Why I’m Glad Sarah Palin Didn’t Speak for Women
September 4, 2008 |
Not a whole lot of people can say this: Sarah Palin was my mayor. I spent a few years living in Wasilla, Alaska, when Palin was mayor there, before she became governor of the state. My husband worked in a local church, our oldest daughter was born in the community hospital, and our dog regularly barked at the moose that hung out in our front yard.
By Alaskan standards, Wasilla is actually a community of significant size. But by most standards, it's a small town in a remote state, and it's full of independent, high-spirited people who go a little crazy in the winter and don't sleep much in the summer because the sun is shining and they want to make the most of it. They eat moose meat and salmon and ride snowmachines (and in case you watched the speech last night and were wondering, a "snowmachine" is what most of us call a "snowmobile"). They think something is ancient if it was there before 1990, they build their houses by hand, and they wish they had a Target somewhere in the state.
To some Americans, moose-hunting-salmon-fishing-mother-of-five Sarah Palin might seem like an unusual women. But I can tell you that in Wasilla, Alaska, she's a pretty typical woman. And she has a lot in common with many women outside Alaska as well.
But even though Sarah Palin knows plenty of other women like her, seems like she just might be smart enough to know that she doesn't speak for all women. And that's something I appreciated about her speech to the Republican National Convention last night: she never claimed to speak for women at all.
I'm tired of hearing people speak "for women," making claims about who we are and what we want. I hear constant references to "women voters" as if we were a voting bloc or a powerless group who needs special representation. We're not powerless; we're not exceptions to the norm; we're not even a minority group. We're slightly more than half the population, and the only thing we all have in common is a small piece of our genetic code. We don't all think alike and care about the same things. Would anyone ever be so ridiculous as to think of men in the same way? If a handful of powerful woman can speak on behalf of all women, why do we need so many powerful men? Who are they speaking for?
Believe me: I'm not bashing men. In fact, the real offenders here are women who claim to speak for all of us, and women who let them. Why do so many of us want every other women to think, act, behave, live, speak, and believe as we do? Why do we feel the need to exercise this kind of control? Do we believe it legitimizes us? Is it a symptom of loneliness or insecurity? Do we still believe women are second-class citizens?
Regardless of the outcome of this election, clearly times have changed. The next administration will be like no other. This is the end of the era of the stiff, dull, crabby old guys in suits. Let's hope the "I speak for all women" claim ends here too.
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Posted by Amy Simpson on September 4, 2008
Comments
Good stuff, I read this and was encouraged, I too and sick of women speaking for women although from a male perspective and have often wondered if most women are sick of it too!
God Bless,
Claude
Posted by: Claude on September 5, 2008
AMEN!
I have had many talk-to-myself rehearsals for radio call-in shows (while driving) in which I heroically and emphatically make this same point. Of course, I've never actually called a radio show...
Over and over and over again, pundits talk about the "women's vote"...what in the world is that? There is more than one prototypical woman! No one talks about the "men's vote!"
I think you should call in to the Diane Rehm show on NPR and read this blog post (as if it were right off the top of your head) and just pretend to be me. That would be great. (Just leave out the living in Alaska bit...)
Posted by: Kelli Trujillo on September 5, 2008
I think there's a sense in which women are excited that someone who thinks and looks like them is actually doing the talking and being heard, as opposed to another kind of women who tries to speak for everyone, especially women in a corporate capacity. Palin as possibly our next VP is clear that she speaks for all Americans, but never have we envisioned that she could possibly be a women with which we share a worldview. The Palin story is brewing up the culture wars, and this time it's not between men and women, it's between the worldviews that divide women.
