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Sarah Palin is Bad for Women |
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Like many today I watched in semi-awe as Alaska Governor Sarah Palin graciously accepted the position of John McCain’s running mate.
Television pundits explained why the Palin “package” is so compelling to conservatives. Palin is a (very) junior Republican who has already earned herself an excellent reputation for fighting corruption, as well as an 80+% approval rating as Alaska’s governor. At 44, she is the mother of 5 children, the oldest of whom recently enlisted and will soon be deployed to Iraq. She is a lifelong NRA member, a hunter, a high school basketball champion, and a former runner up for Miss Alaska. She is vehemently pro-domestic drilling — including in ANWR — and as one pundit suggested, possesses a “keen sense of the geopolitics of energy.” Palin’s background is thoroughly middle-class, and her high-school sweetheart husband is a lifelong union member.
There can be no doubt that Palin’s selection is purely tactical — a decision based more on image and balance than on substance and qualifications. Palin’s youth, beauty, and distance from Washington were all chosen because they directly counter shortcomings of McCain. Her indisputable conservatism in areas where McCain has appeared moderate — abortion, the Second Amendment, drilling — as well as her “strength” in domestic issues, balances nicely with McCain’s flip-flopping war-focused campaign.
Perhaps most importantly, Palin’s nomination and election would be hailed as breaking down barriers. Indeed, today’s “it turns out the women of America aren’t finished” speech made clear that Palin’s job on this ticket is to recruit as many former Hillary supporters as possible.
But what was disturbing today was how clear it became that Palin’s job is not only to recruit women, but to simultaneously promote conservative notions of how women should be.
Palin is in many ways the perfect “family woman.” She has given birth to five children, and (even today, while standing next to her new running mate) publicly honors her husband as the man in this world she admires most. Putting herself in contrast to Hillary Clinton and even Michelle Obama, Palin identifies herself first as a “hockey mom” who never had any ambitions to enter professional politics. Arguably the two most important appeals of her candidacy involve her sons: Due to her oldest son’s enlistment she is soon to become the most high profile Iraq mom since Cindy Sheehan. And last year when she learned she was carrying a baby with Downs Syndrome, she elected not to have an abortion — a move that crystallized her endorsement by the Christian Coalition. Moreover, after her son’s birth this April, Palin returned to work three days later without requesting maternity leave.
For all these reasons, Palin’s selection as McCain’s VP is offensive, not only because there are far more experienced women out there who perhaps don’t “look” as good, but because her personal choices as a woman — as a wife and as a mother — are about to be scrutinized and politicized in a way that can only hurt women.
Palin’s pro-life stance combined with her personal history subtly reinforces the idea that there is no acceptable excuse for terminating a pregnancy — that education, healthcare, employment flexibility, and the presence of a reliable spouse or partner are incidental in the decision to have children, and anyway, are available to those who work for them. More specifically, it sends a message to women that if they become pregnant they should have the baby — regardless of whether they already have 4 children, regardless of whether they have a career they’d like to advance, and regardless of whether they know their baby will have Downs syndrome.
Similarly, Palin’s selection sends a disingenuous and alarming message to American mothers — that even if it puts their son or daughter in mortal, daily danger there is no reason not to support the war in Iraq; that gun control is unnecessary; and that this country makes it easy for women with five children (including a five month old) to have a successful career and even, say, run for Vice President.
I have zero doubt that Sarah Palin is an intelligent, capable woman who is truly dedicated to reforming government and eliminating corruption. I also have zero doubt that she lives the life she chooses — that there is strength and independence in her convictions on abortion, guns, and energy, that she really does see politics as public service, and that she truly loves and admires her husband and every one of her children without concern for how it makes her look.
