Results matching “palin sexism watch”

Dave Letterman made a bad joke. Here is him talking about it.

Whoops, bad joke and a PR fail as he will lose to the angry antis that are ready to cry sexism on their ideal future of feminism, her majesty Ms. Palin. Yes, I think it is funny that people who clearly do not support full human rights for women, decry sexist jokes. That said, his jokes were in bad taste at best. Megan at Jezebel writes,

David Letterman's "jokes" about Palin's daughters -- which, as Rachel Sklar pointed out today, Barack Obama suggested people stop doing last September -- struck me last week as pathetic and gross. Just because he said it was supposedly about Bristol -- you know, 'cause she's obviously "slutty" or something -- doesn't make it ok. Just because you don't like Sarah Palin or think she's using it to score political points with her base doesn't excuse the jokes in retrospect. On this point, Anna and I vociferously disagree -- I think it's pretty easy to defend Sarah Palin because I don't want those jokes told about the Obama girls; because I've commented repeatedly on how shitty it was when Rush Limbaugh and John McCain made them about Chelsea Clinton; and because I come from a family and a background where you just don't stand for people insulting your family or your friends. Maybe she's playing it up -- she is, after all, a politician and every politician is going to try for a homer on an easy pitch like Letterman handed her -- and maybe she's pissed (the fact that Todd Palin said anything after months of basically being told to keep his trap shut is, to me, telling) that Letterman went there, sexually with her daughters. Either way, I still think it's gross and indefensible.

I have no problem saying that Sarah Palin is a jerk because of her politics, yet I don't think it is OK to make sexist jokes about her or her daughters. Amanda Hess does a good job deconstructing the following debate between Huffington Post's Katharine Zaleski and the Washington Times' Amanda Carpenter discussing Letterman's joke.

Letterman apologized last night and while I think Letterman's jokes were in poor taste, let's not forget that Palin's actual stance that has been legislated and made into policy is far worse. Does this make joking about her or her daughters OK? Definitely not. But watching those two women duke it out, I think it is so interesting listening to conservative women use feminist talking points. It is smart and calculated and plays so well into the often rudimentary understanding Americans have about the fight for women's rights.

We've received a ton of reader mail (and public requests) over the course of the past week asking us to blog about an article that appeared on Playboy's website about conservative women they'd "like to hate-f*ck." Several people have asked us write about it to "prove" we are against sexism and hatespeech directed at all women, regardless of their ideological orientation. Others are saying that, because we haven't blogged about this one article, which has since been taken down, we are ok with sexism directed at conservative women.

And I'm getting annoyed. Because this sounds really familiar. During the presidential campaign (and long after) conservatives liked to invent a narrative in which feminists did not decry sexism directed at Sarah Palin. These poor souls are all apparently unable to use The Google. Because if they were, they would have turned up:

Sarah Palin Sexism Watch: O'Reilly Edition
Palin Sexism Watch: Proud Uncle McCain Edition
Palin Sexism Watch: C-Word Edition
Palin Sexism Watch: Sex Doll Edition
Sarah Palin Sexism Watch: Halloween Costume Edition
Palin Sexism Watch: Sexist Stereotypes Edition
Sarah Palin Sexism Watch: Schoolgirl action-figure edition
Sarah Palin Sexism Watch: Skirt-wearing, SexyMom edition
Palin Sexism Watch: VPILF Edition

And there's more -- including a recent post calling out the misogyny against Miss California Carrie Prejean.

What I find almost laughable is that most of the conservatives who have said, "HA! See? Feministing doesn't care about that Playboy article, and therefore all feminists are hypocrites!" are not folks who normally give two shits about sexism. They only care about this article because they think it's a "gotcha" moment.

The real reason I, personally, have chosen not to blog about the Playboy article (or the follow-up on a right-wing blog titled "liberals we'd like to hate-f*ck") is the same reason I choose not to write about every offensive thing published in Maxim or on many other sites that are repeatedly, link-baitingly sexist: because I (or any number of feminists) am not going to change the very editorial mission of these publications. My writing about how fundamentally screwed up an article is will not lead to more feminist or less sexist content in Playboy in the future. It will just give them many more hits. I'd rather spend my time calling out widespread media narratives that are sexist (i.e. Palin is a "VPILF") and trying to change them.

