A friend is planning on dressing as Palin for Halloween. She's made a Palin-style suit and is planning on refusing to answer any questions that she is asked, over-stating the name of the person with whom she is talking, and constantly refering to herself as a maverick, hockey mom, and a pitbull with lipstick. She'll also be wearing a homemade button that reads "Just say thanks, but no thanks, on the candidacy to nowhere!"

Oddly enough, she is going to do her best Palin without showing her ass or promoting sexism. Why so many other women (because these things are going to be selling like crazy)are willing to do so is beyond me.

If it doesn't come with the gun, no deal.

Further compounded by the fact that the photo this costume's based on was photoshopped.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/palin.asp

Shoot Genetic Mishap. I was going to say that.

I'm gonna be Palin for Halloween! (Only partially relevant, I know.) I'm focusing on her nuttiness, not using sexism. My costume is going to be "Hunting Palin." I'm wearing camo w/Palin glasses and making Palin bangs w/hair extensions. I'm then gonna pack around a toy moose covered in fake blood (a la Palin's photo w/bloody moose and child) and a toy rifle, all the while babbling her fundamental rhetoric of, "I hunt, but god doesn't want you to kill sperm."

See, rather than attack her for her femininity, we should be attacking her for being a nutty fundy, which I plan to do. I'd like to get my b.f. to dress up as a racist, sexist, mullet-wearing Palin supporter.

Awesome, Tara. My friend will be disappointed that she didn't think of gun-totin' Palin.

something tells me that Sarah Palin isn't going to be upset by this blatant display of sexism...

grumpgirl.blogspot.com

I just can't see anyone wearing clear heels anymore without giggling, thanks to Chris Rock.

Ugh. Not to mention that it falls in the category of super-skimpy pneumonia-inducing Halloween costumes. In LATE OCTOBER. In most of the country, you are NOT trick or treating (or frankly, going anywhere) in that outfit.

That's disgusting. I'm going as Palin as well, but I'll be in a purple suit, wearing a Miss Alaska sash, and carrying a toy shot gun. I'll also be wearing an Obama button because I work for a Democrat up for re-election... and we're canvassing in costume that night!

I'm often horrified for what passes as a costume for women. You know how in Mean Girls it says that Halloween is like an excuse to dress up in lingerie with animal ears...

While it's right up there with sexy nurse/schoolgirl etc, it is grosser that it's based in a real person.

Somehow though, I don't think the GOP minds so much.

Can something be sexist if the intended doesn't have a problem with it?

oh please. Sarah Palin doesn't seem upset by this stuff. You all know she loves this crap. she's one of those Female Chauvinist pigs who wants to look hot for the boys.

barf.

Can something be sexist if the intended doesn't have a problem with it?

Can something be sexist if the intended doesn't have a problem with it?

Yep. Yep it can.

Indeed. Sexism hurts everybody.

Also, you'd have to be insane to pay $59.99 for a cheap bikini, a pair of fake glasses, and a sash.

Maybe they could use that extra money on some grammar schoolin'.

*****
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you will love this sexy but yet funny Sarah Palin Costume.

Main Features

* One patriotic bikini with blue star bottoms and stripped top
*****

Dammit, I ordered a stripped top. Stripped! And what is this? A non-stripped top? God help me, I'm not stripping it myself.

That's predictable but hilarious. It's not sexist, but it is somewhat inaccurate, as Miss Wasilla didn't wear a bikini, either because it was the olden days or because it was Alaska: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSdFIDygFwM

BROWNTRASHPUNK,

Yay Ariel Levy! I am staring at her book right now. It is on my shelf in my office. I Agree that Palin is a FCP

I have a real problem with people assuming Palin would like this.

I mean, during the debate and stuff she blatantly does the whole trying to be cutesy thing, so I guess I wouldn't be totally surprised, but this is still another level up and an assumption.

