As a lifelong feminist, I can say that it is a cheap shot to label School Committee member Mike Stein as sexist for his disagreements with the mayor and the City Council. Northampton’s elected officials are overwhelmingly female-identifying: there are seven female city councilors, and two male councilors; the School Committee’s members are eight female and one male. The mayor and school superintendent are women. If someone disagrees with these officials, almost certainly they will be disagreeing with women.
Mike Stein values education and justice — two components critical to feminism — and he is outspoken and passionate about these. To attribute his criticism of the mayor’s budget as being rooted in sexism is dismissive, and indicates an inability or unwillingness to process the logic and strength of his arguments regarding our need to fully fund our schools.
Furthermore, I resent the implication that my own disgust with our current leadership’s priorities is internalized misogyny.
Susan Rees
Florence