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My plan was not to write about politics today, as much ink has already been spilled on the topic and there is ever more to come. However, last night, after watching Gov. Sarah Palin's well delivered speech at the Republican convention, one of the many talking heads looked right at me through my new HDTV asked why feminists are not defending Gov. Palin against sexist attacks by the (mythical) "liberal media" that is out to destroy her. This is one of the few times I've laughed my head off because we are right here. I know that it would be annoying for a comfortable conservative commentator to bother to read any blogs written by feminists, but even a cursory stop at BlogHer would reveal much feminist defending of Palin in the hundreds of comments that have been left on the site.
Even beyond BlogHer, which is a nonpartisan organization, "traditional" feminist blogs have posted about their disgust at sexist attacks on Palin herself, rather than the issues. In the UK, The F Word has a lively discussion on the situation and how feminists are doing their part. At GlobalComment, Renee Martin points to multiple early feminist responses to how people react to Palin:
Sarah Palin has been on the national stage for less than twenty-four hours and already feminists are rushing to her defence. The rallying cry of the day is, attack the issues not the woman. Shakesville, Feministe, Alas, a blog, and Feministing all have posts attacking the media for its willingness to reduce the Governor based in obvious anti-woman rhetoric and misogyny. Many other feminist blogs have today issued the same sort of rallying statement, whether or not they agree with Palin’s political leanings. Melissa at Shakesville states, “I will defend Sarah Palin against misogynist smears not because I like or support her, but because that’s how feminism works.”
Martin goes on to note that feminists, for the most part, did/do not rally around Michelle Obama with the same force. (Ironic that none of the talking heads seems to care about that, though...)
Verite Parlant at Whose shoes are these anyway? looks at the flip side of the coin, asking whether those who launch sexist attacks on Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton are using sexism against Palin as a diversion from the real issues:
In addition, Republicans idolize a misogynistic candidate [McCain referred to his wife as a "cunt" when speaking with reporters] yet call others sexist who ask legitimate questions about Palin's record and credentials. If you suggest Palin's a puppet, mouthing a speech that was posted in advance, then of course you only think that because she's a woman, right? As though men have never been accused of being pawns and puppets. Republicans are attempting to label people who don't like Palin as sexist, while they refer to this VP nominee as "cute" and "hot."
Yes, I've got issues with Palin, but I guarantee you my concerns about her being on the ticket have nothing to do with either her womanhood or motherhood or her daughter's pregnancy. I've got issues because the entire nomination smacks of hypocrisy and she's carrying enough baggage (Trooper Gate and more) to be the sister line of a slow train to Arkansas.
I agree with Melissa at Shakesville that it is critical to call out actual misogynist attacks (as opposed to those that are labeled offensive for merely asking a question one would ask of any political candidate) on Palin "because that's how feminism works," but the whole situation is lose-lose for women who care about equal rights and self-autonomy. Allowing the media and the public (including women, who have been lobbing some of the fiercest criticism out there) to continue unfettered attacks on a woman for choosing to run for office at the expense of her family creates a hostile environment for all women whose decisions are not traditional. At the same time, defending Palin means that feminists are helping a woman who, if elected, will take away our rights. She tried to ban books that she disagreed with while she was mayor; she believes that all abortion should be illegal unless the mother is in imminent danger of death; she supports abstinence-only education; and on and on. Further, it is hard to defend Palin against some of the attacks made against her as a woman because she pushes traditional "family values" as an issue. I
