The Treatment of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton: A National Nightmare and a National Shame
October 31, 2008
by Contributor
Like many, I have been completely disheartened (to say the least) by the sexism coming from the Democrats, first against Senator Hillary Clinton, and then a newer, cruder, more virulent strain of it against Governor Sarah Palin. I am not a great writer—I’d much rather talk—but the sexism has become so painful, I have been unable to do either. I find myself wanting to curl up into a ball and hide so I don’t have to see it and don’t have to listen to it.
For all of us, it is too achingly familiar. We have all experienced sexism, and it hurts. It hurts because we are marginalized every step of the way. We have never been dealt with fairly because our femaleness has allowed all cultures, ours included, to feed the prejudice that people like us, females, don’t really matter for much. It is a discrimination that goes as far back as history itself. We women have fought back against it at certain periods in history, with mixed results. Many of our female heroes had to give their lives for the cause (remember Joan of Arc?), and although they set into motion the mechanism for advancement, they never lived to see the promised land (Susan B. Anthony comes to mind).
As women, we have several positions that we fall back on. One is exhaustion, which is where I believe many find themselves now. How can we not be tired when everywhere we turn these days there is one heinous example after another of our national disease: Misogyny. Unlike racism, which we are growing to tolerate less and less in America, sexism is absolutely acceptable. If this campaign year has proven anything, it is that Americans not only tolerate discrimination against women, in many instances they revel in it.
Another position we women take is denial. And why not deny? Who wants to spend a lifetime screaming about this inequity? It’s exhausting, and let’s face it, joy is a much more pleasant way to live.
But our best position by far is when we decide we are all in this together and we rise up against this injustice. Believe it or not, we have so much to be grateful for having watched these two courageous women, Hillary and Sarah, buck the system. By going where no woman has gone before, they have been human targets, willing to take the incoming fire. Although what Hillary withstood has receded a little in our memories, we have the spectacle of Sarah being eviscerated with glee by the Democrats. They are taking her apart with great creativity and total impunity. Why? Because as a society, we still permit the exercise of sexism without shame.
I could list many examples of what Governor Palin has endured—the ridiculous clothing flap (who cares?), the trashing of her family (after all, women must pay for their sins of the family—Geraldine Ferraro did and Hillary paid for the sins of her husband), the c**t t-shirts that the creators wore with glee (they got more “attaboys” for having the courage to do it than shame for having done it), the constant minimizing of her accomplishments, since, after all, she’s only a woman. The list goes on, day after day, on and on and on. And on.
At first we’re mad, then we can’t stand it and hide, and then we realize that since NO ONE is stopping it, we must make that step ourselves. But once again I note how lucky we have been to have two brave women, Governor Palin and Senator Clinton, who have shown us what courage is. And if they can summon this courage, so can we.
We have one great strength as women—we are huge in number. If we can come together and work on this problem immediately, then our lives will have truly meant something for all of the women yet to come. As Maimonides said, “If not us, who? If not now, when?” It is too easy to throw up our hands in reaction to the misogyny that we face, each example more heinous than the last. It’s too much to keep saying “OMG, can you believe what they’re doing?”
Sexism is shameful and it rots everyone, not just women. It’s time for us to wake ourselves up in great numbers and put our collective energy to work to STOP THE SEXISM NOW. The United States is not a particularly great nation right now due to its lack of awareness and the cultural shame of its sexism. We are lucky to have had Palin and Clinton lead the way this year. Now let’s get on with it!
An amazing post. best wishes to you.
Why can a woman of national prominence be hung in effigy and it is deemed freedom of speech , yet the people who hung Obama in effigy have been arrested and will be charged with a Federal hate crime? It is a heavy, heavy price both Hillary and Sarah have paid and Sarah has paid a heavier price because she is in a position to be the second in command of the Executive branch of our government. A WOMAN can now become Vice President and that has unleashed a most hideous , vile patriarchal backlash of the same nature and in the same manner that keeps the domestic violence shelters across the nation filled to capacity with bloodied victims. This must never be forgotten, the vicious summer and fall of 2008, the hanging months, the cunt months, when capable men and women of means and influence sat mute and even smirked because two women not in line with their political ideologies were being crucified in a most vile, sexist manner. Damn them! Smite them by putting Sarah in the Vice Presidency now, then Hillary in the Presidency in 2012. Let the years 2008 and 2012 be the years of women and eradicate the hanging cunt months from our collective memory.
I agree totally with the author of this article. I am a gay hispanic democratic who will be voting McCain this year. Disgusted in the democrats especially the women who let this behavior go on. Even to one of their own. My vote this year is no for Republicans but against Democrats.
I’m voting for McCain because I think our country has been held hostage by the far wings of both parties, and McCain has the proven record of bi-partisanship. Americans need to begin talking with each other again. But I also believe that if Sarah Palin doesn’t make it this time around, history has shown us it could be another 25 years before one of the major parties will have enough confidence to put a woman on its national ticket.
