General Discussion

Women candidates walk a gendered tightrope often known as the “double bind,” where they must balance voter expectations of masculinity and femininity, and often come out the worse for the comparison.

.... Today, women who cross that intangible boundary are either too soft or too tough, too loud or too timid. When men take charge of a situation, they are strong and self-confident; when a woman does, she might be considered competent by her peers — but all too often called a “bitch” behind her back.