Newsweek: Sarah Palin Should Be Able to Call Herself a Feminist

[steve2470]

Please critique this, thanks.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/20/why-sarah-palin-should-be-able-to-call-herself-a-feminist.html

The fact that Sarah Palin wants to call herself a feminist is astonishing. It’s not that she is conservative—there have been plenty of conservative, eccentric, and outlier feminists in history. It’s that it has been such an unloved, if proud, term for so long that it is odd to watch it being fought over, as though it were a political asset and not something women used to have to pretend not to be so they didn’t upset any voters.

Yet the sight of the pro-life Sister Sarah has outraged many pro-choice women, or those who disagree with her politically. Emily’s List has been running a campaign called “Sarah Doesn’t Speak for Me.” When Palin called her feminist critics a “cackle of rads” who had hijacked the word “feminist” because they “want to crucify other women w/ whom they disagree on a singular issue” (abortion), her phrasing was instantly leapt upon as evidence of her ignorance. It’s a gaggle, not a cackle, some cried, even though this word is usually used for geese. But this phrase may have revealed a certain cleverness: it was a wonderfully visual, condescending putdown, reminiscent of scheming, ugly witches.

Even if feminists are just those who seek a better life for all women. Palin clearly delights in needling leftist women—but her intent is serious: she wants female votes. And this is why the question remains: can Sarah Palin call herself a feminist? Here’s six reasons I think she should be able to:

Even if feminists are just those who seek a better life for all women. Palin clearly delights in needling leftist women—but her intent is serious: she wants female votes. And this is why the question remains: can Sarah Palin call herself a feminist? Here’s six reasons I think she should be able to:

1. Because, let’s be honest, feminism is a broad church. The history of feminism is a history of conflict, often vitriolic debate, and decades-long feuds over who can wear the mantle of true believer. A brief glance at history shows us that there are many different kinds of feminism—from traditionalists to radical extremists—even though American feminism has been dominated for three decades by the divisive, bitter question of reproductive rights. Yes, the right to control your own body is a key, crucial plank of feminist thought today, underpinned by the independence, autonomy, and rights of women. But it is not the only plank.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Feminism is about the right to determine your own path as a woman. Anyone who

would not allow you to make your own decisions about your body can't be a feminist because it violates the self-determination rule. :shrug:

[XOKCowboy]

2. Who wrote that trash? No wonder Newsweek is dying.

I gave up mid 3rd point. It was like Sarah was writing it herself!

[steve2470]

3. Julia Baird, a Deputy Editor

http://www.newsweek.com/authors/julia-baird.html

[Warpy]

4. Palin wants to use everything feminists fought for

in order to strip those rights from all other women. That's the difference, right there.

Oh, well, Newsweek has gotten away with calling itself a news magazine. I guess labels don't matter at all to anyone on the far right.

In any case, that screeching harpy isn't fooling many of us. Working women, especially, can see right through her to the conniving office bitch* who sleeps or schmoozes her way into a top job and can't do it when she gets it and dumps the work on everybody she stepped on, resentful of their ability to do her work and sabotaging them at every opportunity. She usually takes a "better" offer just about the time management starts to wake the hell up, leaving piss poor morale and a damaged office in her wake.

She's a self absorbed climber and women know her spiked heel shoe prints will be all over their backs if they give her an inch. She can forget the women's vote. We know who and what she is.

*Sometimes you really do need to identify certain members of the right wing kennel.

[steve2470]

8. Well said, thanks !! nt

[riderinthestorm]

9. While a lot of what you say is true, I believe she doesn't want to strip ALL rights from other women

She has a powerful brand: the "Mama Grizzlies". These are not women who are looking to disenfranchise other women. They may be mean, ugly, hard-core political/office bitches but I don't discount their effectiveness - politically or in business.

I don't like it but it's been working as a meme in conservative circles. Sarah's been busy behind the scenes creating her own brand outside the Rethug fold imho.

