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Laura Wood, at The Thinking Housewife, has a post up which she has titled:
When Did Political Figures Start Kissing Each Other?
I think the more accurate question for the corresponding images is:
"Why are male politicians kissing female politicians?"
The two photos Laura has posted are of male politicians kissing female politicians. She has captioned the photos thus:
- "Interior Secretary Nominee Sally Jewell kissing Outgoing Secretary Ken Salazar"
[It is actually the other way around.]
- "Sally Jewell hugging Obama."
[I would venture to say that it is Obama who "initiated" the hug, and Jewell happily responded.]
I think it is a residue of the male instinct to protect females. It is like the combat zone modern-day American soldiers who run after female soldiers trying to save them.
It is also the new era of male politicians kissing their wives in public, and gripping onto their hands as they approach those intimidating crowds and podiums. Romney does it, Obama does it. How about Hilary? It is Bill who does the kissing, even if his wife is politically more important than him.
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and kisses, his wife,
Former - through resignation -
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
before her speech at the Clinton Global Initiative
on September 24, 2012.
Male politicians know that politics, like war, is a deadly game. They must instinctively realize that these women are in the line of fire, from voters, from fellow-politicians, and definitely from rivals. Seeing a woman, a matronly, grandmother-type woman, a young, attractive female, or anything in between, will spark their protective instinct.
Of course, in this era of equality, females will go to the end demanding equality, and believing they have achieved it in these moments of high-level assignments. Yet, if the male chauvinism (the kind, protective type) were removed, they would be in the combative fray, like the men, and wouldn't be able to handle it.
In the photo, Obama looks on benevolently and approvingly. Would he have that same expression if the two protagonists were male, and were just (normally) shaking hands? I don't thinks so.
Of course, this is another, documented, visible, reason for not giving females prominent political positions. Their vulnerability will distract some (most?) men.