We as women, along with men who have the foresight to consider their daughters, need to become in-the-moment responders to sexist rhetoric and sexist attacks. Over the past few days I’ve been thinking about the Terry Tate video, the c*** t-shirts, and Gov. Palin hanging in effigy portrayed as Halloween “fun”, and thinking we need to make more people aware of TNA. We need an army of responders; otherwise, levelling the playing field is going to be like trying to stamp out the marabunta barefoot.
Suggestion: TNA reps appearing on-air should ask tv and radio hosts to mention the web address, and make people aware this is an ongoing project, and not just an election year reaction.
Here’s an example of a double standard.
Palin was hung in effigy. No arrest.
Obama gets hung in effigy What happens? Two arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, theft and burglary. Mind you the theft/burglary charge was for taking stuff from a Fraternity that they had asked for!!!
Thank you for writing this. I feel the same way as you have so expressed. Just today, I, a lifelong democrat have decided to vote republican because of Sarah Palin. Right now I am so angry about the treatment of women in politics and in general that I going against my stand on the issues to vote for a woman. I believe right now this supercedes the other issues.
Agreed,but where do we begin? Some women are our worst enemies. The effigy of Gov. Palin was ok but the effigy of O was not? I understand the historical reference ,however it doesn’t condone the behavior. The amount of violence against women this year has been staggering. There isn’t the outrage that there should be. It’s my new mission to find a way to change this.
Fleur – we can finds ways to change it… I refuse to believe that I’m incapable of making a choice to provide women with new opportunities – even if I live in central california. So, my choice is McCain/Palin in the hopes that his record of working across the isle will hold true. It would be awesome if his chose Hillary for a cabinet member!
Has everyone seen this on hillbuzz:
McCain is reaching out to women BIG TIME. After the first, most important step of voting for him, I believe we must boot out all leaders of NOW, Emily’s List, NARAL, and all other “womens” organizations. The New Agenda is the only one worth a flip!
Just an amazing article. You have expressed so much of what I feel and cannot find the words. Thank you.
Now, what is the next step? I have been telling people about this website and the radio blog . . . and then how do we really create a presence, beholden to no party, that stands up for women.
This may sound silly, but a bumper sticker? We need a small step first . . . because as you mention, we are a bit exhausted after this long election year. So, while we spread the words, and build a membership….maybe we need to get bumper stickers to help brand this new cause.
That is a great idea. After the election and a short hiatus, our real work begins. We need to start spreading out of nationwide effort.
Keep the good ideas and suggestions coming please.
I have some ideas The New Agenda could consider, regarding election reform.
Meanwhile, have people seen this?
Susan Estrich says only racism can explain an Obama loss. She also bashes Palin in the piece. I know many women with this mindset, so it’s going to be a problem to overcome.
http://www.creators.com/opinio.....10-31.html
“The only way all these polls could be that far off is if people are lying in numbers never before seen in American politics.
“Why would they do that?
“You tell me it has nothing to do with race. I’ll laugh. What else could it possibly be?”
=======
btw, since she asked, I told her that she answered her own question. People are tired of being laughed at, sneered at, and told they are racist. It’s easier to lie. I know I get a lot of grief for voicing my protest vote…even when I add “if voting Republican as a protest was good enough for Alice Paul and the Suffragettes, it’s good enough for me!”
I do like the bumper sticker idea. A silent proclamation of solidarity, of sisterhood. A first step.
Zee, your comment is so succinct and perfectly true that I may have to quote you.
Please feel free to do so, Violet!
So glad a few of you like the bumper sticker idea. We need to decide on a logo etc. I will raise this (if I get the courage) on the next radio blog.
Happy weekend to all,
kitkat
Thanks, Cynthia, for a great article. Yes, it is exhausting to fight against the rampant sexism that so many others seem to ignore. The thing is, perhaps there ARE many, many of us who feel this way, and the fact that the voices of the prominent (e.g. Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan, Maureen Dowd, etc. etc.) get publicized may contribute to a “learned helplessness” mentality (e.g. “what good will it do for me to speak out in the face of this much opposition?”) that keeps the masses down. Let’s not buy into it! Let’s remember that the suffragettes seemed few in number too, and look what they accomplished. Most importantly, we need to encourage others to vote! Obama has created the illusion of “inevitability” again with the help of the media (as he did with Hillary), and that can discourage people from going to the trouble to vote.
This longtime (aged 55) Dem activist just voted Repub for the first time ever! Reason was our Madame President’s treatment at the hands of my former party.
We still need to pass the ERA.
And the facts are becoming known about the very early feminist and major spiritual leader Mary Magdelene. Other leaders of her church threw her under the cart so they could keep their secrets and keep their power. Presenting God as only masculine nature, thus, God Himself, has kept women under as well. Let God be called God, allowing both feminine and masculine. Thus females are leaders as well as males. Esp as POTUS! And the sooner the better!
Anita – Thanks for sharing your vote with us. I am really looking forward to voting for McCain Palin on Tuesday.
