SubscribeNow here is Sarah Palin, plucked from the obscurity of the Alaskan political scene and swept into a presidential race that will take up page after page in history books for centuries to come. During the race she will be shredded in interviews with national media outlets because she is not prepared.
She will be being treated like a delicate flower by the McCain campaign. In fact she will have “handlers” as if she were an animal. She will be rigorously coached so she can give educated answers to questions aboutthe constitutional role of the Vice President andThe Bush Doctrine. A school girl getting told where to sit, what to say.
If you asked her, of course, she would say she felt like a victim of sexism. She’s right about that. But she won't list the reasons I just listed above because her handlers would not approve. She hasn't even shown any outrage at news stations casually reporting that there are now stripper contests for Palin look a likes in Las Vegas. There is absolutely a lack of respect for Palin because she is attractive. The Internet is flooded with doctored photos of Palin in Bikinis, ”mini skirts, sometimes naked in compromising position with McCain. If she was outraged, we wouldn't know. The GOP can't have this pretty Chrisitan, belle in a skirt and heels getting an opinion of her own or voicing her anger... or any emotion, really, except fear of terrorists.
Why aren’t more women outraged? Maybe it’s because this is a display of a very old and ongoing double standard. Consider this: Obama is an attractive guy. Why aren’t there doctored photos in him in his skivvies online? Where are the Obama stripper look-a-like contests? These are the degrading sexist marks that every woman, including Palin have to face. The question is, how does each woman handle it?
Palin knows she is a victim, though. In fact, that's part of her role in this race. To be a victim. McCain can now take the existence of sexism and work it in his favor. When people imply that she shouldn’t run for VP because she has to take care of her kids, the McCain camp and scream "Sexism!". When reports come out about Palins wardrobe nad how much her makup costs, they can screams "sexism!" And all rightfully so. But there's one little problem: You can't really make an airtight argument against sexism when you, yourself are sexist.
Perhaps the very worst part of all of this is that Sarah Palin is not a feminist. If she were, she would have a problem with being “handled” and she certainly would not allow McCain to speak for her. She would be livid at the way her looks seems to be a dominating facet of her character.
So Palin is right when she says she is a victim of sexism. But it’s a hard argument to make if you, yourself, don’t become the aggressor and continue playing victim. To become the powerful woman whose voice and opinions are fully respected you have to first stop being a puppet. She should know. Running for governor as a woman in a conservative state like Alaska is no walk in the park.
Hillary Clinton was a victim of sexism as well. But how did she handle it? As the Huffington Post'sBen Smith writes:
Hillary Clinton always walked a very careful line on portraying herself as a victim, attempting never to let that get in the way of her perceived strength as she built a commander-in-chief persona. The McCain campaign is dwelling on Palin's victimhood, a new chapter in the short history of women in presidential politics.
We have to face the facts: Palin is a puppet for the GOP. Palin is not in control in this campaign. Her voice is muffled by men (and women) all around her who are going to make sure she knows her place as a woman: In heels and a skirt being told what to do and when to do it. And when she does ANYTHING on her own without the approval of her “handlers” it’s to the shock and awe of media. I haven’t heard anything about Joe Biden “breaking away” from his handlers.
The fact is, while any other candidate has advisors, Palin has handler. Palin has become known for her looks and her years as a beauty queen. That’s not the role model women need. It’s not Palin’s fault that she's being treated this way.
What is her fault is that she's not standing up and taking on the challenges that every career woman must face: Male dominance and the objectification of women. Instead she has become a weakened victim who makes world news when she actually speaks for herself. Why aren’t more people, including Palin, outraged?