But her profound lack of national experience serves as glaring evidence that she has not been selected for her qualifications, her courage, or her brain, but for the personal choices she has made for her family and for herself as a woman. Quite frankly, conservatives have rewarded a woman politically for deciding to keep a baby and for sending her son to Iraq. For this reason, Palin’s selection is a great disservice to women — and further evidence of how truly destructive a Republican victory will be for American women.
great post Hannah. By analogy, the Palin pick reminds me of the Clarence Thomas nomination. There are more well qualified women to be found in the Republican party, but McCain chose someone who was managing a small town two years ago. This is bad for women, and, indeed, bad for all of us. McCain clearly thinks a majority of American voters are irrational
The majority of American voters are CLEARLY irrational. They elected W. … twice.
While I understand the argument that a pro-life candidate is bad for pro-choice (and, by extension, women), I don’t really see how Palin’s candidacy is bad for women in general. Like it or not (or like her or not), it can at least be seen as a step in the right direction for women in politics.
I think you got something wrong. So you are basically saying that ‘perfect’ women as you discribed her shouldn’t be proposed for presidency or vice-presidency?
I think the message is not that things were easy for her success and so other women should also be able to ‘be’ like her. I don’t think this is really the reality. I don’t think things were easy for her. I think the message is rather that, having fought, he knows the hardness women face and all kinds of difficulties they face. And she also know how to overcome them. She is a living message because she is not just proposing a ‘dream’, he have lived the experience, so she can be trusted in her leadership. And having experienced all the difficulties, she know how to make things easy, she knows what to change, what to proposed, what to provide, etc, etc. She knows what she is talking about.
Well….
“Palin%u2019s pro-life stance combined with her personal history subtly reinforces the idea that there is no acceptable excuse for terminating a pregnancy %u2014 that education, healthcare, employment flexibility, and the presence of a reliable spouse or partner are incidental in the decision to have children, and anyway, are available to those who work for them. More specifically, it sends a message to women that if they become pregnant they should have the baby %u2014 regardless of whether they already have 4 children, regardless of whether they have a career they%u2019d like to advance, and regardless of whether they know their baby will have Downs syndrome.”
I think I have just answered the above. But I can suggest a reading I made some time ago. It shows what is really different in the views of those who are pro-life or pro-choice. I think these differance are mostly not noticed:
http://pregnancy.groups.vox.com/library/post/6a00c22524b1158e1d00e398e 5b1d90004.html
Hannah, I’m sorry - you seem to be assuming ALL women see abortion as a right that needs to be defended? Where do you get off making that link? Perhaps feminists - and by extension, liberal women - feel this way. I assure you MOST women emphatically do not.
If Mrs Palin (oops, did you notice she’s married too? I suppose that will be a setback as well…how will you cope) seems a setback to you - perhaps it’s you who are the problem. For the Party of real civil rights (see civil war) and The Party of Lincoln (see Emancipation) she is not an embarrassment. This is the most sexist, one dimensional article I’ve ever read on the subject of women’s rights. Removing abortion from the constitution will not cause it to fail, it will not erase suffrage. It is no more the brick that causes the wall of women’s rights to fall than Obama’s hubris is likely to be “bad” for African Americans!? Hopefully this is not typical of your blogs - there remains something compelling about your writing - but your narrow minded views of what constitutes potential setbacks to women - leaves me feeling a bit disaffected…
…Kind of like how the Democrats treated Hillary and - by extension (love twisting that phrase in) women - when they annointed a, not-as-yet completed, single term senator to LEAD the ticket - while ignoring the more experienced (in every way) woman, or has your hubris caused you to miss that bit of irony, too?
Has it escaped you also that the Democrat ticket, in general, treats people like they are dolts? I mean, talk about making moves solely calculated to look good, yet have no substance to them…
I think it’s a bit confusing how Sarah Palin is supposed to be a perfect socially conservative woman. I agree she’s being touted that way, but does anyone else see the internal contradiction in the GOP promoting her as the first woman VP & this great wife & mother simultaneously? I thought (in their world) a woman’s first duty was *always* to her kids & husband….& this woman leaves her Down’s syndrome baby to go back to her high-powered career? Shuldn’t she still be nursing? Babies with Down’s need a lot of care & support…can she provide that while on the campaign trail day in & day out?
