Parisi 1 Christina Parisi Overcoming the Odds: Granny D as a Woman in Politics According to Simone de Beauvoirs text, The Second

Sex, gender differences that have been proposed by philosophers such as Aristotle, Freud, and Marx, may be truthful in explaining the obvious differences between men and women, however, these differences are not enough to explain the discrepancies in treatment of the two sexes. In the history of politics, women have been almost non-existent, and according to Kleinberg, recent research has shown not that women were inactive or absent from events that made history, but that they have been systematically left out of the official record. (Kleinberg 1988, 5) Doris Granny D Haddock was a women in Americas history who defied the odds and was active in politics her entire life. As an activist from an early age, Granny D overcame the social stigma of female politicians and challenged the norms of society by running for Senate for New Hampshire in 2004. Though Granny Ds gender and social identity as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother is undeniable, using constructed norms and ideals, one can see how Granny D overcame the odds of society and was a strong, influential woman in politics Sentiments about women in a political capacity are, of course, shaped by longstanding cultural assumptions about the roles of women are expected to fulfil. (Dolan 2004, 29) To scholars, and in practice, to individuals from academia in our society, the mind is associated with males and the body is associated with females. The gender stereotypes and connotations that are attributed to each gender binary are almost completely impossible to break. It is women like Granny D, a political activist, who help to break the mould of society and become more than a body, as recognized by the academic community. Beauvoir believed that women could escape from the pulls of oppression by succeeding in the labour force and by gaining economic independence. A feminist perspective is necessary to make womens history a vital intellectual endeavour, and womens history should give special attention to the history of the feminist movement. A major component to the history of the feminist movement and womens history in general is the suffragist movement of 1920 and women gaining the right to vote in the United States. Granny D dedicated much of her life on voter registration of minorities and women of disenfranchised areas of America. With the history of the suffrage movement, Granny D overcame the social stigma that women and lower classes were not involved and informed members of society by giving them the power to use their voices and vote in the upcoming election. Ethel Doris Rollins or better known as, Doris Granny D Haddock was born on January 24, 1910 in Laconia, New Hampshire. Granny D attended Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, but was expelled during her third year after getting married to her husband in 1929. Her husband, James Jim Haddock, was a political activist and a perfect match for Granny D. In school, she studied theatre and rhetoric. These major would later make her an excellent competitor in the political arena. Doris and Jim had two children, Jim and Betty. In 1960 Doris and James fought to stop Edward Tellers plans to use hydrogen bombs to build a port near an Eskimo village in Alaska. Their activism pays off when the plans are turned down by President Kennedy. (Granny D, 2010) This was the first major activist project in Granny Ds life that was a major turning point for the remainder of her political work. In 1985, Doris fought against plans for a highway that would cut through Dublin, NH and Harrisville, NH. She won the fight. Unfortunately, in 1993, Jim Haddock died from complications with Alzheimers disease, in which Granny D was by his side taking care of him for the past 10 years, to which some consider yet

