Spring Break
Give her a break
Elise Phillips, Assistant Pulse Editor
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: Opinion
They would never do it to Hillary. But they sure would-and have-done it to Sarah.
With all the "feminist" talk circulating around Republican presidential nominee John McCain's pick of Gov. Palin as his running mate, the media sure have had a field day turning the former beauty queen turned governor turned vice presidential nominee into sexist mayhem.
As a journalist, and a woman, I find it infuriating and disgusting that the media has taken every chance they get to not only talk about Gov. Palin's hair and glasses and clothes-but they've taken it a step further-it seems that America is obsessed with Sarah Palin's legs. Yes, legs.
I recently saw a photograph of the maybe next vice president at a rally on Oct. 8 at Bethlehem, Penn. It was only a shot of her legs (and feet, clad in black high heels) framing an adoring male fans' face. Apparently, this picture is not the only one circulating around on the Internet, or in newspapers or magazines-Reuters has a whole fleet of leggy pics on their Web site-including the one I mentioned earlier. Reuters, a respected news organization? I wouldn't have pegged Reuters for a sexist, and clearly biased, news outlet. I think that the American media can do better than that.
And, there's more.
A user on Flickr.com even has a 155-picture spread made up entirely of Sarah Palin's legs. A quick Google search of "Sarah Palin's legs" yields 782, 000 results. There are numerous blogs all over the Web devoted to the 44-year-old and her legs.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I have some serious questions about Sarah Palin; I think her time as governor of Alaska was disastrous, I think she lies every chance she gets, I think she is ignorant and unversed in the things of politics (who can't name one court case they disagree with?) and I think she would change Washington for the worse, woman or not.
However, I can say that Sarah Palin, unfit for government or not, does not deserve to be made into a sexist spectacle just because she's pretty. Really pretty, in fact. But it's not an excuse. Like I said, they would never do it to Hillary-but then again, she had brains attached to those neon pants suits.
Still, it's wrong, and it's a step backward for women.
Although I am the first one to say that Sarah Palin is inexperienced and unable to fulfill an obligation like that of a vice president, she is still a history maker. She could be the first female vice president, and that is one heck of a bullet to put on your resume.
So give the woman a break. She can't help that she's pretty (I mean, she did win the Miss Wasilla Pageant). Let's focus more on her policies, her ideals and her goals as vice president. America may be dazzled by the Alaskan governor's looks (and legs)--but really, people-with only 13 days left until Election Day, let's look past her anatomy.
Let's look at what she'll do for our country.
If she makes it into the White House (and I hope she doesn't), it won't be her looks or legs that make policy.
At least, I hope not.
This writer can be contacted at editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
With all the "feminist" talk circulating around Republican presidential nominee John McCain's pick of Gov. Palin as his running mate, the media sure have had a field day turning the former beauty queen turned governor turned vice presidential nominee into sexist mayhem.
As a journalist, and a woman, I find it infuriating and disgusting that the media has taken every chance they get to not only talk about Gov. Palin's hair and glasses and clothes-but they've taken it a step further-it seems that America is obsessed with Sarah Palin's legs. Yes, legs.
I recently saw a photograph of the maybe next vice president at a rally on Oct. 8 at Bethlehem, Penn. It was only a shot of her legs (and feet, clad in black high heels) framing an adoring male fans' face. Apparently, this picture is not the only one circulating around on the Internet, or in newspapers or magazines-Reuters has a whole fleet of leggy pics on their Web site-including the one I mentioned earlier. Reuters, a respected news organization? I wouldn't have pegged Reuters for a sexist, and clearly biased, news outlet. I think that the American media can do better than that.
And, there's more.
A user on Flickr.com even has a 155-picture spread made up entirely of Sarah Palin's legs. A quick Google search of "Sarah Palin's legs" yields 782, 000 results. There are numerous blogs all over the Web devoted to the 44-year-old and her legs.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I have some serious questions about Sarah Palin; I think her time as governor of Alaska was disastrous, I think she lies every chance she gets, I think she is ignorant and unversed in the things of politics (who can't name one court case they disagree with?) and I think she would change Washington for the worse, woman or not.
However, I can say that Sarah Palin, unfit for government or not, does not deserve to be made into a sexist spectacle just because she's pretty. Really pretty, in fact. But it's not an excuse. Like I said, they would never do it to Hillary-but then again, she had brains attached to those neon pants suits.
Still, it's wrong, and it's a step backward for women.
Although I am the first one to say that Sarah Palin is inexperienced and unable to fulfill an obligation like that of a vice president, she is still a history maker. She could be the first female vice president, and that is one heck of a bullet to put on your resume.
So give the woman a break. She can't help that she's pretty (I mean, she did win the Miss Wasilla Pageant). Let's focus more on her policies, her ideals and her goals as vice president. America may be dazzled by the Alaskan governor's looks (and legs)--but really, people-with only 13 days left until Election Day, let's look past her anatomy.
Let's look at what she'll do for our country.
If she makes it into the White House (and I hope she doesn't), it won't be her looks or legs that make policy.
At least, I hope not.
This writer can be contacted at editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Joe
posted 10/21/08 @ 3:41 PM EST
It seems to me that the media is taking what they can get. I mean, Palin hasn't really discussed any policy (at least to any extent other than basic generalizations). (Continued…)
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