First Wave -- Second Wave -- And Then Came Sarah Palin

In the late 19th century, in Chicago, a grassroots organization founded by Jane Addams gave rise to Hull House where educated women worked to alleviate the suffering of the city's impoverished victims of laissez-faire capitalism. Addams' colleague, Florence Kelley, described Hull House as a "colony of efficient and intelligent women." Kelley later joined forces with Lillian Wald to establish the New York Child Labor Committee, and pressed the federal government to create the U.S Children's Bureau. It was Jane Addams, Florence Kelly and women like them who led the way in what later became known as the Progressive Era.

In the early 20th century, when the women's suffrage movement intensified, Alice Paul and other feminist activists chained themselves to the front gate of the White House in an act of civil disobedience to demand the right to vote. Capitol police arrested them and threw them in a dank D.C. jail cell where they went on a hunger strike. The authorities force-fed them through a tube just like we do to prisoners today in Guatanamo Bay.

Those who argued against women's suffrage claimed that if women had the franchise they would elect socialists and communists and the United States would end up looking like Bolshevik Russia. But when women finally won the right to vote they voted largely the same way the men did. They upheld their class privilege. Bourgeois women voted along their class lines in favor of Republican politicians like Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Think of Barbara Bush and Cindy McCain. Women were also active at that time in the resurgent Ku Klux Klan in Indiana, Oregon, and other states when the racist hate group metastasized outside the South. The dire predictions of those who opposed women's suffrage never materialized.

Fast-forward to the late 1970s and early 1980s, and we see Phyllis Schlafly and her army of right-wing Christian women, (the same army that Sarah Palin apparently now commands), rally her troops to block the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). In1976, both the Democratic and Republican party platforms formally backed passing the ERA. But by June 1982, Schlafly and her white suburbanite sisters had successfully used outlandish claims to block ratification even though 35 of the necessary 38 states had backed it, and public opinion polls showed that most Americans supported it. Schlafly claimed women would be subjected to the military draft and sent into combat, there'd be unisex bathrooms, the family would be threatened, and there'd be a wholesale degradation of women with the decline of male "chivalry." Schlafly called the ERA's supporters "a bunch of bitter women seeking a constitutional cure for their personal problems."

It is historically significant that Phyllis Schlafly had a lengthy closed-door meeting with Sarah Palin. I wish Palin and Schlafly had staged a photo-op together after they met recently because that image would have cemented for eternity the strain of American anti-feminism these women represent.

The fabricated conservative "outrage" about Barack Obama's use of the cliché "lipstick on a pig" illustrates the wedge the Right likes to slam between women as a voting bloc. The Republicans know that there is really no such thing as a "women's voting bloc." We've heard all about "soccer moms" and "security moms" and now "hockey moms" and "Wal-Mart moms," but these are meaningless categories. Women voters are just as susceptible to tricks leading them to cast ballots against their own self-interests as are the most bull-headed "NASCAR dads." In this context, Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy is a postmodern act of genius.

The scholar, Jane Mansbridge, in How We Lost the ERA, underscores the irony that it was independent women like Sarah Palin and Phyllis Schlafly who blocked the Constitution from adapting the simple statement: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." Had the ERA been ratified when it had the chance it would be more difficult today for the five right-wing Catholic men on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Looking back on that episode realistically, Schlafly and her anti-ERA crusaders never could have accomplished what they did if it weren't for the hefty financial backing they received from the Republican Party and the right-wing think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation, which is currently a favorite idea factory for the McCain-Palin campaign.

Sarah Palin is a standard bearer for a political party that recently passed one of the most restrictive platforms against women's reproductive rights of any of the last half century. "At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life," the 2008 Republican platform states. "Women deserve better than abortion. Every effort should be made to work with women considering abortion to enable and empower them to choose life. We salute those who provide them alternatives, including pregnancy care centers, and we take pride in the tremendous increase in adoptions that has followed Republican legislative initiatives." Sarah Palin is on record calling for banning all abortions even in cases of rape and incest. And she's the governor of the state with the highest per capita rate of rape of incest in the country.

There's no doubt that Sarah Palin is an independent, intelligent and capable woman. And like other powerful women she owes her current position to the past struggles of the Second Wave feminists. While Palin was pursuing her dream of becoming "Miss Alaska" her sisters were organizing and fighting for women's equality. With Sarah Palin, John McCain offers the nation anti-feminism in women's clothing -- an Orwellian feminism where she can quote, without shame or irony, Hillary Clinton's line about "18 million cracks" in the glass ceiling.

In 1970, the feminist activist and author Susan Brownmiller, in an essay entitled "The Enemy Within," wrote:

"There is nothing in women's chemical or biological makeup that should preclude deep loyalty to those of the same sex. The sensitivity is certainly there, as is the capacity for warmth and love and fidelity. But until women cease to see themselves strictly in terms of men's eyes and to value men more highly than women, friendship with other women will remain a sometime thing, an expedient among competitors of inferior station that can be lightly discarded. I, for one, would much rather compete with men than for them. This affliction of competition between women for the attention of men -- the only kind of women's competition that is encouraged by society -- also affects the liberated woman who managed to secure an equal footing with men in this man's world. Watch a couple of strong women in the same room and notice the sparks fly. Many women who reject the 'woman is inferior' psychology for themselves apply it unsparingly to others of the same sex. An ambitious woman frequently thinks of herself as the only hen in the barnyard, to reverse a common metaphor. She is the exception, she believes. Women must recognize that they must make common cause with all women. When women get around to really liking -- and respecting -- other women, why then, we will have begun."

