Sexism

As a pro-choice Republican woman, I applaud Sen. John Seymour’s recent efforts to call Dianne Feinstein’s current strategy for exactly what it is--blatant sexism. Feinstein’s appeal to vote for her because of her gender and implications that men cannot represent women appropriately is divisive, sexist and shows her lack of respect for the intelligence of all.

If this country has come to the point where we will cast our votes on the basis of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, or any other genetically determined factor, then we are indeed in deep trouble. And to see so many of my “fellow women” courting votes in this manner is disturbing to say the least.

Men can represent all of us; women can represent all of us; blacks can represent all of us; whites can represent all of us. It is the quality of the individual, not the gender of the candidate, that counts. And while we can all acknowledge that there have been many inequities as a result of sexism in the past, the solution is not to create another kind of sexism.

We all live in this world together and we will all sink or swim together. Our leaders must reflect this philosophy.

JOZELLE SMITH

Culver City