Kamala Harris and “the glass cliff”

[GAinDC]

This concept has been around for a long time, but I recently learned about it in the wake of Harris’ loss. Here’s a definition from the University of Southern California.

You may have heard a certain term used lately: glass cliff. This phrase describes a phenomenon in which women are elevated to leadership positions more often in times of crisis than during more prosperous times — setting them up for failure. Such an action gives the illusion of diversity, while letting organizations off the hook to once again promote a man to the leadership role if the woman “fails” to salvage the situation.

This is a perfect example of what just happened in the Democratic Party. Like so many other women in countless other organizations, Harris was elevated during a moment of crisis and became a sacrificial lamb.

It’s also no surprise that so many are now insistent that Democrats nominate a man in 2028. To me — that’s the wrong lesson. Harris did not lose solely because she is a woman. But her gender made her the perfect choice to be the canary in the coal mine.

[ponderosa peen 🌲]

No this reads like some kind of grievance peddling that originated in academia.

[He's turned to dust now, one of the chosen few]

This is true of, say, Kim Campbell, but I don't know if it's true of Harris given that I imagine Biden didn't pick her as his running mate while twirling his mustache and thinking about making this scenario happen.

[GAinDC]

Women who fall of “the glass cliff” are not conspired against to fail — they are just chosen to step up when there are few other options. That’s what happened here

[ponderosa peen 🌲]

The reason a woman was "chosen" to step up was because there was a woman holding the very obvious successor position to Biden.

If you want to argue that she was chosen for that position because of her gender (and race), sure.

Otherwise, the only alternative would have been to bypass Harris for an open convention, in which case instead of talking about the "glass cliff" or whatever we'd be talking about some other gendered grievances.

[Epaminondas]

Women who fall of “the glass cliff” are not conspired against to fail — they are just chosen to step up when there are few other options. That’s what happened here

The only case for a glass cliff you could make is Biden was so sure he'd lose in 2020 nobody wanted to join his ticket other than Kamala.

By 2024, she was arguably the most powerful woman on the planet. Her being Californian lawyer was a worse turn-off than being a woman.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

It's an extremely common phenomenon in Australian politics - Carmen Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Kristina Keneally and Lara Giddings were all brought in to save the furniture for a doomed government.
It took Annastacia Palaszczuk to be the first woman to win government in her own right and really lay claim as a powerful leader, partially because of the utter annihilation the party suffered in 2012 that left no other options.

[GAinDC]

The reason a woman was "chosen" to step up was because there was a woman holding the very obvious successor position to Biden.

If you want to argue that she was chosen for that position because of her gender (and race), sure.

Otherwise, the only alternative would have been to bypass Harris for an open convention, in which case instead of talking about the "glass cliff" or whatever we'd be talking about some other gendered grievances.

Yes, Harris was the obvious successor as VP and bypassing her would have been bad. But she was not in an enviable position at all.

Not sure why you’re so pressed by a simple theory that has been demonstrated time and time again throughout organizations and institutions.

Do you agree that women sometimes get a raw deal? That’s all I’m trying to show.

[ingemann]

No this reads like some kind of grievance peddling that originated in academia.

Yes, this is way of the people whose failed beliefs made Harris VP to push the blame on everyone else.

[Samof94]

This is true of, say, Kim Campbell, but I don't know if it's true of Harris given that I imagine Biden didn't pick her as his running mate while twirling his mustache and thinking about making this scenario happen.

She was PM for less than a year.

[Zenobiyl]

It's an extremely common phenomenon in Australian politics - Carmen Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Kristina Keneally and Lara Giddings were all brought in to save the furniture for a doomed government.
It took Annastacia Palaszczuk to be the first woman to win government in her own right and really lay claim as a powerful leader, partially because of the utter annihilation the party suffered in 2012 that left no other options.

Sidenote, but what an impressive performance she pulled off in Queensland. Going from 7 seats to a majority in one election, then increasing that majority in two subsequent elections? Crazy.

[New World Man]

Nah. She had her chances and failed. Problem was she was VP at all. Clyburn made Biden pick her and then when he dropped out the Dem's identity politics forced us to hand her the nomination.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

It's an extremely common phenomenon in Australian politics - Carmen Lawrence, Joan Kirner, Kristina Keneally and Lara Giddings were all brought in to save the furniture for a doomed government.
It took Annastacia Palaszczuk to be the first woman to win government in her own right and really lay claim as a powerful leader, partially because of the utter annihilation the party suffered in 2012 that left no other options.

Sidenote, but what an impressive performance she pulled off in Queensland. Going from 7 seats to a majority in one election, then increasing that majority in two subsequent elections? Crazy.

Entirely out of her control really - Campbell Newman is the ultimate example of just how quickly a bad leader can destroy a government and his entire reputation and popularity base.

[Sic Semper Tyrannis]

No this reads like some kind of grievance peddling that originated in academia.

Harris's nomination clearly doesn't fit this description, but this kind of thing does happen at times, as others in this thread have demonstrated. The fact that accusations of misogyny are sometimes used as a shield/weapon against legitimate criticism does not mean misogyny isn't a problem.