Posted by: Sarah Flashing on September 5, 2008
Sarah Pallin was one of the most refreshing politicians I have seen in years. Without re-stating the obvious - that is, that she's not a man - there are three rounds of applause I want to offer up. First, she is a heck of a speaker, and speaking from experience, her conversational calmness is not as easy as it looked. Second, she seems to love her life - and love talking about it. That's someone who is comfortable in her own skin, not trying to paint a false picture. And third, she believes she can do the job she has been asked to do. Personally, I don't know how any politician can live with the unending public scrutiny. It takes guts, and armloads of fortitude, and a thick skin. Perhaps the wilds of Alaska that you described, Amy, is exactly the environment that raised this person who may be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. We'll see in November. But for now, we witnessed history - from both national parties. An exciting year to be an American!
Posted by: DK on September 5, 2008
Thank you. You spoke what my wife and I have felt and have been highly frustrated by for years. It is though a stay at home mom, who is pro-family and pro-life has no place in some views of women.
Bud Surles
Posted by: Bud Surles on September 7, 2008
I heard a feminist being interviewed shortly after the Palin VP announcement speak about "the issues that matter most to women" (and how Palin was on the wrong side of all of them). By these, she said she meant reproductive rights, more healthcare for all children, and increased welfare. Matter most to WHICH women? Certainly not me. It infuriated me.
Thanks for giving voice to this excellent point.
Posted by: Susan A on September 8, 2008
I for one, am proud of Sarah Palin. She is a gutsy gal and not afraid of who she is. We have had the condescension of women since Genesis chapter 3 because we after all live in a fallen world. That does not mean however, that we should suffer the bashing of either men or the women who have a different world view. I have financially hurting family members - women - but increased welfare is not agreeable to any of us. It is interesting I think, to listen to the women in the Obama camp become militant over the fact that some women might not get their free stuff if the other party is voted in. More free stuff helps no one. The issues of the feminists are not my issues. But Sarah Palin... I can identify with her.
Posted by: Bobbi J on September 8, 2008
I agree in the main with Ms. Simpson's point that no one woman speaks for all women. I take exception to her characterization of past presidents and their v.p.s as "stiff, dull, crabby old guys in suits." That seems to lump a diverse list of men into one category much the same as lumping all women together with one mouthpiece.
Posted by: Vicki in New Jersey on September 9, 2008
Thank goodness she has that little bit of sense in her head. She certainly doesn't speak for me! I would never choose someone like her (mean spirited, hypocrite, inexperienced) to speak for me politically.
Oh, and Bud? Sarah Palin is not a stay at home mom. Which goes right to the heart of your hypocrisy in supporting her based on that isse.
Posted by: Robyn on September 9, 2008
Sigh. Here we go again with name calling. I need to know before November where Sarah Palin, with all the "sense in her head", is "mean spirited, hypocrite, inexperienced". I have been watching all the main channels, pro and con, and all the talking heads, and I have not picked that up at all.
Posted by: Bobbi J on September 10, 2008
Whether man or woman, Sarah Palin has common
sense and cuts to the heart of the matter for America at this time and age. I wonder
why it is certain dems think they are owed a living. Our creator doesn't teach that, He says we will work for what we get. And Sarah definitely follows that train of thought.It's about time someone with brains and feelings for our country has come along.
She and McCain have given us a fresh breath of reality. After all America isn't Knottingham and Obama isn't Robin Hood. We don't steal from the "working" and give to
the lazy. God bless her and encourage her.
Posted by: Marilyn on September 10, 2008
Bobbi, trust me you will not pick up on the mean-spirit, hypocrisy, or inexperience. That is their job as politicians to hid the real person. Needin we talk about who's experienced and who's not, neither has experienced. We are too blind. Bush hoodwinked us for eight years, why not go for four more.
overall Good article. I am glad that Gov. Palin is a standupish woman. However everyone knows that her speech was designed to appeal to the emotions of the people. Great job!!! She's no superwoman. There are women who are doing their thing everyday-yet without a husband. Now that is awesome.