If put in such a position, would she choose to serve her family or her country? I don’t personally believe you have to choose one or the other, I am just arguing from the social conservative stance- you know, women shouldn’t work, they should take care of their kids at home, not send them off to daycare, etc.
Sarah Palin seems like they’re trying to have their cake & eat it, too. Anyone agree?
Nice try Yada, but no. It’s that narrow minded thing you folks have, makes you completely blind to anyone outside your particular persuasion. Your mock concern for Sarah’s family time is too focused an attack. From now on, you shouldn’t ask direct question, you should imply your disdain.
I mean really - would you have asked Golda Meir the same? Perhaps Indira Ghandi? I think at least one of those women were conservative? I think it is you who would keep any woman “in her place” so long as she didn’t agree with you philosophically.
I think the truth is - she scares the daylights out of you! Because I can answer the questions YOU ask of me, but can you answer the questions she asks of you?
Not all women agree that Palin is bad for them. Opinions, such as this, are often presented as facts.
Further, all-inclusive statements are rarely correct. I wonder if some women are jealous of Governor Palin’s accomplishments and angry because she sets the bar so high.
I’m inspired by her ethics, relentlessness in fighting corruption, and courage. I admire her unapologetic declaration of her values of which she clearly lives by.
Frankly, when I look around, I don’t see many other women OR men in private life or public that are willing to stand for what they believe.
I’m a mother of three teens, have worked in the ol’ boys club environments while putting myself through college. I’ve earned two degrees, and am still working hard to break through the glass ceiling. We need more women like her and leaders who aren’t afraid to stand up and fight.
I don’t think people realize that this is a ploy. It doesn’t MATTER if Sarah Palin is a strong woman or what she’s accomplished. I’m sure she’s been through a lot. The problem I have is that she is trying to impose her views, which she is entitled to have, onto the American public. I don’t agree with her views and I believe she is selfish for imposing them on me. I don’t believe in having Sarah Palin, any man, any government, or any other woman for that matter telling me what I should do with my baby and my body.
By McCain choosing her he has said to us that “look women can be conservative too!” I could care less. It doesn’t matter how much they’ve been through and how strong they are. She is being used for her beliefs, which many people do not agree with, and she is being put into a position way too close to the presidency, it makes me nauscous.
I don’t care what conservative reader tries to target my argument, illegalizing abortion will set women back DECADES. Sarah Palin wants this, therefore, she is setting women back. Clear and simple. Not only that, she is setting back the American people and way of life by going against the American law. Does anyone remember Church and State SEPERATE???
Bravo! Exactly my thoughts. Palin is bad for all women of this world. Obama for president!!!!
I don%u2019t understand this country. We have had our society pushed to the brink of destruction for equal rights for women and here we stand, with the possibility of our first woman vice-president. And, oh my goodness%u2026all I hear now is %u201Chow can she be a good mom and be a vice-president of the United States?%u201D. Haven%u2019t feminists screeched for years that a woman can do anything a man can do, and twice as good? Oh, I%u2019m sorry. They meant a liberal woman can do anything a man can do. I smell fear among the liberals, men and women.
I%u2019m so tired of people valuing this rock that we%u2019re inhabiting more than they value the life of an innocent human being who is unable to speak, unable to defend himself and doesn%u2019t have the freedom to exist until he has moved through the portal from inside the womb to outside the womb. I%u2019m tired of hearing people scream about animal cruelty when we won%u2019t even protect our own young. (Don%u2019t get me wrong. I%u2019m not for animal cruelty. But, my goodness, even a mother bear protects her young.) I%u2019m tired of godless people telling me that we are nothing more than the result of a series of happy accidents along an incidental pathway with no consequences attached to what we do and any choice we make is okay as long as we%u2019re happy (except of course to be a Bible believing Christian%u2026because then we must be full of hate and hypocrisy.) I%u2019m tired of hearing that to be progressive I must believe that stem cell research is acceptable and even desirable and fetus farming for that purpose is a must. I%u2019m tired of hearing that it%u2019s impossible for young people to keep themselves pure so let%u2019s just abandon the entire idea and teach them how to be %u201Csafe%u201D. Hearing a strong, empowered woman take the same stand on these issues with me makes me feel better about my country%u2019s future. And that affect is exactly what is so frightening to our liberal friends. They don%u2019t want us to feel empowered, nor do they want to think that there might actually be a lot of us who think, feel and believe the same things that Sarah Palin believes.