If you didn't see our last post on Courtney taking on Bill O'Reilly, here's the short version: O'Reilly called C a hypocrite for taking him to task for sexist comments against Helen Thomas while not defending Sarah Palin back in the day. (Uh, yeah.)

Wait for the last sentence of the segment: "You did not defend [Sarah Palin] in public and if you can show me where you did - tomorrow I will apologize to you."

Not only did Courtney write about sexism against Palin, she called O'Reilly himself out for it!

Well, Bill - we'll be watching with bated breath tonight!

New York judges can no longer bar people from changing their name to one that matches "the other gender."

Obama will reportedly push for ratification of the women's equal-rights treaty known as CEDAW, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Check out Sociological Images' series of posts on people of color in advertising.

On the high rate of cervical cancer in Nicaragua.

New media: Gawker lays off its lone female employee. Old media: Meet the Press will again be hosted by... a white dude. Totally shocking.

In Maine, the Senate president, House speaker, and attorney general are all women.

The Vatican still considers gay people criminals.

Shark-Fu on the conservative definition of "life" and "family."

Jessica Yee on native youth and the power and importance of native land.

Who was overlooked in the '100 Greatest Movie Characters' list? Women.

Obama's speechwriter and the "boys will be boys" defense of sexism.

Krista at Muslimah Media Watch on a truly bizarre fundraiser for Afghan women: the wine-bottle burqa. Just... wow.

How the child marriage rate in Nigeria relates to the prevalence of obstetric fistula.

Good ol' boy Bill O'Reilly was on The View yesterday and, in addition to being generally offensive and irritating, he also said the following in response to this seemingly innocuous question: "Why won't Sarah Palin come on your program?"

I don't know. I want her to come in. I have outfits she can wear.

See the clip for yourself below:

*Taking a tip out of a 1970s anti-feminist rule book, Bill also recommends that Joy Behar "lighten up" about politics. Yeah, why can't she just see it as one big, melodramatic performance with no consequences like he does? It makes for great ratings.

I'm proud of her...And I can't tell how proud I am of her and her family.Her husband's a pretty tough guy, by the way, too.

Yup, that's the Republican presidential candidate talking about his running mate, Sarah Palin, last night in the third and final debate. I was pretty horrified that, number one, he seems to feel that it is necessary to articulate how proud he is of Governor Palin, as if she were his niece not his equal. But what was even more shocking was that, in answer to Bob Schieffer's great question, "Why would the country be better off if your running mate became president rather than his running mate?", Senator McCain felt the need to end by invoking Palin's husband.

Did you hear Obama say anything about Senator Biden's wife, as reassurance that Biden will have help in the White House from a big, strong lady? If I were Palin, I'd be pissed.

So apparently a group of people who are anti-McCain/Palin showed up at a rally wearing these shirts:

Not exactly a new approach to "political discourse" about a female candidate. Sigh.

One of the shirt's creators emailed Politico's Ben Smith (Emphasis mine.):

I personally am a registered Libertarian, supporting Obama this year. Palin is the last woman I want to hold a political office right now. Her lack of common sense, cruel treatment to animals, and just plain ignorance to what we (Americans, and even women) really care about is absolutely frustrating. The point of wearing the shirt to me is just a bold way of saying that she certainly is not liked or one of "us." To play the gender card is irrelevant, because I am a woman who wears the tshirt anyway.

Whoa whoa whoa. The claim that "I'm a woman, therefore it's okay for me to use anti-woman hatespeech" is ridiculous. There are plenty of civil ways to state your beliefs about Palin and her politics -- and note that she does not represent all women or what's best for them -- without resorting to sexism. And no, just because McCain reportedly used this word to describe women doesn't justify McCain's opponents using it.

You know, it's one thing for gag-gift companies (and other folks who don't appear to give a damn about the outcome of the election) to create sexist products about Palin. I'm obviously against it. But it's all the more maddening to me when I see self-identified Obama supporters pulling this shit. Please stop. You're just making it harder for everyone who opposes Palin because of her stance on the issues.

(Oh, and a sidenote: Melissa has noted that, though the shirts are detestable, she's chosen not to cover this because "It was a publicity stunt, and I'm not inclined to give them any more attention." I get that. But I have to believe that a lot of the sexist incidents regarding both Hillary Clinton and Palin were, at their core, publicity stunts. And I see no reason to stop calling it out, even when it's designed to bring attention to the idiots behind it. Also, the right-wing is going to claim (accurately) that Palin has faced sexism and (inaccurately) that the left was silent about it -- so I'll admit to feeling an obligation to call out these t-shirts.)

