Sarah Palin's Swimsuit Video - Why Its Appearance Clouds the Real Issues
Another reminder that in this wired age, anything and everything you do can be videotaped, reproduced, uploaded, and seen by millions worldwide. The internet never forgets, and never lets you forget.
I have so many mixed feelings about this. Palin's an attractive woman who, as Sarah Heath, entered a couple of beauty pageants when she was 19, maybe 20. Is there anything wrong with that? Let's be honest - she looks fabulous in the video. And her obvious comfort in her own skin should be applauded in light of the fact that ours is a culture that often makes women feel physically inadequate. That is certainly not a problem for Palin.
Yet it's also no secret that we treat women differently depending on where their 'talents' lie.
Last Sunday's Emmy Awards is a case in point. Brooke Shields, who began her career modeling, has transitioned to acting in film and television. Yet she's still treated as a sex object and was forced to endure a frankly dreadful scripted moment at the Emmys when late night talk show host Craig Ferguson joked about feeling her up. No one would have dreamed of doing that to Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, who told Emmy viewers that she only came to acting because of her work as a writer. Both are actresses, but Shields continues to be objectified, whereas Fey is respected.
Palin would like to be Tina Fey - respected for her mind and her abilities rather than her physical appearance. But with this video surfacing, she's forced back into the Brooke Shields mold - a beautiful woman whose career is based on her looks.
Did she bring this upon herself? Yes and no. Arnold Schwarzenegger began as a bodybuilder and parlayed that into a lucrative acting career. His celebrity helped elect him governor of California. Yet his track record there is imperfect. Many say his mistakes in public office have been overlooked because of his status. Sarah Palin is not getting the same treatment as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Is this sexist? Yes. But mixed in with the sexism is a legitimate concern that Palin simply does not have the qualifications, the ability, or the knowledge to assume the role of president should McCain step down. Concern over this lack of experience is not sexist. In fact, some say she's been given a pass on this because she's a woman.
So the just-surfaced Sarah Swimsuit Video is very troubling for two reasons:
- It reinforces the fact that a double standard exists for male and female candidates
- It muddies the waters in the discussion over whether Palin is qualified and capable of serving as VP or President
I wish we could turn back the clock and send the appropriate GOP confidante to whisper in McCain's ear, "Don't do this. Don't make this choice. You're going to hurt her and every woman in this country if you choose her, because it's not a choice in the best interests of the country."
She may have felt ready to accept McCain's invitation to become his VP, but she isn't. And it was wrong of him to put her in this position. She isn't Everywoman, but whether you love her or dislike her, you can't help but feel her pain, her embarrassment, and her growing recognition that she's in over her head and (short of quitting the campaign) powerless to do anything about it.
Comments
Well said! As a working woman and mother, I have had the same thoughts about McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin. She is way in over her head and it shows!
I would have preferred that someone post the “sort answer” portion of her pageant appearance. If it’s anything like her interviews it would have been hysterical.
Were I a California resident I would not have voted for The Arnold, and were I old enough at the time, I would not have voted for Reagan. In this age when the news cycle and celebrity are magnified, and distorted, by the internet, you are treating in dangerous waters to equate celebrity status with qualification for office.
The article assumes that the leak of this video was intended to belittle Palin. I think otherwise. I think, among the demographic her appearance on the ticket is designed to court — rural, low income, evangelicals, and half-crazed former Clinton supporters, it could be argued that this is a positive rather than a negative. She can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. In this case she can go out and shoot a moose, gut it and field dress it, get her burly dude to strap it to a race-worthy snowmobile, so they can speed back to their lake-front mansion to cook that sucker up, and look hot while she’s doing it.
It’s the ultimate fantasy, not of 21 century man, but of 21 century woman — to be all things to all people at all times. The intend is to connote the image of superiority, she can succeed where others fail — superstar in the boardroom, swimsuit model in the bedroom.
Release of this video is not intended to diminish Palin, it’s intended to cloud the issues and thereby help cover for her.
I think this was a very well-stated post, and I agree on most points. I hadn’t thought about the lose-lose nature of the outcome of the election (great point!), but I have thought of the possibility of her dropping out, and I think that’s lose-lose for women, too. If she drops out, she’s a quitter and ‘we shouldn’t have nominated a woman for this position in the first place’; if she doesn’t drop out, she either helps lose the election for McCain or gives an example of how the first female VP (and possibly president!) is incompetent–and many people will assume it’s because she’s female! I, like many, would love to see a woman in this position, but THE RIGHT woman!
The only area where I found myself disagreeing is with The Arnold. While I do think many people give him a pass because he’s ‘The Governator’ (I even find myself not wanting to hear negative stuff about him because I lurve him from his films), I think he did face a lot of prejudice and mocking from his bodybuilder days. I think the ‘Hans and Franz’ caricatures from SNL still stick in people’s heads, and I’ve heard several radio personalities from both parties mock him and his intelligence through a H&F accent. I’ve also seen tabloid pictures showing him at the beach and lamenting how his physique had gone downhill–I don’t see other governors dealing with that. (In fact, I’m not sure they’d be able to get away with it were it a female gov.)
I also think she put herself in the position of being judged. Even though I used to dream about being in beauty pageants as a little girl watching Miss America, I really do think they objectify women and promote the idea that women’s value lies mainly in their appearance. (Did you notice how long she turned around to show us her hiney? I know that was probably required in the pageant, and I think it was totally demeaning, but she signed up for it, just like The Arnold in his swimsuit days.)
However, I really agree with your other assertions, and think that was an EXCELLENT point you made with Brooke / Tina. I’ll have to stop by here more often!
Elizabeth
It will be a win-win if she steps down with dignity and poise. As a mother with children going back to school, I know what it’s like to be both successful and also in a situation where it’s best to pull out and rethink strategy. She will have much respect and understanding if she leaves. BUt she won’t because she is a power hungry political whore and I hope she suffers from her greed. I just don’t want the USA to suffer due to her and JMac’s deceptive political ploys.
All the hype…We all forget.
Palin is the Vice Presidential nominee….
Obama, who has little experience, is the Presidential nominee!
Who would you prefer?
A capable President in McCain…whose VP may NEVER have to assume the post. Or an inexperienced President in Obama…who will for sure assume the post!
I would agree about Sarah’s lack of experience if it weren’t for the fact that the Presidential candidate for the other party has less experience. Adding to his total lack of experience are the life experiences he has. Receiving his “right of passage” into Chicago politics from a known terrorist, and then spending 20 years listening to the hate speech from his mentor Rev. Wright makes O’Bama one scary person. Not to mention his association with ACORN that is historically known for illegal voter registration.
Have you ever listened to him when he doesn’t have a teleprompter? He sounds like a bumbling idiot. (Funny how the media never shows this.)
No, I’ll take a “swim suit” video of a woman with executive experience and morals over this guy anyday. She will learn is office just as O’Bama would except that she will have an experienced mentor showing her the way. Barack will not have that luxury.
Your article,
is such as sham. I understand why it is you write for about.com, it’s because your sitting running your mouth about your own opinion while unable to support it with any type of evidence. I dont have a problem with you saying Palin has no experience or this is a bad choice, but why is it a bad choice. you can’t support anything you just said with any blunders from her political career. The best you can refer to is the swimsuit issue. yet if this Clinton running I’d be a bigot for bring up the fact that her marriage was in shambles and all the crappy decisions they made while they were in the white house. You have a lot to learn about scholarly work. Then again, I guess that’s why your on the net.