Uncommon women, uncommon passions

The Baltimore Sun
Sun Staff Writer
June 24, 2003

With the recent backlash on Hillary Rodham Clinton for her controversial biography and Martha Stewart about her criminal charges, the roles of women in public are facing renewed criticism. The author of this article interviewed Susan McGee Bailey:

Susan McGee Bailey, executive director of Wellesley (College) Centers for Women, at Hillary Clinton's alma mater, said both women are powerful and successful in a man's world, but both have traded on some very traditional values.
"Martha's mighty empire is based on traditional female pursuits, and Hillary very much stood by her man," Bailey said.
"Yet there is this perception that Martha is being treated unfairly because she is a woman and Hillary is being unfairly attacked because she is Bill's wife.
"Both women have become a Rorschach test for how one feels about women, and any challenges to traditional gender roles."