Seems like there's plenty of Palin-sexism to watch out for these days. This latest one, however, may take the misogyny cake.

From The Frisky:

Created by adult product purveyors Topco, the Sarah Palin blowup doll is known as the "This is NOT Sarah Palin Inflatable Love Doll." Featuring a busty, conservatively dressed Palin lookalike, the box cover promises: "Cross party lines with your own inflatable running mate!" The political love doll's suggested uses include: "Blow her up and show her how you're going to vote," "Let her pound your gavel over and over," and "It's time some male interns caused a scandal in the Capitol."

So disgusting.

We all knew this one was coming. (And I don't doubt this is just the beginning for the holiday.)

h/t to Erin.

There's a new documentary out about women and creativity.

Lynda Carter says Palin is no Wonder Woman.

A school bars males students from wearing makeup. (File under: Patriarchy hurts men, too.)

Yesterday was Coming Out Day! The Bilerico Project has a great series of coming-out posts. And Wanda Sykes has a great little ad on why saying "that's so gay" is insulting.

Nezua on politicians "microtargeting" Latino voters, while at the same time neglecting the big picture: "And as if the fluffed-up bios are somehow a substitute for staking out a position and promising action on issues integral to community and family and the health of children, such as immigration? Feel the pride."

The NYT profiles Queen Latifah.

Asylum for women fleeing domestic violence is in jeopardy.

Palin Sexism Watch: Lipliner edition. (Ditto for hairstyles.)

Carmen wrote an open letter to white voters.

What happens if the anti-choice ballot initiatives pass in South Dakota and Colorado?

"Hair and makeup is killing female hip-hop," says a source. "The grooming cost to break a female rapper versus a male rapper is 10 times as much per appearance. That tends to have an adverse effect on a record company's willingness to even entertain a female rapper."

More "isn't breast cancer sexy?" advertising.

On the invisibility of Muslim women.

MzBitca has an interesting post on "feminist dealbreakers" -- exploring the question of how we discuss feminist statements and actions coming from a person who hasn't historically been a feminist or ally.

Chicago is considering opening a gay-friendly high school.

Check out the Black Masculinity Project. And ?uestlove's thoughts on the daily life of a large black man.

On Michelle Obama's hair. (Shark-Fu has more.)

Actions

Participate in a survey about street harassment.

The Native American Task Force of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families needs your donation to help mobilize Native American communities against the proposed abortion ban. (Link leads to a few other events and actions as well!)

Events

Chicago, IL: Free screening of Quinceanera. Monday 10/13.

NYC: This Is What Women Want Pre-Debate Speakout! Tuesday 10/14 in Long Island City, Queens. Free! Featuring Kate Bornstein, Kety Esquivel, Shelby Knox, Maegan "la Mala" Ortiz, Betsy Reed, Amy Richards, Luz Rodriguez, Deborah Siegel, Carmen Van Kerkhove and others.

You might disagree with me for linking to a piece called, "Never trust a big butt and a smile-in politics," in discussing Sarah Palin. An obvious reference to a classic Bel Biv Devoe track that had me dancing (even as recent as my 30th birthday), but also a potentially sexist statement about women that are good looking but trouble. You know, Sirens. And we have discussed before how to negotiate our feminism with music that we like but recognize is sexist, but that is not the point of this post.

Davey D, the author of this blog, is a leader in hip-hop political writing and although I have frequently disagreed with him, I thought this post had some really valid points. What I found interesting about his piece was not his invoking of Bel Biv Devoe, but the argument he makes about how Palin is considered "hot" by old white men, therefore swaying them to vote for her and how most women he has met think she is full of shit. He says,

However a lot of men, especially older men see her as hot. She's a fantasy come to life. She's the naughty librarian 'MILF' who they'd love to get with. This manifest itself in the form of male talk show hosts giving her a pass. Many actually spend valuable time talking about her looks and small time stuff and not her scary politics. It manifest itself in people actually giving John McCain props for picking such a nice 'looking babe' versus's focusing on his shortcomings. It sort of like him having a trophy wife. Except this one will have serious impact on US policy. It manifest itself in male producers who are behind the scenes spending time editing film and audio tape giving her a favorable look as she is a welcome break from the daily onslaught of old wrinkly white males who they are usually editing.

