Play nice

I've said it before and I'll say it again - The Odd Broad is not about to get political.  For one, it just makes things rather uncomfortable.  Secondly, I've yet to register to vote in the state of Massachusetts and nothing irks me more than a person mouthing off about political issues when they have zero intention of actually voting on them.   

Although please don't get the wrong idea, I will most definitely be registering and voting in this election.  But all specific political affiliations aside, I'd like to say a few words about the recent happenings in this presidential race.  Especially since now there's a woman involved.

Why is the media fixating on Sarah Palin's hairdo, encouraging people to vote on it, writing opinion columns, labeling it twenty years out of date?  Would these observations be happening if she were male?  Of COURSE not!  Even as I read one article that defended itself by insisting Obama and McCain also undergo intense coiffal scrutiny, even as I know that this may really be innocent, silly fun, I'm just not buying into it.  As a female, I don't think I can afford to.  Can any of us?  In 2008, no less?

Politics aside, gender aside, for that matter; the fact remains that women are always at risk of being objectified, judged and categorized based on their appearance.  If any issue should be considered "touchy", it's this one!  It's irresponsible yet typical that the media would be pouncing on Palin's hair.  I'm just not laughing.

If she were a man, I suspect she also wouldn't be fielding absurd questions about whether or not she is capable of juggling a career and parenthood.  So, no other vice president has ever been a father?  Oh, I get it, they were men so it was okay for them to procreate and still hold a job!  Naturally there's no way a woman could be a mommy and hold a position of power!  How silly of me.  Glad we cleared that up. 

And finally, I saw a ticker in an elevator this afternoon reporting that Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has described Palin as being "shrill," which Merriam Webster defines as having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound.  Seriously?  If this pathetic jab hadn't been so text book chauvinistic, as a woman I might expend the effort to actually feel slighted. 

If it appears I'm taking sides, please know I absolutely am not.  This kind of stuff just hits a nerve with me.  Always has.  I may be disappointed, but I'm not in the least bit surprised.  It's simply more of the same ancient, embarrassing, patriarchal old foolishness.  Attack a person's politics, yes, but her femininity?  Boring!  Getting old!  It's been done since, like, forever! 

Where are we, the playground?

Comments

[Weinerdog]

I wouldn't have wasted the time defending this woman.
She certainly wouldn't defend you ......she's a republican remember?

[the Odd Broad]

Not defending Palin or her politics, I'm defending my gender. If she were a democrat people would be up in arms. Where are the feminists now?

[Amy]

I agree about the female part of it, they should not be focusing on her hair but more on the fact that she is completely unqualified to run the country.