I do not have to support someone who is staunchly anti-choice, anti-equality, anti-woman, and has less experience than Obama to defend her against sexist bullshit. For a brief list of the giant misogybag of nastiness that has already sprung up be sure to catch the Sarah Palin Sexism Watch going on at Shakesville.
Sarah Palin is no friend of women or families. Make no mistake about that. But for fuck’s sake, calling her a VPILF is not a fucking compliment, and has absolutely nothing to do w/ her politics. There are plenty of reasons to criticize Palin- Her being a prominent member of Feminists For Life, her firm stance against equal rights for the LGBTQI community not limited to but including pushing for amendments to deny benefits to same sex and domestic partners, her support of federal marriage laws that define marriage as being only between one man and one woman, and her push to teach Creationism in school. Her refusal to even consider allowing exceptions for victims of rape or incest or to protect a pregnant woman’s health to receive abortions is high on that list. She would have it be easier for women to get guns than family planning services.
Not one of these has fuck all to do w/ her being a woman or how fuckable she is. Her being a former beauty queen has nothing to do w/ how qualified she is to be Second in Command. She is even being judged by what kind of a mother she must be for returning to work so soon after her special needs child was born…when is the last time a candidate was judged by his parenting skills?
Moving on.
Even though Michelle Obama is not actually running for office we need not disregard the horrendous sexism and racism that is thrown her way this election season. She is potentially the next First Lady, and while it is not her name on the ticket we are not absolved as feminists and womanists from pointing it out. I have not followed this as closely as I should have, only b/c my focus has been on people running for office. This is an oversight on my part, as I should realize by now that Michelle Obama matters. It matters how she is treated. The way the media treat her publicly sends a message to the rest of the world that we think it is OK to reduce women down to what they wear and whom they married, even a woman as prominent as our own First Lady. I offer no excuse for why I have not been more vigilant in taking the hatred aimed at her to task, but I will say this: There is no excuse for sexist treatment of women in the public eye by the media, or even by their own spouses (paging John McCain…And Joe Biden…). Please refer to the Michelle Obama Sexism/Racism Watch, also going on at Shakesville for current examples.
PS, children are not fashion accessories.
