Reader question: In her farewell speech to end her campaign for Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton said: "If we can blast 50 women into space, we will somehow launch a woman into the White House. And although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest, glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it has got about 18 million cracks in it" (In emotional end to her campaign, Clinton endorses Obama, AFP, June 7, 2008). What does she mean with "glass ceiling" and "18 million cracks"?
My comments:
The glass ceiling here refers to the White House, residence of the President of the United States. The "18 million cracks" refer to her 18 million supporters, those who have cast their votes in her favor.
"Glass ceiling" is an idiom referring to the barrier women face in the office, which prevents them from going to the top. The ceiling of a building is the top cover of the house, hence alluding to the top positions in the office. "Glass" is metaphorical. Glass is transparent and sometimes invisible, but it is there, alluding to the subtle nature of the glass ceiling facing women in government – although some people may not see it, it is there.
When it comes to women in government, the glass ceiling is certainly there in America (and elsewhere of course) – the so-called land of freedom and equality has yet to put a woman into the White House (not as a suffering spouse, I mean).
Neither has it elected a black person President, which means Barack Obama has his version of a glass ceiling to crack, too. Obama is black and that is clearly a handicap, just as Hilary is handicapped being a woman. In fact, being black may be a bigger handicap than being a woman, what with slavery and the particular racial history America has had with its black population. People even talk of Obama being assassinated if he stays in the race for the White House. That, in a nutshell, speaks volumes.
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