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Tag(s): American Family Association; American Foreign Policy; Americans; Experience; Guantanamo; Media; Mother; Mother; Republican; Sexism; (more...) Women (less...)
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September 8, 2008 at 16:54:02

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Just What America Doesn't Need: The Next Mother-in-Chief

by kellie bean Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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I’m just going to say it: I don’t want your “average hockey mom” as my Vice-President. Neither do I think, as Marsha Blackburn insists, that only a “mother of five” can summon the “bravery” necessary to refuse earmarks—or, more importantly, run the country.

Motherhood no more prepares one for public office than imprisonment as a POW does. If this were the case, Britney Spears ought to appear on the next Republican ticket along with any Guantanamo detainee.

But you see my problem. Making these claims makes me seem anti-motherhood, unpatriotic and insensitive to McCain’s POW experience. So let me explain.

I’m a mother, and I raised both of my kids alone. I know from motherhood. My eldest just left for college and my youngest is a sophomore in high school. I know as well as anyone the “bravery” (not to mention, chutzpa, accounting skills, indifference to sleep) required to raise children. I also know that the experiences of motherhood have not rendered me capable of being the next President.

It’s a sweet thought; indeed, a bit childish. When my youngest was in middle school (a time when he thought I could do anything) he just knew that I’d make a great President. He was twelve. And that is unfortunately the level at which conversations about mothers take place in the media. We are simultaneously too delicate for certain tasks in the military and tough enough to take on any political task tossed our way. These extremes distract the political conversation and ignore the reality of women’s lives and how politicians might improve them.

Some women are mothers, some aren’t. Those of us who chose to birth children, keep them healthy and safe and keep our heads do not deserve greater cultural cache than the women who made different choices, faced their own challenges. Neither do we deserve some kind of consolation prize in the form of an unqualified woman working as second in command—and against the best interest of both the women she claims an affiliation with and those she does not.

I think that what we’re really seeing here is a recognition of the following reality: after W., what’s the difference?

Can another inexperienced ideologue make a bigger mess of things? Sarah Palin—conservative hyper-sexist mouthpiece in drag—is the perfect expression of Republican attitudes to women. Since the last eight years have made the stakes so low, why not go a step further and invite (gulp) a woman (wink, wink) to join the ticket? Send her out with the anti-woman, anti-family rhetoric, get her to tell lies about Obama’s experience, and when anyone objects, cry sexism. Perfect: a sealed cynical system.

But if motherhood teaches us anything, it’s how to resist false flattery, act in our own best interests, and know a lie when we hear one.

kelliebean.com

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4 comments

GypsyO

Mother-in-Chief

Comment from Ratings: This is a very good statement that explains how "many" women feel about Palin becoming our next VP - much less one braath away from President!!

by GypsyO (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 11:29:56 AM

Dr. Bean is an Associate Professor of English at Marshall University, specializing in Gender Studies, Film and Drama. She is the author of "Post-Backlash Feminism: Women and the Media Since Reagan/Bush" (McFarland & Co. 2007). She is Women and Media editor for OpEdNews.com and hosts her own blog on mid-life and feminism at kelliebean.com.
kellie beanDr. Bean is an Associate Professor of English at Marshall University, specializing in Gender Studies, Film and Drama. She is the author of "Post-Backlash Feminism: Women and the Media Since Reagan/Bush" (McFarland & Co. 2007). She is Women and Media editor for OpEdNews.com and hosts her own blog on mid-life and feminism at kelliebean.com.

thanks

Thanks for the support. It's so hard to criticize this woman right now. Lots of folks are doing it, but as a woman, it feels tricky and like a trap, you know?

Kellie

by kellie bean (19 articles, 2 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 7 comments) on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 2:10:48 PM

i'm a female literary addict attempting to understand the diverging ideologies that prod and sear the american female consciousness. i'm looking for enlightenment...that's all. you can find my ramblings (assuming anyone would be remotely interested) at www.mollybolt.webs.com
molly bolti'm a female literary addict attempting to understand the diverging ideologies that prod and sear the american female consciousness. i'm looking for enlightenment...that's all. you can find my ramblings (assuming anyone would be remotely interested) at www.mollybolt.webs.com

First and foremost...

thanks fo saying it—someone had to.

From the get-go, I was a Hillary supporter. Earlier this week, Gloria Steinem proclaimed that, “Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.” I got it, I agreed with it, and yet part of me felt so contradicted, so torn.

When Palin was first anounced as McCain’s running mate I felt patronized, a littled bemused and somewhat subdued as a woman voter. Now, I feel downright insulted.

I don’t think your claims are anti-anything. Obviously, logically, there must be other qualifying points to justify her candidacy as V.P.—maybe ones that actually are indicative of her policies and ideology.

It’s a very tough time to be a woman. But, you’re right; conversations such as the ones you list above are distractions, smoke-screens. Today, as I watched her interview with Charlie Gibson, my very-Republican husband asked, rather nonchalantly, “Isn’t she one of your’s?” Meaning, “Is she not a feminist?” My initial reaction was *gasp*. At which point I decided to go on a 10 minute tear: point, after point, after explaination, after point, I screamed. His lethargic response: “oh.” Then it hit me.

Here, I think, is the trap you speak of: is Palin considered or even able to be considered a Feminist? Let’s look at it. Outwardly--that is before she opens her mouth--in all faculties she denotes Feminism. She is a powerful political player, a governor, a former mayor, educated, accomplished, respected. And, she is a mother of five to boot. She seems a pretty grand feminist model. Then…

She speaks. Her political, socio-economic, environmental, religious, and military stances do not even begin to resonate with the ways in which women identify with Feminism. It’s tough to hear, even tougher to watch, and toughest of all to speak against. Her presence forces us to deconstruct the ideology of Feminism—does she simply buck the majority? do we allow that, especially when it comes with such drastic infringements? aren’t we the most inclusive of ideologies, don’t we pride ourselves on that? is there room for her here?

My idealistic nature says "ehhh, possibly." My gut tells me "NO."

by molly bolt (0 articles, 4 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 12:32:34 AM

"Then...She speaks." That's it in a nutshell. She's not pro-woman politically. Not even a little, and the more she speaks, the less pro-humanity she seems!
Thanks for the note.

I'm setting up a blog to discuss my book project(s) and life as a feminist academic. I'd love to have you check it out. (should be up and functional by next week: http://kelliebean.webs.com.)

by kellie bean (19 articles, 2 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 7 comments) on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 8:58:58 PM