers are interrupted by family while men, particularly men in politics, are better received and benefit from having a family. When was the last time an unmarried, childless president was elected?
The parallels between Gwen O’Looney and Hillary Clinton are too blatant to gloss over the subject. When I ask her how she feels about Hillary’s campaign for presidency and she answers, “I think she has done an unbelievable job. She has been clear on issues and aggressive. She has packaged her message well, kept her energy up.” Gwen pauses, thoughtfully, and then diagnoses Hillary’s problem better than I’ve heard anyone do it up to this point: “She does not have natural charisma.” She compares her to Al Gore in that they are both extremely intelligent, but without personal magnetism. I must say that Gwen O’Looney is unlike Hillary Clinton in this way because she radiates an innate enthusiasm for life in general.
Her sharp insight extends beyond presidential politics, and she also hits on a major societal problem with its treatment of women today- the media portrayal of them.
She says, exasperated, “Women are never seen in a story unless they’re being raped, crying, or being silly.” It may be an overgeneralization, but it’s not one without a root in truth. She points out how our respect is devoted towards military and sports, traditionally male dominated activities. “I don’t watch TV,” she states, and the implied reason is because it is contributing to the failures of society, one of which being its interpretation and portrayal of women. But its not just the media; it’s reflected in our very towns.
“You’ll see 100 intersections dedicated to some asshole congressman,” she says bluntly. Again, it may be a rash statement, but there’s truth there as well. Personally, I can’t remember the last time I saw a street dedicated to a female politician.
She says Hillary Clinton is a great role model for young girls, and I think she same could be said for Gwen O’Looney. As we’re leaving she tears the plastic wrap off the newest issue of Vogue, telling me that she’s had a subscription since she was a teenager. Who says you have to break through the glass ceiling in a shoulder-padded, monochrome pantsuit?
The time has not arrived where it is the norm for women to be active in politics, speak their mind without opening themselves up to criticism, and not be expected to adhere to a traditional conception of femininity. However, I think we owe a good deal to the women who have pioneered the female voice in politics, the women who have stepped up to the challenge of commanding respect from those who have probably sized them up within the first fifteen seconds of meeting them. One can ignore the challenge, embrace it, shoulder it, or deal with it in any way they see fit, but the reality of patriarchy in politics remains regardless, and as women I think it’s important to support or even become the women who work to transform reality for future generations.