A new study looked at workplace-transition experiences of transgender people "to provide new insights into the long-standing question of what role gender plays in shaping workplace outcomes."

Congress is considering the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, and has a chance to really improve this legislation. And on a related note, a new report shows major gaps in sex-trafficking enforcement.

Australia's new governor-general -- who happens to be a woman -- has been denied access to some of the country's most exclusive clubs, because of her gender.

Equal pay? Not yet. But at least we're gaining ground in other important areas. (Sarcasm, people, sarcasm.)

An Alburquerque high-school yearbook staff has pissed off some Christian conservatives by daring to acknowledge that gay students attend their school. For real, the headline reads, "Clovis High School Yearbook Features Gays." Who do these gay students think they are, wanted to be included in their school yearbook?

A great op-ed from the Baltimore Sun: "What do families of children with disabilities need from the next president? Not just a 'friend' in the White House but a willingness to pay for services they need"

Low-income women continue to lose ground, while Wall Street gets a bailout.

The 65th Carnival of Feminists!

It is so interesting how many headlines are discussing the role of the "women's vote" in this election, as though it has never been a concern before that half the population has a brain, cares about politics and makes decisions that are thought out. I suppose we can thank the media obsession with identity politics throughout the coverage of this election for the constant over stimulation of how "women" are going to be voting. And be thankful that Hillary ran for office, bringing gender into politics in a new way. But it is important to remember, when the media says women, it is assuming white women as a voter bloc and their voting behavior. I have yet to see any substantial data breaking "women" down by race, class and/or sexuality. I probably haven't looked hard enough either, so please put links in comments.

My point being according to the latest poll I see (from Lifetime: Every Woman Counts) women are split McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. The findings are intense:

In a Dramatic Reversal Since Late July, McCain/Palin Now Virtually Tied With Obama/Biden on Who Best Understands Women -

-- Governor Sarah Palin Pick: Solidifying Factor for Republican Women, Compelling to 55-64 Year-Olds and Married Moms, but Others Divided --

-- Nearly Three-Quarters of Clinton Supporters Have Gone Home to Obama, but Still 23% Said They'll Vote for McCain --

-- Majority of Women Believe Senator Clinton and Governor Palin Have Been Treated Fairly in the Media Coverage of the Race, but Two-Fifths Say Sexism Persists and Is Worse for Palin --

I think I have been in some kind of denial, but the polls are in fact scaring me. The voter bloc that I am not part of, even though I am a woman, is scaring me. I am constantly talking to my friends about the new Republican obsession with the "vagina vote" is dismissive, ignorant and untrue, but I am starting to realize there is some truth to it and I think we must take ourselves up with the task that much more about why the Palin/McCain ticket would be bad for the rights of women.

I am with Michele Obama, that I think it is the youth vote is going to be the key in this election. Potentially, us, young women, who I am finding are overwhelming going to support the Obama/Biden ticket. So now I am going to tell myself that they didn't take the Lifetime poll, which I think is pretty accurate.

Update: This poll is from last week so for a more updated look at the stats check here where Obama is up by about 5 points over McCain. Thanks to brklyngrl for the heads up.

Concerned Women for America, a conservative anti-feminist organization, released a statement recently calling on the media to "stop bullying" Sarah Palin:

"In its continuing game of 'gotcha' journalism and the 'politics of personal destruction,' the mainstream media (MSM) and celebrity reporters are piling on Sarah Palin," said, Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, political commentator for CWALAC. "The personal attacks have reached unprecedented pettiness and hypocrisy. Even former journalistic giants (like the Washington Post and New York Times) are engaging in tabloid-like sensationalism and printing vicious distortions about her life, faith, experience and family. Even feminists -- who supposedly promote women's equality and the so-called 'women's rights' agenda -- are questioning a female candidate's ability to get the job done. It's past time for the bullying to stop!" (Emphasis mine)

Wow, Crouse sure is riled up about sexism! She must have been livid about the misogynist attacks against Sen. Hillary Clinton, right? Well...not so much. Check out what Crouse said about Sen. Clinton's DNC speech just last month:

Mrs. Clinton arrived to great fanfare. She had on a flashy orange-gold pants suit. She has been on Weight Watchers' diet program and looked fit. Her less-wrinkled, 60-year-old face prompted speculation that she was botoxed for prime time. The audience was a sea of white placards with the distinctive Hillary signature. Many of her supporters were teary-eyed with what might have been, while the clinched jaws of others revealed their unwillingness to accept defeat.

