The sexist nature of Washington Post endorsements

[Anonymous]

A female friend running for local office posted this on Facebook and it makes my blood boil. Others chimed in on her post noting that they heard from other female candidates that they were asked similar questions. You know the Washington Post isn't asking these questions of male candidates.

The very last question that the editorial board asked me during my endorsement interview was — “how will you be position X with two young children?”

[Anonymous]

At this point I treat WaPo endorsements as a mark against a candidate in local elections

[Anonymous]

Why is the Washington Post endorsing candidates? Isn't the media neutral?

[Anonymous]

Do you not understand the difference between news articles and the editorial board of a paper?

[Anonymous]

So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

[Anonymous]

The Post generally endorses more qualified candidates. I’m not surprised some of the newcomers are trying to discredit them with assertions that may or may not be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

OP here. I suppose that's possible, but I don't see any male candidates publicly stating that the WaPo asked them these questions. I've seen 2 female candidates posting that they've been asked this and that they felt it was inappropriate. In any case, in most US job environments, it's not considered kosher to ask about a job candidate's personal life and how it will impact the candidate's ability to do a job, unless there's a known issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is the Washington Post endorsing candidates? Isn't the media neutral?

Have you been living under a rock? All major newspapers do endorsements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

OP here. I suppose that's possible, but I don't see any male candidates publicly stating that the WaPo asked them these questions. I've seen 2 female candidates posting that they've been asked this and that they felt it was inappropriate. In any case, in most US job environments, it's not considered kosher to ask about a job candidate's personal life and how it will impact the candidate's ability to do a job, unless there's a known issue.

Yeah, but the bar is higher when you are running for elected office. For example, you can't be fired for having a scandalous affair, but you can certainly be judged morally unfit for higher office because of it.

My hope is that the washington post also asked this of any male candidates that are running who have small children in their family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

OP here. I suppose that's possible, but I don't see any male candidates publicly stating that the WaPo asked them these questions. I've seen 2 female candidates posting that they've been asked this and that they felt it was inappropriate. In any case, in most US job environments, it's not considered kosher to ask about a job candidate's personal life and how it will impact the candidate's ability to do a job, unless there's a known issue.

Yeah, but the bar is higher when you are running for elected office. For example, you can't be fired for having a scandalous affair, but you can certainly be judged morally unfit for higher office because of it.

My hope is that the washington post also asked this of any male candidates that are running who have small children in their family.

I would be curious to know if they asked that question to male candidates with children as well. I don't recall people asking Beto O'Rourke who was minding his 3 young children as he ran for Senate.

[Anonymous]

Women are running for office in increasing numbers. If the WaPo were being thoughtful they would also need to think about how those types of questions favor incumbents/older candidates/male candidates and systematically reinforce the establishment structure...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is the Washington Post endorsing candidates? Isn't the media neutral?

LOL

Good one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

OP here. I suppose that's possible, but I don't see any male candidates publicly stating that the WaPo asked them these questions. I've seen 2 female candidates posting that they've been asked this and that they felt it was inappropriate. In any case, in most US job environments, it's not considered kosher to ask about a job candidate's personal life and how it will impact the candidate's ability to do a job, unless there's a known issue.

Yeah, but the bar is higher when you are running for elected office. For example, you can't be fired for having a scandalous affair, but you can certainly be judged morally unfit for higher office because of it.

My hope is that the washington post also asked this of any male candidates that are running who have small children in their family.

Why would serving as a local official be inconsistent with having children? These people aren't applying to go on mission on the space shuttle, or to be President.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your question is based on the assumption that the post isn't asking this question of male candidates

I bet they are. They aren't stupid.

OP here. I suppose that's possible, but I don't see any male candidates publicly stating that the WaPo asked them these questions. I've seen 2 female candidates posting that they've been asked this and that they felt it was inappropriate. In any case, in most US job environments, it's not considered kosher to ask about a job candidate's personal life and how it will impact the candidate's ability to do a job, unless there's a known issue.

Yeah, but the bar is higher when you are running for elected office. For example, you can't be fired for having a scandalous affair, but you can certainly be judged morally unfit for higher office because of it.

My hope is that the washington post also asked this of any male candidates that are running who have small children in their family.

Why would serving as a local official be inconsistent with having children? These people aren't applying to go on mission on the space shuttle, or to be President.

It hasn’t precluded men from being president in the past either!

[Anonymous]

That question was terrible but it was also baffling (and related) that they endorsed only men.

WaPo endorsement: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/endorsements-for-the-fairfax-county-board-of-supervisors/2019/05/27/03133fc0-7b38-11e9-8bb7-0fc796cf2ec0_story.html?utm_term=.a70d692d291d

Article about it: https://bluevirginia.us/2019/05/wapo-endorses-all-men-in-fairfax-county-reportedly-asked-female-candidate-how-will-you-be-chairman-with-two-young-children?fbclid=IwAR1WfASkoRWx3R1e6nLvEGaCevR1xxtVQGmB4lAddnMZLkRuAuAKnXSWjh8