By LAURA HECKELMANN
Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s fall due to an illness during the 9/11 anniversary event has sparked controversy on whether her health concerns are due to her gender.
Clinton suffered a fall when leaving the Sept. 11 anniversary event early in New York after reportedly feeling ill. Numerous video accounts of the incident show Clinton stumbling towards her car while being escorted by the Secret Service, followed by a severe fall. Clinton was diagnosed by her doctor days before Sept. 11 with pneumonia. The intense heat that day, it was concluded, also played a factor.
According to an article by the New York Times, the Clinton campaign made public a statement from Clinton’s doctor that explained she was ‘dehydrated and overheated as a result of pneumonia.’
Following the incident, debates developed about the truth about Clinton’s illness and whether or not running for the Presidency was too harsh a task for a woman.
As a result of her fall and illness, Clinton has made some changes to her campaign schedule to recover, including cancelling a recording on Ellen’s TV show and certain fundraisers.
An article by Slate Magazine suggests that women do seem to be affected negatively by pressure. “Women—especially high-achieving women—choke under pressure… Competition—against anyone—improves men’s performance. In competition against men, women do no better than when they’re working in isolation,” writes Steven Landsburg of Slate magazine.
Students and staff members at Ramapo expressed mixed reactions to these different beliefs and opinions. Freshman Marissa Sheridan thought the campaign trail could be just too hectic.
“I truly do believe that she is sick and that her fall in fact had to do with her having pneumonia. But, I don’t believe that she can handle the pressure. Whether or not that has to do with her being a woman, I don’t know, but I don’t think she can. She has a lot on her plate and I think she’s just very overwhelmed with everything,” said Sheridan.
Professor of political science Jeremy Teigen sounded off his opinions on this when asked the same questions.
“I have no reason not to believe what’s been reported. Her medical professional indicated that she was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia,” Teigen said. As to whether or not Teigen believes it’s because Clinton is a woman that she is suffering more strain and pressure, he says he does not know.
“But,” Teigen added, “if there is a source of stress that she feels, my examination of how the press has treated both Trump as well as Clinton, is that Trump has become immune to regular journalism, so journalists don’t treat him the way that they’re treating her. The scrutiny knob is turned up more for her than it is for Trump.”
If she does feel more stressed, says Teigen, Clinton is feeling the normal stress that any other presidential candidate would feel, which is a great deal of ‘inquiry and questioning that goes into anyone who is seeking the highest office in America.’
I liked the angle of the story — I was unaware Clinton’s fall sparked such controversy because she is a woman.