Stay classy, anti-feminists!

Yet another installment of Palin Sexism Watch.

Sigh. Not good.

(More here.)

For the record, asking questions about Sarah Palin's record, experience, or policy positions is NOT sexist. But selling/wearing T-shirts with designs like this certainly is:

The real sexism against Palin, like the designs above, has been the flip-side of the sexism against Hillary Clinton. A sadly perfect illustration of the Catch-22 women face. You're either a scary, ugly, old, mannish harpy. Or a ditzy, perky, fuckable bimbo. You're either cracking nuts between your thighs or dressed up like Britney Spears. The sexist remarks about Clinton and Palin are like our hate mail ("you ugly man-hater!" followed by "gimme a blow job!") writ large. It doesn't matter that, in reality, neither Hillary Clinton nor Sarah Palin fits these stereotypes. Both are attractive women who have made their fair share of political enemies. But reality doesn't matter much in terms of how they're portrayed.

Which is why it's (almost) hilarious to see someone like David Brooks declare that feminists' problem with Palin isn't based on her anti-woman stance on the issues, but that she's "not a real woman because she doesn't hew to their rigid categories."

Excuse me, our rigid categories? Last I checked, feminists were outraged at Palin being labeled a MILF and Hillary being labeled a bitch. Putting women in sexist little boxes is exactly what we're against. Maybe we need to send Brooks a copy of Jessica's book on double-standards?

I will say that the moment I clicked on this link, I had a moment of "oh gosh this is going to be sexist..." Honestly, it is Saturday Night Live and I might be giving them an easy out, but this really did make me laugh my ass off. And while we have consistently pointed out the sexism that both Clinton and Palin have faced in the media, I think having it pointed out by McCain advisers is laughable. Moreso, when her argument for why it is sexist isn't very, dare I say, substantive.

OMG! Really? How about-the substance that is Sarah Palin is filled with very sexist ideas of what is considered an electable woman? Now that is sexist. Pointing out the hypocrisy of Republicans decrying sexism now as opposed to using it virulently during Clinton's campaign, well that is just funny. In that depressing way.

Thanks to Amy for the link.

The BBC has a video about new Sarah Palin action figures that you can get in several "looks": business suit Palin, a Lara Croft-like superhero Palin, and (my personal fave) Schoolgirl Palin. Fucking seriously?

So Hillary gets a nutcracker and Palin gets a schoolgirl outfit - obviously both of these come from a place of fear of women's power. With Hillary, just call her a ballbuster; Palin, just sexify her so she's not a threat but just another hot chick to look at. Either way, blech.

The company's contact info is here, if you'd like to give them a piece of your mind.

Thanks to Katrina for the link.

There's really nothing about this clip that's good. According to Donny Deutsch, host of CNBC's Big Idea, the "new feminist ideal" (ahem) is selling women in power as a sexy SuperMom. Also, Sen. Hillary Clinton made a mistake when she "didn't put a skirt on."

There is the new creation that the feminist woman has not figured out in 40 years of the feminist ideal that men can take in a woman in power and women can celebrate a woman in power. Hillary Clinton didn't figure it out. She didn't put a skirt on!

...She [Palin] talked about energy. Didn't matter! Today everybody's running in circles -- we want to have her over for dinner. I trust her. I want her watching my kids. I want her laying next to me in bed. That's the way people vote.

Via Think Progress.

A kicker was booted from a high-school football team in Georgia because of her gender.

A Pakistani senator defends the fact that women were buried alive in his district as "tribal custom."

Monica Roberts has video interviews with Isis, the first trans contestant on Top Model.

MzBitca has a plea: leave Amy Winehouse alone!

A clearly innovative and forward-thinking family counselor goes on Oprah to tell women it's their fault if their husbands cheat.

Broadsheet discusses a new blog, called What to Expect When You're Aborting.

Katie Couric on how her nightly news hosting gig has been difficult.

In These Times on why soldiers rape. And Col. Ann Wright has another piece on the possible cover-ups related to two female soldiers' suicides.