33
Susan Raine, Kilian LaBonte-bon |Witch Hunts and Gendered Politics
as virtuous in opposition to the corrupt elite these
dichotomous presentations are easily manipulated
to present QAnon adherents in a variety of gendered
positions, from the masculine “digital soldiers” to the
feminine protectors of the home (Bracewell, 2021, p.
2). QAnon’s approach was extreme, but conservative
women’s commitment to gendered roles and
expectations is largely normative (Bracewell, 2021).
Despite losing the electoral college (but winning the
popular vote by nearly three million ballots), Clinton
continued to endure aggressive and dehumanizing
assessments both in popular and conspiratorial
discourse. Notably, some Democrats, many of whom
were fueled by Bernie Sanders’s own brand of anti-
Clinton rhetoric, continued to berate her after the
election.
In a 2019 interview with Clinton and her daughter,
Chelsea, about the challenges faced by an array of
gutsy women throughout American history, Clinton
(recalling Trump’s attempt to derail her during the
presidential campaign debate) stated that she had to
ignore him, as to do otherwise would be perceived
as weakness. According to Clinton, there is only one
way to respond in this type of situation: “It’s a really
hard choice…[but] when people try to denigrate you
and undermine you, you pay no attention whatsoever”
(Saro-Wiwa, 2019, p. 30). In another discussion,
when asked about the impact that the most heinous
conspiratorial claims had on her, she commented,
“This is rooted in ancient scapegoating of women, of
doing everything to undermine women in the public
arena, women with their own voices, women who
speak up against power and patriarchy…and it began to
metastasize around me” (Clinton, quoted in Goldberg,
2021).
Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to be a driving
force. She maintains her advocacy work and remains
steadfast in her commitment to speaking up against
injustice. She writes, podcasts, gives speeches and
interviews, became chancellor of Queen’s University
Belfast, took on a professorial position at Columbia
University, and much more. And, of course, she spends
time with her family. To her supporters, she is the best
president the United States never had.
Susan Raine, Kilian LaBonte-bon |Witch Hunts and Gendered Politics
as virtuous in opposition to the corrupt elite these
dichotomous presentations are easily manipulated
to present QAnon adherents in a variety of gendered
positions, from the masculine “digital soldiers” to the
feminine protectors of the home (Bracewell, 2021, p.
2). QAnon’s approach was extreme, but conservative
women’s commitment to gendered roles and
expectations is largely normative (Bracewell, 2021).
Despite losing the electoral college (but winning the
popular vote by nearly three million ballots), Clinton
continued to endure aggressive and dehumanizing
assessments both in popular and conspiratorial
discourse. Notably, some Democrats, many of whom
were fueled by Bernie Sanders’s own brand of anti-
Clinton rhetoric, continued to berate her after the
election.
In a 2019 interview with Clinton and her daughter,
Chelsea, about the challenges faced by an array of
gutsy women throughout American history, Clinton
(recalling Trump’s attempt to derail her during the
presidential campaign debate) stated that she had to
ignore him, as to do otherwise would be perceived
as weakness. According to Clinton, there is only one
way to respond in this type of situation: “It’s a really
hard choice…[but] when people try to denigrate you
and undermine you, you pay no attention whatsoever”
(Saro-Wiwa, 2019, p. 30). In another discussion,
when asked about the impact that the most heinous
conspiratorial claims had on her, she commented,
“This is rooted in ancient scapegoating of women, of
doing everything to undermine women in the public
arena, women with their own voices, women who
speak up against power and patriarchy…and it began to
metastasize around me” (Clinton, quoted in Goldberg,
2021).
Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to be a driving
force. She maintains her advocacy work and remains
steadfast in her commitment to speaking up against
injustice. She writes, podcasts, gives speeches and
interviews, became chancellor of Queen’s University
Belfast, took on a professorial position at Columbia
University, and much more. And, of course, she spends
time with her family. To her supporters, she is the best
president the United States never had.