It kind of reminds me of the time my mom insisted this girl at school who reported to the administration thinking she was sexually harassed by an older man was actually just being ageist, because she's a cheerleader and therefore "obviously likes people looking at her". (The older man was also a friend of my mom's so I know that's why she cared, and the administration mishandled the report, but the way my mom made all these assumptions about this girl she didn't even know scared me. It's not far away on the logic scale from "she was asking for it")

@ AKA: I get your point, but don't think it's assumption. Because most of Palin's life and actions are now in the public eye, there's a lot more to base an opinion on than just "she's a cheerleader" or "she was in a pageant."

Even Ann Landers' daughter, the usually-fairly-mild Margo Howard, called Palin "drunk on media attention" (in the midst of a wonderfully scathing declamation about her conduct) -- and this is definitely attention, which she seemingly craves. What's more, it's flattering: even though the inspiration was Photoshopped, the costume associates Sarah Palin with skimpy American-flag bikinis and beauty pageants.

It doesn't seem out of line to think she'd approve.

So any attractive woman who seeks media attention automatically wants to be seen as a sex object?

Any speculation about whether Palin would approve of the costume is irrelevant anyway. It would still be sexist even if she vocally endorsed it.

Damn, is every feminist in the whole frickin' US going as Palin? Here I thought I was being all clever and stuff. Guess I'll have to go for "naughty schoolgirl" instead :-(

See this isn't sexist to me, you can no more tell a person they have no right to be offended as you can tell them they have to be. I do not think she is offended. You can't be offended for her.

LalaReina, saying that something is offensive is different from saying that a particular person is offended by it. One does not imply the other.

I need to re-read Female Chauvinist Pigs. Sadly, Palin is the making of one.

Ayla-- you could always be "sexy mustard"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4rUiV_Hh74

So any attractive woman who seeks media attention automatically wants to be seen as a sex object?

Posted by Attagrrrl | October 13, 2008 4:52 PM

Any attractive woman who seeks beauty pageant style media attention on her way to becoming Vice President wants to be seen as a sex object. You betcha, sailor *Wink, wink*

I'm torn when it comes to Sarah Palin sexism.

On one hand, I know that sexism is wrong, wrong, wrong.

On the other hand, Palin demonstrates by her policies, personal beliefs and party affiliation that she's not a fan of equality for women-- if she values sexism so much, who are we to deny it to her?

Mind vs. Emotion. Principles vs. Schadenfreude. GUH I CANNOT CHOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DAMN YOU PALIN!

Let us pretend that I wanted to dress as Miss America for Halloween in a swimsuit and sash. Apparently, that is not sexist. Same thing would apply if I wanted to go as Pam Anderson in full Baywatch garb. I would simply be mimicking their actions.

However, if I want to dress as Sarah Palin during in her beauty pageant years then that is suddenly sexist?

The McCain campaign has used the fact that she was a beauty pageant contestant as a positive. This woman seems to think that parading one’s self across a stage in an evening gown or swimsuit to further her education, social status, or career is a commendable thing, which is fine and dandy.

I do not think that this is sexist. I think it is just imitating the actions of Sarah Palin for some good ‘ole Halloween fun.

Offensiveness if subjective. I just happen to think that is it tacky in the same way that an ugly Obama or Hilary Clinton mask would be.

I would like to refine my "something tells me that Sarah Palin isn't going to be upset by this blatant display of sexism..." comment.

I don't think she or any woman deserves to be seen as a sex object. However, noting that Palin probably wouldn't have a problem with it is worthy of comment and/or discussion.

Why? because it means that she doesn't have a problem with sexism. if she did, she wouldn't make women pay for rape kits, be against a woman's right to choose what's best for her life even in the cases of rape, wouldn't misquote feminists or blatantly say that women should vote for her just because we have the same sex organs. women can be sexist, too, and the fact that she could have the second most powerful job scares the shit out of me.

grumpgirl.blogspot.com

Someone just compared Palin's winking as evidence that she wants to be seen as a sex object. Does anyone else see a problem with this?

She may want to be found attractive, and charming. Plenty of male politicians do the same kind of stuff. That's still different than wanting to be shown in a bikini...