Posted by: Wenfred D. Dorsey on September 10, 2008
Sarah Palin does not speak for all women and for that admission by the author I am glad. As a minister and a progressive I long for the day when we will examine candiates for public office based on issues rather than upon sex or race. With that said however, I am not favorably impressed by what I have heard from the Governor. Furthermore the mixing of politics and religion is an extremely dangerous practice. No one has an exclusive corner on Truth, no one speaks for another on matters of faith. If Christianity Today and related publications, including this site, must engage a biased political/faith position then I will no longer subscribe.
Posted by: Randy on September 13, 2008
New Sarah Palin Bumper Sticker!
A portion of all sales will be donated to the Down Syndrome Research and treatment Foundation.
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Posted by: Nancy RupeNew on September 15, 2008
Wow, quite a mix of responses in here. I merely want to share how much she speaks for me in that she is a woman, created by God, equal to a man in that creation, and can do whatever job God has placed her on this Earth to do. I do not know about the rest of you but I am tired of being told I can not do something because only a man is called to do it. Thanks for the article.
Posted by: Rev Charlene E. Hios on September 15, 2008
Love her and her values! I am praying for her and her family. This is not an easy road to travel.
Posted by: Debbie on September 17, 2008
I too am glad that Sarah Palin does not speak for women. My concern is that those of us who DON'T back Palin are being made to feel anti-Christian, pro-choice, and desperately wrong in our views--and this by fellow Christians! The harsh, derogatory negativity and triumphalistic arrogance of most of her interviews and speeches do not represent what I long to see in women in leadership who claim to be living a Christian worldview. Whether male or female, leadership I am looking for should be far more representative of Christ's servant attitude.
Posted by: hsl on September 19, 2008
I am praying for the McCain/Palin ticket. May God's will be done.
Posted by: Lisa Shaw on September 19, 2008
Bobbi J, mean-spritied, hypocritical, and inexperienced are not "names." I did not call her "names." They are characteristics I have observed that make me glad that Palin doesn't represent all women. The contempt and derision with which she spoke during her nomination speech, her lies about the Bridge to Nowhere (which she was blatantly in favor of and campaigned for governor supporting), and her obvious ignorance about foreign policy as evidenced in her interviews and claims about being close to Russia, all contribute to these three characteristics.
I expect such things from the other candidates. When a person runs for public office claiming to be an evangelical Christian, I expect much, much more. This is where she has failed. Her words and actions belie her claims of Christianity. She does not show Christ-like character. There are many ways in which she could have conducted herself with grace without deriding and belittling others, without blantantly lying.
If you haven't picked up on any of that, perhaps you should go back an review her speech, do some research about her "misrepresentaions." Again, I expect such things from the other candidates, but Palin makes me wish there was another term besides "Christian" with which I could identify myself so as not to be grouped with her.
Posted by: Robyn on September 24, 2008
I enjoyed reading the comments about Sarah Palin....she's the reason I voted for John McCain... I felt that she added so much to the ticket.. & her values reflect mine. It was so refreshing to see a woman politician like her. It seems that most of the women politicians are so liberal & call themselves "Progressive"... which , to me, means they want to make changes in the values we've been taught for years...Biblical values. These progressive women want to do things their way...not God's ways. I feel that the Bible strongly states that God never changes!! So, we can't be thinking that His values change to suit what our human desires may be. Sarah Palin stands for the values of the Bible. We truly NEED to get back to this or our country will not survive. It's so sad to see many of the younger girls who are not receiving the Christian values becoming so immoral in their language, dress, & behavior... & slso, older women. I'm a senior citizen & am shocked sometimes at the values of senior citizens... so many are straying from the things they once believed...ex... living together w/o marriage... to save on MONEY... to me they are putting Money before God.. & not trusting God to provide. AND, the Hollywood folks who set such poor examples. Sarah Palin is SO NEEDED TODAY... & women like her to help change things in this country before it's too late. THANKS, NANCY
Posted by: Nancy on January 28, 2009