Parisi 2 another heroic feat. After her best friend died in the same year, Granny D fell into a depression and to get her out of it made a plan. While walking in the woods with her son, she decided to walk across the United States for a cause. Instead of allowing herself to simply wilt away, she wanted to make a difference and bring democracy back to America. Granny Ds fight was for finance reform. On January 1, 1999, Granny D began her journey. Granny Ds political life began early in her life. However, she is most noted for her walk across America for the finance reform movement. This movement was a personal issue to her, for she did not want her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, living in a world where democracy was non-existent in the political system. Her major motivation for this movement was in fact her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Granny D, and her friends, studied the fianc reform movement closely for two years before deciding to take up this activism project. She was very well-informed and well-read on the legislation behind the movement, as well as the pushers and law makers for this reform. Granny D was a strong woman who was becoming very prominent in the political arena. As Granny Ds walk progressed though the next 14 months of her life, she gained support, as well as criticism. However, Granny D did not let these criticisms get in the way of the fight she had promised herself she would bring directly to Washington D.C. Not only was Granny D a political female figure, she was also an elderly one. Granny D was 90 years old at the end of her journey walking across America, a feat many young Americans could not accomplish. Her age was a direct component to her character and her image as a loving grandmother was certainly influential in her many campaigns. Generally, women are not, and have not been, the first priority in democratic ways of thought and practice. In the history of both the United States, and the world, women have been regarded as second class citizens and not a respected group of whom one could gain knowledge and wisdom from. Women were admired for their physical bodies and the life in which they could give. However, it was discovered though a recent study of present legislators that, Women senators and representatives overwhelmingly perceive that the increased presence of women has affected both the extent to which legislators consider how legislation will affect women as a group and the number of bills passed dealing specifically with the problems faced by women. (Whitaker, 2006)If womens lives are being considered in politics at a heightened pace, then women will be elected into politics that much faster. As a wife, mother, grandmother and even great-grandmother, Doris Haddock was a strong and influential woman in the political arena. Representative Ruth Bryan Owen, who served as a democrat in Florida from 19291933, stated that Through thinking, training, experience, the woman in politics has a most definite original contribution to make in such fields as child welfare, education, the removal of inequities of women before the law, and international relations. (Carroll 2001, 149) Granny D, who also believed that we are personally responsible to inform ourselves in order to make a difference in democracy, did in fact make a difference in the world of politics. As a frontrunner who helped bring media attention and the public eye to the problem of campaign finance reform, Granny D was publically recognized for her continual support of the movement and in the end, the honour of assisting in the changing of social stigma around the fact that a women helped change a law in the United States of America. Overcoming the social stigma of a woman running in politics was not always an easy battle, however. While running for state senate of New Hampshire in 2004, Granny D experienced backlash from her opponent, Judd Gregg. During the interview for the capstone class, in which as a class we invited supporters, friends, and colleagues of Granny D, Steve Chase commented on a particular moment where Granny D was being

Parisi 3 attacked for not what she was campaigning for as Senate contender, but as a women in politics.
The point in the movie, Run Granny Run, where shes in the debate, and Judd Gregg looks over at her, there is a moment where he looks at her with such incredible contempt. And its just; its shocking and heartbreaking. I cant imagine if a normal, male, democrat politician was debating him that he would do that. I felt that he felt he had the cultural sanction that it was okay to look down his nose and just sneer at her in public. And I think age plays a part in that and I think gender is huge. (Interview)

It was apparent to those present at the debates, as well as those re-watching the particular historic moments in the campaign where Granny D was holding her own with the boys of politics, that one could see gender, as well as age, were being used against Granny D is a way that this was recognized as a flaw and uncharacteristic of a person who should be in the political arena. In senatorial races, women received less campaign coverage than their male counterparts; the coverage they received was more negative emphasizing their unlikely chances of winning. (Whitaker 2006, 88) Taking into account the many people who followed Granny D on her campaign finance reform tour of walking across the United States of America, it is interesting to discover the many people who attempted to discredit her role as a political leader and activist. Granny D simply wanted for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to grow up in a society where democracy, a notion that the United States was founded upon, was upheld and equal for all. In her efforts to make this dream possible, she, unfortunately, came across many people, mostly men, who did not take her fight seriously. Judd Gregg was one of many men who would not publically support Granny Ds efforts. In the Run Granny Run film that was released as a documentary of her campaign finance reform walk across America, there are multiple politicians on the record stating Granny D would be better off serving her motherly duties at home, instead of trying to make a difference in the political arena. It was politicians, and men, like that who kept Granny Ds struggle for democracy strong. Flowing from the ideology and personality stereotypes people hold, they most commonly associate women candidates and officeholders with what are often called compassion issues. (Dolan 2004, 64) Granny D broke this mould by fighting as an activist for campaign finance reform and her soft money campaign that was not considered a compassion issue and instead a more male dominated issue of economics. Because of the social stigma of women in politics, the media has had a major role in voter choice. Though Granny D got 34% of the senate vote in 2004, which was monumental for a woman of her age as well as a woman in general, there tends to be a trend in America where women are not being voted for as frequently as men, even if women are the major supports of the person who is running. There have been few women as political leaders who have gained major support, mainly based on their gender and the social connotations and gender stereotypes that have been attached to them. Once the pressure of a woman in office is lessened, then women will gain more support and recognition for the many great actions they accomplish. Granny D was a stepping stone for many people. In the interview conducted for the capstone class, many of the participants were in fact women who have been influenced at one point in their lives by the works of Granny D. If one woman can have an impact on so many lives, soon enough the social connotations and gender stereotypes will become a non-issue for voters. Whether or not it was age or gender that made the voters weary of Granny D, her political actions throughout her life were monumental and deserve proper respect and admiration. One point in Granny Ds life that contradicts the notions set forth by de Beauvoir is de Beauvoir belief that the most harmful behaviour which young girls adopt is a function of allowing them the option of choosing to be housewives. De Beauvoir believes

