And I am left wondering: why does it matter ?


The absurd debate over the sexuality of then nominee- now Judge- Elena Kagan has been raging since President Obama first announced her as his nomination to fill Justice Stevens' seat. From the right, many asked whether she was a lesbian, because you know, she likes cigars, isn't married and played softball. From the left, the defense was immediate: NOT ALL LESBIANS LIKE CIGARS AND SOFTBALL YOU SEXIST PIGS!!!!

Or something like that.

During her confirmation hearings, the Senate members presiding asked a number of intrusive and unnecessary questions that had nothing to do with her judicial competence , and everything to do with her sexuality . Apparently, the public deserves to know whether a lesbien (gasp) would be the next supreme court justice.

The American public not only doesn't care, it doesn't need to know, because her sexuality is no one's business but her own.

Kagan was , clearly, confirmed; she is, clearly, a woman. So why is the conversation still about her sexuality , her gender, and whether she'll act like other women ? Does Slate have nothing else to ask about her judicial record? Her time at Harvard? Any one of the publications she's authored? Nothing? Crickets?

No one cares what Kagan wears, we care about her judgements and whether she'll be progressive (or conservative) . The "female" necktie other women have worn has never been part of the conversation, until now.

Thanks Slate.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Slate: http://www.slate.com/id/2262958/

• Filed Under:  
• Politics, Sexism

• Tags:
• women
• Law

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