National Organization for Women-NYS Tells NY Daily News To Respect Senator Gillibrand.

ALBANY, NY (07/14/2009)(readMedia)-- NOW-New York State denounces New York Daily News Cartoonist Bill Bramhall for his inappropriate and sexist cartoon depicting Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as a loud mouth in need of gagging. It looks like the Daily News has a new target for their misogynistic garbage. So what is the message, "Sit down and shut up girls"?

And exactly what is Bill Bramhall's gripe? Could it be that the Senator speaks her mind, is a strong advocate for the people of New York, and has aspirations for her career? Possibly it's all of the above.

But the cruel reality is that strong women have an uphill battle, simply because many cartoonists, comedians, and average guys just can't handle women who reach for what is rightfully theirs - equality! Some men look at women like Senator Gillibrand as a threat to their masculinity, their careers, and their power bases. But our Senator is in good company, what with her predecessor Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and a host of other women politicians having endured similar treatment.

Of course, some men are part of the cure instead of part of the problem. In a October 16, 2006 New York Times article, Bob Herbert wrote: "A girl or woman is sexually assaulted every couple of minutes or so in the U.S. The number of seriously battered wives and girlfriends is far beyond the ability of any agency to count. We're all implicated in this carnage because the relentless violence against women and girls is linked at its core to the wider society's casual willingness to dehumanize women and girls, to see them first and foremost as sexual vessels - objects - and never, ever as the equals of men."

Bramhall's phallic symbols send a clear message that women are good for only one thing. And the disrespectful cartoon certainly touches on concerns feminists have had for centuries. What contributes to violence against women is the general attitude about women in general.

Indeed, we of NOW-NYS are extremely pleased with Senator Gillibrand's standing up and speaking truth to power. We demand that the Daily News show respect for our Senator and all women. And know that our Senator won't sit down, and won't shut up, and won't stand still for the old boys club.

The cartoon can be viewed at http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/index.html