In a recent essay (âWomen in Bidenâs Cabinet Need to Be Seen and Heard,â Ms., 4/5/2021) authors Lois Phillips and Anita Ferguson, not satisfied with the substantial (48%) representation of women in President Joe Bidenâs cabinet â the most in U.S. history â are still carping. This time their unwonted fear and grudge is that even in the face of âincreasing prominence of women in American politics, itâs disappointing to realize how little has changed in terms of how public exposure to diverse womenâs voices takes shape.â
Why do we need to grant women an extra layer of Teflon protection against feared or anticipated rather than actual incidence of unfair media coverage? Why donât we wait for malicious and unfair coverage or intentionally neglected coverage of women leaders by the media to occur before we cry wolf? Is this the Biden administration supportersâ way to ensure if these well-appointed women fail, there would be media