[ThomCat]

15. Right. She is SUCH a feminist that she has to be allowed

to destroy everything feminism has fought for. Only she and a select group of other wealthy, conservative women are entitled to the advances feminism fought for, and they can dismantle them for everyone else.

Anyone who thinks that is feminism, and she is a feminist, has a shallow, short-sighted view of feminism. :(

[malaise]

22. Ding ding

We have a winner. The only way Lady Blah Blah is a feminist is if the concept has been turned on its head.

[lpbk2713]

5. Failin is just a common opportunist.

And not even a good one at that.

She will say she is for any cause that will sell her clumsy ghost-written
books and fill up the seats at her carbon copy speaking engagements.

[riderinthestorm]

6. As a feminist, I'd call Palin a fellow feminist.

But in the Phyllis Schafly model. She's clearly a motivator, a working mom, a pro-woman supporter. I vehemently disagree with her politics and her position but if we only define ourselves as "feminists" because we are pro-choice than we are missing the elements of Palin's brand of "feminism" that clearly empowers women.

I like this from the article:

"6. Because Democrats need to lift their game. The challenge for Democrats is to stop ridiculing Palin and start trying to outsmart her with their own rhetoric. A recent Harris Poll found that 63 percent of Americans think the U.S. has a long way to go before reaching equality. Seven in 10 believe women are paid less than men for equal work. How will Democrats brand their own hordes of politically active women? How will they get more of them elected, and convince female voters they are best equipped to tackle the remaining obstacles to equality? Or the economy? An examination of the way women have voted over the past century tells us they may cheer on female candidates, but when it comes to the ballot box, they’ll be thinking of the economy.

Love or loathe her, Palin has unleashed this debate, so let’s have it—“cackles of rads,” Mama Grizzlies—all those who claim to support the equality of women, not just the appearance of it. Game on."

Sarah Palin is co-opting many feminist memes and distorting them to her own brand. I don't like it. In fact, I hate it but lib/Dem/feminist women aren't fighting back with any of their own "updates".

I've said all along that Sarah Palin is dangerous. This article has a lot to think about in terms of why I believe she is - she's very politically savvy. Not smart. Just politically savvy.

[katandmoon]

7. From the comments: "Sarah Palin doesn't have 'guts and charisma'. She has a PR company....

This has to be the shallowest, most patently ridiculous thing I've ever read in this publication." ~ Elizabeth Ferrari

DITTO.

[Contrary1]

10. "...it was a wonderfully visual, condescending putdown, reminiscent of scheming, ugly witches."

If you say so Newsweek, it must be true. :eyes:

[bettyellen]

23. lets praise her inability to sort out verbs and nouns because pushing buttons trumps meaning

[REP]

11. She can call herself Marie, Queen of Romania as well - neither will be correct

[3waygeek]

13. That may be...

but I don't think anyone will argue that she is Queen of Morania.

[Dawson Leery]

12. She is anti-choice, anti-equal pay, anti-free will

Sarah Palin is no feminist.

[deacon]

14. She can call herself anything she wants. I prefer "asshole." n/t

[Scuba]

16. Sarah Palin is a "feminist", Newsweek is a "news" publication, and ...

...compassionate conservatives are "compassionate".

Freedom of speech makes it legal to lie.

[Orsino]

17. I Should Be Able to Call Julia Baird a Liar.

Sarah Palin is the lipstick on the same old pig, and an honest, competent journalist would acknowledge that she is very nearly the opposite of feminism.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I don't care what she calls herself; I am going to call her an idiot

[sendero]

19. I can call myself a superhero..

... does't make it true.

[madrchsod]

20. there is`t a progressive thought in her tiny little brain

to think she could or should be included in the writers "big church' is absurd. i guess the author did`t have anything better to do when she wrote this crap.

[tanyev]

21. She's certainly got the cackling part down pat.