The Politics of Race and Gender

This image consists of 3 elements, These three elements are a female cartoon figure on the left, a female cartoon figure on the right and text over each of their heads.

The  female cartoon figure on the left side of the frame is holding a microphone near the mouth of the female cartoon figure on the right side of the frame.  

The female cartoon figure on the right side of the frame is holding her purse in one hand and holding her other hand up to her mouth in a gesture that shows surprise or shock.  

 If you visually analyze just the two female cartoon characters, you can see that one is taller, one has lighter hair, one has darker skin and one’s mouth is open while the other’s is in a sort of frown. It is easy to surmise that the female figure on the left is a news anchor or an individual conducting an interview, because she is holding the microphone in her hand and holding it near the mouth of the lady on the right. 

It is not until you read the text that full meaning of the image is brought to light.  After reading the text, it is clear that the image is a political one. First, It is political because it is referring to two political candidates, Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, who were running against each other for the office of President of the United States of America.  Second, it is political because it deals with the politics of race and gender.  The female figure on the left asks a question which implies that the only reason the lady on the right would vote for either candidate was because of the color of their skin or their gender.  This text also raises the issue of  political ignorance vs. political awareness.  The female on the left is assuming that the female on the right is politically ignorant and would only vote for a candidate because of race or gender while she herself is the one who is displaying an ignorance relating to political correctness by assuming the lady on the right, either because she is a female or because she has darker skin, would not vote for a candidate because of their stance on issues.