Hillary Clinton holds record as most admired woman. But is ‘admired’ really the right word?

I sort of raised an eyebrow at this this morning:

And I puzzled more over it when I followed the link:

Hillary Clinton has been named the most admired woman in the world for the 13th straight year in a Gallup poll of Americans released Monday.

The results are an indication of how long the former secretary of State has been admired in the public sphere, as she heads toward a likely presidential campaign.

In addition to being the most admired for the last 13 years, Clinton also has held the title for 17 of the last 18 years, stretching back to her time as first lady. Her streak was interrupted only by first lady Laura Bush in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Clinton has been named most admired in the Gallup poll more times than anyone else. She beat Eleanor Roosevelt by six victories….

She beats Eleanor Roosevelt’s record? Wow…

If you’d like to read more about the “most admired” women and men (Barack Obama tops that list), here’s the original Gallup report.

I’m not surprised that she tops a list that measures one’s notoriety. But most “admired”? Really? Respect, yes. Appreciation of the role she has played in public policy in recent years? I can see that. But admired?

I mean, don’t most people know a woman they personally admire more than ex-Sec. Clinton? Or Oprah Winfrey, or Angelina Jolie (really? Did you see “Salt?” I was trapped on a plane back from England with it… the horror…). How about your mother, people? Or the widow down the street holding two jobs to feed her kids?

Yeah, the survey sort of implied that it wanted famous people, but it didn’t come right out and say that. (Actual wording: “What [woman/man] that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most? And who is your second choice?”)

Of course, it could be that a majority of respondents DID name their Moms, but individual mothers were never going to get as many votes as the celebs, given that there would always be a certain percentage of people who would only think of celebrities, because that’s the kind of culture we live in. Note that Hillary only got 12 percent of the vote (although that’s 50 percent more than Oprah got).

Still, I think people glossed over the word “admire,” and just went with name recognition. Yes, a couple of people on the list may actually be admired — Malala Yousafzai, and Pope Francis.

But most of the rest? I just don’t think “admired” is the word. Princess Kate? Nothing against the royals, but her one great accomplishment was to marry well. So unless you’re Elizabeth Bennet‘s mother, I doubt you “admire” her for it.

“Envy,” yes. But “admire” doesn’t sound right…

7 thoughts on “Hillary Clinton holds record as most admired woman. But is ‘admired’ really the right word?”

  1. Brad Warthen Post author

    I like that Gallup also provides a running list from 1946-present. That gives perspective. On that, Hillary comes in fifth, way behind the Queen and Margaret Thatcher. But she’s way ahead of Mother Teresa, who would seem to do better even than Her Majesty if the word really is “admire.”

    Oh, and note that among men, Jimmy Carter comes in third, behind only Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan — way ahead of Ike, Nixon or the two Bushes. I like that, given that Jimmy has taken so much guff over the years…

  2. Kathryn Fenner

    I think there’s a flaw in the methodology. I think most people just respond with the first name off the top of their heads, without thinking through much and having to come up with….what is that woman in, like Burma, or is it Thailand?, who has been under house arrest–Ann Sang Chop Suey? No, that’s not it. How about the Indian girl, or was she Pakistani, who stood up to like the Taliban, or something? Malalala LaBamba or something. I guess I can’t say Sofia Vergara. Too lightweight. Angelina has all those kids and does humanitarian stuff, but still…
    Oh, heck, Oprah Winfrey…or Hillary Clinton…yeah, Hillary.

    1. Silence

      I think Kathryn’s correct. Hillary Rodham Clinton has been front and center on the world stage basically nonstop since 1992. From 1993-2001 she was FLOTUS, from 2001-2009 she was Senator from NY which basically puts her in the two most “important” media places on earth, NY and Washington DC. From 2009-2013 she was Secretary of State, which presents her to the world for even more international exposure, and pretty much since she left State, she’s been the nominee-presumtive for the Democratic Party, so really never out of the media spotlight. She’s noteworthy for the longevity of her career on the national or world stage, even if for nothing else. You’d be hard pressed to find another living woman (or man) who’s lasted that long at the “peak” or nearly at the peak of their career arc, in the public eye. It’s a pretty short list: Barbara Waters, Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Madonna, Queen Elizabeth 2, that’s about it.

      1. Kathryn Fenner

        My point was more that people are news ignoramuses, or cannot remember names, especially foreign ones. I mean, Angela Merkel is quite impressive–East German physicist, not conventionally attractive or socially adept becomes most powerful woman in the world–and she’s been in the news for many years. But stop five people on the street, or at the store, and ask them one or more of the following: “Who is Angela Merkel?” “Who is the Chancellor of Germany?” Who is the most powerful leader in the EU?” “What is the EU?”
        —and shake your head…..outside of a very narrow group, you won’t find a lot of Americans who can answer more than one of those correctly.

        and you left off Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton), and Kim Kardashian, who broke the internet….

        1. Silence

          Fair enough. I left off Kim Kardashian-West and Catherine, Dutchess of Cambridge on purpose.
          First: Kimye
          Kim Kardashian is famous for several reasons: 1) Her father was famous, as OJ Simpson’s attorney. 2) Her stepdad was once the world’s greatest athlete 3) She was friends with Paris Hilton and mildly attractive as a young LA socialite. 4) She had a large derriere, nice mammaries and low morals, somehow appearing in a pornographic home video that “leaked” onto the internet. 5) Inexplicably, large numbers of otherwise decent American women watch a show about her family on TV every week, despite the ill-effects it has on the national character. Admittedly, she has outlasted her 15 minutes of fame.

          Catherine Wales (née Middleton) is 1) certainly attractive and 2) has completed her primary mission – being bred and delivering a male heir to the Windsor line. She seems by all accounts to be a nice person, but perhaps we just think that because she is so attractive. Eventually, she may be the queen of a small island in the North Atlantic. Check back in 20 years to see if she has HRC’s staying power.

          I also left off Ms. Jolie-Pitt.

          1. Kathryn Fenner

            I do not admire these women–Mrs. Wales and Ms Kardashian-the 72 day guy-West–but I bet lots do.

            I think I admire Merkel the most. I just read a great piece in The New Yorker on her. She has come a very long way.

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