Philosophy
A couple of thoughts on Sarah Palin now that several weeks have past.
The first comes from a piece by Tom Perrotta in Slate called "The Sexy Puritan" in which he discusses an archetype of political talking head, the sexy puritan of which Palin is only the latest instance. He reaches back to Anita Bryant, and points to contemporary versions like Britney Spears, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Monica Goodling. Of course, to be added to the list are Ann Coulter and Michele Malkin.
The move is interestingly discussed by the General:
Secondly, is this connected with Palin's lack of popularity with women? From Time:
Some argue that trying to substitute a novice like Palin for a seasoned political veteran and obviously extremely intelligent candidate like Clinton is an insult to women by taking them to put identity politics above substantive issues. Others point to her displayed lack of coherence and intellectual curiosity during interviews...the few she has been allowed to do.
I don't want to argue that both of these are not truly contributing factors, certainly they are, but I also wonder if there is something else that is often operative, something that comes from the gut, not the brain. It comes from combining the "sexy puritan" schtick with the viciousness of the attacks from Governor Palin during her speeches. As I told a class a few weeks back, despite what we wish, high school never ends. Put sexy and nasty together and it takes many folks back to high school where everyone knew that in-crowd, the Heathers, the cool kids who would were in the top clique and always made sure that the rest of us knew we weren't one of them. My hypothesis is that one of the reason that women are less positive on Governor Palin than men is that there is an emotional association that women have that men do not.
Thoughts?
- Beliefs And Public Office
In light of the upcoming VP debate tonight, here's one I've been thinking about. The LA Times reports on a secondhand claim that Sarah Palin believes "that men and dinosaurs coexisted on an Earth created 6,000 years ago -- about 65 million years...
- Hillary Clinton Is To Sarah Palin As Thurgood Marshall Is To Clarence Thomas
Guest-post from YKW today: Only one thing in common, and both times a very cynical, politically fashioned, lump of turds designed to make the Republican appear to be interested in the issues, only to find the single least qualified person for the job...
- I Never Wanted To Be Vice President...i Wanted To Be A Lumberjack
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, With John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate, I won't even pretend to fight the temptation. A VP who wants Creationism taught in the classroom, a candidate for an office...
- Sarah Palin & Michelle Bachmann - Fillin' In
Well, after recently claiming that being the President of the United States would only diminish her need for absolute power, it should come as no surprise to anyone that mavericky grizzly momma bear from bizarro world, Sarah Palin, has announced...
- "the Undefeated"...bo Flop
Trying to compete with the latest Harry Potter film? It probably just needed more sex and violence or maybe a wizard or two. "Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated opens to poor reviews" Critics unimpressed, but distributor undeterred as film rolls...
Philosophy
Palin, Sex, and Women
A couple of thoughts on Sarah Palin now that several weeks have past.
The first comes from a piece by Tom Perrotta in Slate called "The Sexy Puritan" in which he discusses an archetype of political talking head, the sexy puritan of which Palin is only the latest instance. He reaches back to Anita Bryant, and points to contemporary versions like Britney Spears, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Monica Goodling. Of course, to be added to the list are Ann Coulter and Michele Malkin.
The move is interestingly discussed by the General:
To what extent is the anti-sex party selling their anti-sex policies by using sexy women like Sarah Palin to deliver the sex-is-bad medicine with a wink and a nod?...To what extent is sexual repression being played upon? To what extent is the unhealthy attitude we as a culture we have towards human sexuality being manipulated for political means that only reinforce that unhealthiness?
Sex is being separated from Sexiness, which shouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Being sexy isn't an invitation to sex and sex can be enjoyed without conforming to society's standards of sexiness. This separation isn't being done, though, to free people from impossible standards of sexiness but is rather exploiting and reinforcing those standards for ideological goals. This separation isn't being done to protect women's choices about sex, but rather to limit their choices even further.
The question before us, then, is how to properly challenge this without on the one hand reinforcing the tactic in ways that might make the anti-sex brigades' job easier or, on the other hand reinforcing some of society's notions about sex and sexiness which should be reformed anyway.
Secondly, is this connected with Palin's lack of popularity with women? From Time:
Overall, Palin is viewed favorably by 47% of likely voters and unfavorably by 40%. But her numbers are worse among women than men: 45% of all women surveyed have a negative opinion of Palin, compared to 42% who view her positively. Fifty-two percent of men have a favorable opinion, while 35% are in the unfavorable camp.Clearly, the McCain folks had hoped that in light of Clinton's loss in the Democratic primary, that putting a woman on the ticket would draw women in, yet it seems to be driving them away. Why?
Some argue that trying to substitute a novice like Palin for a seasoned political veteran and obviously extremely intelligent candidate like Clinton is an insult to women by taking them to put identity politics above substantive issues. Others point to her displayed lack of coherence and intellectual curiosity during interviews...the few she has been allowed to do.
I don't want to argue that both of these are not truly contributing factors, certainly they are, but I also wonder if there is something else that is often operative, something that comes from the gut, not the brain. It comes from combining the "sexy puritan" schtick with the viciousness of the attacks from Governor Palin during her speeches. As I told a class a few weeks back, despite what we wish, high school never ends. Put sexy and nasty together and it takes many folks back to high school where everyone knew that in-crowd, the Heathers, the cool kids who would were in the top clique and always made sure that the rest of us knew we weren't one of them. My hypothesis is that one of the reason that women are less positive on Governor Palin than men is that there is an emotional association that women have that men do not.
Thoughts?
- Beliefs And Public Office
In light of the upcoming VP debate tonight, here's one I've been thinking about. The LA Times reports on a secondhand claim that Sarah Palin believes "that men and dinosaurs coexisted on an Earth created 6,000 years ago -- about 65 million years...
- Hillary Clinton Is To Sarah Palin As Thurgood Marshall Is To Clarence Thomas
Guest-post from YKW today: Only one thing in common, and both times a very cynical, politically fashioned, lump of turds designed to make the Republican appear to be interested in the issues, only to find the single least qualified person for the job...
- I Never Wanted To Be Vice President...i Wanted To Be A Lumberjack
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, With John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate, I won't even pretend to fight the temptation. A VP who wants Creationism taught in the classroom, a candidate for an office...
- Sarah Palin & Michelle Bachmann - Fillin' In
Well, after recently claiming that being the President of the United States would only diminish her need for absolute power, it should come as no surprise to anyone that mavericky grizzly momma bear from bizarro world, Sarah Palin, has announced...
- "the Undefeated"...bo Flop
Trying to compete with the latest Harry Potter film? It probably just needed more sex and violence or maybe a wizard or two. "Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated opens to poor reviews" Critics unimpressed, but distributor undeterred as film rolls...