Parisi 4 that when a person chooses to become a housewife, they lose their independence as a woman and believe that a man will always be there to take care of them. Granny D was indeed a housewife and a wonderful mother to her children as well as excellent wife to her husband. As a heterosexual woman in the United States, Granny D was privileged in many of the heteronormative roles that woman are subjected to. She however did not lose her independence as a woman, and fought for the needs of many. Going against the norms of society is what makes a person stand out in our history. Granny D did just that. Though she fit the perfect grandmother cookie-cutter could, she also was a hard-hitting political activist who felt strongly in many different activist positions and wanted to make a difference. In conclusion, women in the political arena have been scarce and few between. Granny D helped change the image of women in politics and fight the harsh reality of sexism and ageism in our society. As a political activist, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Granny D gained the support of many and the respect that she deserved as a woman in the political arena. She overcame the social stigma that women could not and would not succeed in politics by campaigning for finance reform, and again in running for state senate of New Hampshire. Though she did not win Senate, Granny Ds inspiration for continued democracy in the United States holds true and many people have been inspired by her speeches and messages of hope. Granny D was a strong political candidate and a woman who, in her 90s, did what most young Americans will never do, fight for democracy and overcome the odds as a woman in politics. Works Cited Beauvoir, Simone De., and Howard Madison Parshley. The Second Sex. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972. Print. Blair, David, Regina Bringolf, Ruth Mayer, Susan Hay, Abigail A. Walton, Phyllis Zrazvy, Maude Salinger, and Steve Chase. Interview. 28 February 2012. Carroll, S. J. The Impact of Women in Public Office. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2001. Print. Carter, R. B. Descartes' Medical Philosophy: The Organic Solution to the Mind-body Problem. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1983. Print. D'Amico, Francine, and Peter R. Beckman. Women in World Politics: An Introduction. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey, 1995. Print. Dolan, Kathleen A. Voting for Women: How the Public Evaluates Women Candidates. Boulder, CO: Westview, 2004. Print. "Granny D." In Memory of Granny D Political Activist and Senior Citizen. |. Web. 2010. http://www.grannyd.com/ . Hampshire, S. The Age of Reason; the 17th Century Philosophers, Selected, with Introd. and Interpretive Commentary. New York: New American Library, 1956. Print. Hatcher, Donald L. Understanding "The Second Sex" New York: P. Lang, 1984. Print.

Parisi 5 Kleinberg, S. J. Retrieving Women's History: Changing Perceptions of the Role of Women in Politics and Society. Oxford [England: Berg, 1988. Print. Mathews, D. G., and De Hart J. S. Sex, Gender, and the Politics of ERA: A State and the Nation. New York: Oxford UP, 1990. Print. Morgan, Sue. The Feminist History Reader. London: Routledge, 2006. Print. Taylor, J. G. (2009) Mind-body problem: New approaches. Scholarpedia, 5(10):1580. http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Mind-body_problem:_New_approaches Whitaker, L. D. Women in Politics: Outsiders or Insiders? : A Collection of Readings. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.