Thanks, Cynthia. I, too, am exhausted – from being fighting mad, from the denials of the misogyny, from feeling helpless watching Hillary get bashed and now Sarah. There is a 2nd wave of Hillary-bashing among PUMAs lately.
I started a new blog, it’s very new and underdeveloped yet, just for defense purposes. So sick and tired of it!
http://departmentofhomegirlsecurity.wordpress.com/
I totally hear you and identify with what you are saying. On my new blog I posted a new page entitled Feminist Defined. I like the argument that democratic women have been held hostage by Roe v. Wade. That is so true. I think I’m gonna stop being held hostage. It is sad to see the blogs like Feministing and Feministe get it totally wrong.
I already voted for Obama- it was a hard choice. Now I feel regretful about it, but I live in Texas so oh well. I voted for Hillary in the primary and I was a Hillary delegate. I have been outraged throughout this entire process and now I find myself defending Sarah Palin all the time.
I love the bumper sticker idea tooo
Still4Hill,
I don’t think that some of the PUMAs are “bashing” Hillary. I think we’re just expressing our disappointment in her full out support for Obama. I attended a rally for Jeanne Shaheen in NH last week where Hillary was the featured speaker. It was disheartening to hear her shill for him with nary a mention of the sexism and misogyny that is so rampant. I understand that she is a Democrat and will support all other Democrats, but there is support and then there is support. None of the other losing candidates are going to the lengths that she and Bill are. Everyone says that she is doing it to salvage her career, but if she’s not going to speak out for us, what’s the point? I left the rally with the sinking feeling that she’s just another politician. Would I vote for her if she runs again? Sure, but I’m not as enthusiastic as I once was. I do appreciate how wonderful she’s been about not getting into it over Sarah Palin.
samanthasmom
I agree. I feel disheartened as well by HRC’s actions, even though I understand she has a career to attend to. Throughout this year, I have asked, “Where is our Alice Paul?” “Where is our Susan B. Anthony?” I had hoped GF would step up to the plate, but unfortunately not.
So it remains in our hands to decide what to do after 11/4/08. I think we need to work hard to remain a non-partisan watchdog and become the “offical face” of feminism that is respected and whose opinion is sought after. We could have a list on the website of companies that espouse equal rights, etc.
We need to consider and define the agenda carefully and then get to the branding… a lot of work ahead of us, so very time to lick our wounds …which may be a good thing.
I have seriously considered, and I’m still considering giving up my citizenship. I have a home in Canada…it doesn’t seem to me such a hate filled place right now.
I have admired Hillary Clinton for years..but, especially after her speech in Beijing. “Women’s rights are human Rights.” I don’t think I could bear to watch that speech for a while after all this.
I am both sad for and ashamed of my country. The cheating of a nomination, with voter fraud didn’t matter. The “bro’s before ho’s” t shirts at one point sold on the website of a major news network, did not matter. The co ordinated attacks online that I know HAD to have been planned and done on purpose.
And worse? The fact that nothing that happened is considered appalling but, by a few of us. The news is still saying today “Hillary said sexism played a part.” and they dismiss that as if we did not just witness a blood bath of misogyny.
After the “Mad As Hell/Bitch” video got some traction and before Palin came on the scene I thought they were recognizing how awful things had got and that Palin at least wouldn’t face things in such a vicious world of attacks. She got the same treatment.
There’s a photo out there. Juxtaposed Palin hanging and Hillary tied to a stake being burned.
People are celebrating today. They are celebrating a barrier being broken. What is so unsettling about it is that none of them have any problems that hatred of gender was used to accomplish that goal.
I would like nothing more than to be able to celebrate that moment with them, in fact I worked most of my life to be able to rejoice in these break through changes. Unfortunately, I cannot join in…being a hated target and seeing a woman I have admired for so long attacked in such a manner as to try and destroy everything she worked her whole life for will do that to you.
I’m shell shocked. Time will tell if Obama will do a thing that will rectify the damage. Somehow I”m not very hopeful about that.
But we certainly can make it very uncomfortable for him if something isn’t done in good faith to rectify the damage done by his campaign and by the media. Time to get to work.
A good test to determine if a person is truly sincere is to call their bluff. After decades of shouting their complaints that women are treated unfairly, NOW had their bluff called with the nomination of Sarah Palin. And they didn’t have the cards to back their bluff.
It is by our actions, not words, that we are judged, and judged by NOW’s actions to fail to put any meaningful support behind Sarah Palin, one can only assume that their agenda is not to promote equality for women, but rather to promote an angry anti-conservative, left-wing agenda that can only divide us further.
After this election, I do believe NOW has thoroughly revealed themselves for what they are.
I support equality for females and, in that vein I am a feminist. But I will not hide behind some righteous-sounding tirade and use the sympathies of good and decent folks who also agree that women be treated with equality and respect — just to support a subversive agenda.
NOW is THEN
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[...] November 18, 2008 THE TREATMENT OF HILLARY AND SARAH A NATIONAL NIGHTMARE. Posted by hillarysmygirl08 under Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, women | Tags: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, sexism, women | http://thenewagenda.net/2008/1.....al-night... [...]
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