It%u2019s amazing how our (conservative) standards are guffawed and laughed at until liberals feel threatened and then they try to turn our standards around and use them. (Like trying to make us think less of Palin because her teen unwed daughter is pregnant. It%u2019s not that liberals think there%u2019s anything wrong with her daughter being pregnant%u2026it%u2019s that liberals think conservatives think there%u2019s something wrong with her daughter being pregnant, and they%u2019re trying to use that.) But you see, what liberals don%u2019t understand is that conservatives are usually understanding of people who have tragic events in their life, who have circumstances that are thrust upon them or who in moments of weakness make the wrong choice. Liberals think that because conservatives have standards, they must be harsh and judgmental of those who don%u2019t measure up to the standards or who fail at times to meet them. Here%u2019s what liberals don%u2019t understand. Conservatives don%u2019t expect anyone to meet the mark everytime. They just don%u2019t think it%u2019s right to totally remove the mark. And that truly is the difference between a conservative and a liberal.
Go Sarah.
You are so wrong it’s incredible Infiniti. You know what’s wrong? To IMPOSE your unproven, silly, hypocritical beliefs unto us “mistaken liberals” who don’t want to hear it. To your point about people valuing the earth, you are contradicting yourself. Well if we didn’t have those damn tree huggers out there fighting for environmental rights, there would be no damn unborn babies for you “conservatives” to put pictures up infront of abortion clinics. I mean god forbid we should neglect the planet and have us go into an ice age so the human race can be wiped out, maybe that’s the better solution. What will God do for us then? OH, right, God has a plan for us, no worries.
Not too many things scare me, honestly. But you are right about one thing, I am threatened by you “conservatives.” What scares me is that they feel the need to impose upon me beliefs about Jesus, God, and beliefs that some book called the Bible tells me is right. It’s a book,that’s right, a BOOK. How would you like it if I became ruler of the world and told you that we all are going to believe in Harry Potter? It’s the new social norm! Harry Potter is REAL. How would you feel? Oh right, haha, Harry Potter is work of the Devil! OH nooo!!!
You know what’s logical? How bout, using one fetus to save THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS of human beings. Don’t you know we are crowding this earth with 6 BILLION people anyway? But no, God says it’s WRONG so don’t kill the fetus, let all these people suffer and die, I forgot, they sinned so let them suffer. How would you feel if you got Parksinson’s disease? Would you kill one fetus to get yourself better? Would you? Why don’t you think logically and get back to me.
You see, it’s not about conservatives standards, I don’t care about their standards, it’s about their beliefs. It’s about logic, what makes sense, and what is BS. Your argument is based on BELIEFS, and just incase you didn’t know, not everybody shares your BELIEFS. But everybody, can be logical, right? Maybe not…
Infiniti, your post scares me. And it’s not because I feel threatened that you may have the upper hand in the matter. It’s simply because there are so many backward-assed people like yourself that manage to f*ck up this world, time and time again. “Go Sarah?” Howbout we take the effort as Americans to think LOGICALLY for once. Having a gun-slinging, ultra-conservative VP to run the country alongside a nearly-dead Republican “war hero” should be enough to outrage the entire nation. Didn’t we learn enough in the past EIGHT years of hell with Bush in office? Or, remind me, are we still looking for WMD?
I refuse to allow any human being, man or woman, the right to control my body. The same goes for anyone who wants to shove the ridiculous notion of RELIGION down my throat. What fairy tales! And you “conservatives” do no justice to your title when it comes to the environment — it’s nearly entirely ravaged. Our next generation of children will have NOTHING left if we allow this deceit to continue. How does that make you feel?