I'm really disappointed with some of the comments here. Why would you assume that just because someone is a former pageant contestant that they automatically want to be objectified.

My comment isn't aimed at everyone just at people who share BROWNTRASHPUNK's opinion.

metabonbon- you win.

bethmar10, I think people see it as sexist because they're taking one aspect of her, one activity she participated in during one phase of her life, and making it represent her or be the most important thing about her. When you're the vp candidate, your appearance and sex appeal are no longer the most important things about you, even if in the past you acted as if they were. Regardless of her behavior in the past, this costume seems to suggest that they are. So that's kind of sexist, but in such a common and everyday way that it's hard to muster up much resentment. For me, anyway.

Someone just compared Palin's winking as evidence that she wants to be seen as a sex object. Does anyone else see a problem with this?
She may want to be found attractive, and charming. Plenty of male politicians do the same kind of stuff. That's still different than wanting to be shown in a bikini...
Posted by a.k.a. Ninapendamaishi | October 13, 2008 10:04 PM

You know that she used to compete in a swimsuit with other women in swimsuits over who could make the best sex object of herself, right?

When you're the vp candidate, your appearance and sex appeal are no longer the most important things about you, even if in the past you acted as if they were.
Posted by Rachel_in_WY | October 13, 2008 11:42 PM

You know who you should tell that to? Gov. Palin.

aleks,

I competed in a pageant once. I am as feminist as they come... I hated the swimsuit portion. But, plenty of girls do it for money. Plenty of people like the glamour. People are multidimensional, you know? I have a little sister who acts "cutesy" a lot for attention. It annoys me. But, you know what else? She's smart as heck... and doesn't like being sexually objectified. Once again, people are multidimensional.

You know who you should tell that to? Gov. Palin.
Posted by aleks | October 14, 2008 1:31 AM

And everyone who thinks this kind of thing is appropriate. The mere fact that a woman is aware that she's attractive and tries to use it to her advantage does not excuse blatant sexism on everyone else's part. Sexism is sexism no matter who it's coming from.

aleks,

I competed in a pageant once. I am as feminist as they come... I hated the swimsuit portion. But, plenty of girls do it for money. Plenty of people like the glamour. People are multidimensional, you know? I have a little sister who acts "cutesy" a lot for attention. It annoys me. But, you know what else? She's smart as heck... and doesn't like being sexually objectified. Once again, people are multidimensional.
Posted by a.k.a. Ninapendamaishi | October 15, 2008 12:19 PM

I hope that if either of you ever run for Vice President that you'll treat that competition in a different way than you did your beauty pageant. Palin hasn't. She doesn't seem to see the difference.

I am thinking the same thing...take a look at the advice on modernjackassmagasin

Hilarious!

http://modernjackassmag.com/2008/10/17/sexy-sarah-palin-costume/

@ AgnesScottie, i just looked through the portfolio pictures of celebs. i knew magazines were re touched but i didnt know it was to this extent. its ridiculous.

and also, if the republicans were so sure that sarah palin is an excellent candidate to represent their party in the white house, why in the hell would it matter what she looked like? it just seems so simple. what does a persons colour/appearance/visible pores and facial hair have to do with a candidates ability to create successful and just policies that help america.

im amazed at the stupidty and sheer superficiality

I'm appalled at how many feminists think that their ideals don't apply to Palin. It's one thing to talk about her misogynistic political views. But in trashing her as a "beauty queen," we're trashing every disadvantaged young woman who tried for scholarship money in this venue. In fact, Palin said in an interview on a women's show a couple of years ago that she was embarrassed by the pageant episode and had only entered because there weren't many athletic scholarships for female athletes.

I'm also disturbed over the fact that for every woman who makes sexist comments about Palin, there's a group of men who repeat the comment saying, I'm not sexist, I'm just repeating what a woman said.

Working your stuff for scholarship money =/ doing it to be elected VP. It's terrifying that people from Palin on down can't see the difference.

I've never seen Sarah Palin in a bikini...

Fiend,
Back in her day they wore frumpy full swimsuits.