Something tells me that Sarah Palin never encountered these kinds of ideas during her studies for the Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism at the University of Idaho.

Comments

[ctom]

I don't think it's appropriate to compare the acts of bravery by women sufferage protestors with that of those prisoners at Gitmo. We would've been better off from a PR stand point to shoot them dead in the desert and let the desert dogs feed off their rotten carcuses but we needed the intel. I'm sure there are additional places where we can place feed pipe into but the main goal is to pump out usable intel to understand how to kill them better in the future. Remember, no compassion was shown when Americans were beheaded on the internet and I'm sure if released, they will continue. Best to use them if they remain cooperative or if not, dump them in the ocean when ACLU is not watching and say it was the hurricanes.

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

I think being anti-abortion cannot be a "feminist" position. The Scoff.com person misconstrues everything I wrote. I was just pointing out that Palin's career choices would be quite limited today if her older sisters had not organized, mobilized, and demanded women's equal rights about 40 years ago. I'm a historian and the Second Wave feminist movement is one of the most significant social and political developments of the last half century -- and guess what? Reproductive rights were central. The fact that Palin wants to return to coat hangers and back alley abortions in this country tends to undermine her "feminist" credentials -- see my first blog on Palin comparing her to Clarence Thomas.

[yappnmutt]

so then maybe palin is part of the third wave feminist movement(post modern movement) where women are not constrained by the talking points acceptable to the previous wave by declaring their status as powerful women achieved on their own non second wave feminist credentials.

[Taan]

Obama opted for a man who could fill in the blanks in his own resume to create a whole. McCain chose Palin and together they make a 3/4th. For everyone who intends to vote the Republican ticket in November, picture this: Three months in the Oval Office, McCain keels over terminally. President Palin assumes the chair and is now in charge of the U.S. and much of the rest of the planet. Is this what anybody really wants? Wasn't it bad enough that G.W. Bush, the least qualified among candidates, was elevated to the White House. Do we want to repeat this tragedy, one from which the long struggle back will tax our nation to the extreme. At present, socio-economically we are on a runaway luge and gaining speed. Where are the brakes to slow this impending crash?

[Shezboday]

Wake up people!! Have you seen this!!!

'If these numbers are sustained through Election Day -- a big if -- Republicans could be expected to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.': On the generic ballot question, Gallup finds likely voters prefer "the Republican candidate" to "the Democratic candidate" 50 percent to 45 percent. If these numbers are sustained through Election Day -- a big if -- Republicans could be expected to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives


I, I, I, cannot believe it?!?!?!?

Words fail me. Thoughts driven underground. No memories will awaken of Hope. Daily I struggle, daily we fail. Why? How? No answers but wind that knows no name yet answers to THEM!

Lost, Lost.....again.

[johnie2xs]

Any knowledge Palin may gain regarding international understanding is going to be superficial, at best, with no depth of understanding. As has been brought up, by comparison, Obama having been in the Senate has an understanding of the world stage far and away better than her. Throw Biden into the mix and not even McCain can compete. It is well known by Obama operatives that Palin is no more than a cynical distraction. None the less she does deserve some serious scrutiny, if for no other reason than to display how little regard the McCain campaign has for the intelligence and the overall security of the American people. I just paid a compliment to the American people by using the word "intelligence". The unfortunate use of this word can be misleading, due to the fact that it will be mostly "low information voters" who will be making the final determination as to who will be leading us out of the mess we're in.
If God were ever to truly be on our side, let us hope it is NOW!!!!!

[AshevilleVoice]

"an Orwellian feminism "

you nailed it all right there.

In Orwellian feminism, a woman can be just as good at being a man as any man can. Not only that, but she is immune to having any deficiencies pointed out because that would be misogynist and sexist.

In Orwellian feminism, a woman can't actually stand for anything that might actually help women. She must insist that rape victims purchase their own rape evidence kits. She must insist that a rapist has the right to chose the mother of his children. She must give a speech to promote the rights of oil companies even when that means taking dangerous risks with a late term pregnancy. She must have a circle of female friends, but if you ask those friends whether they will vote for her, most of them cannot say that they will. Because female friendship is not about believing in each other. It is only about alliances that serve a purpose.

[jgravelle]

It's good that women have smart men like Mr. (that's M-i-s-t-e-r) Palermo to explain to them what REAL feminism is, and what TRUE feminists should believe.

Hopefully, they'll heed his manly wisdom and not allow themselves to make this Sarah Palin girl into some sort of role-model just because she elevated herself to the Governor's office of the geographically largest state in the U.S..

She had all those really smart GUYS trying to stop her, too. When will she learn to listen to what men tell her to do? I'd encourage her to model herself more after Mr. Palermo's REAL feminist ideal.

Men, after all, know what's best for feminists...

-jjg
DailyScoff.com

[wolfgangmo]

So your contention is that men cannot be feminists.

Your entire argument is not about the merits of the argument but rather an attack on the the messenger. Not very enlightened.

[jgravelle]

My contention, if you demand it in synopsis, is that Mrs. Palin is twice the woman Mr. Palermo will ever be.

I don't consider calling a woman "a woman" to be an insult.

But then, I'm not as "enlightened" as some...

-jjg
DailyScoff.com

[Bibbo]

Mr Palermo (sounds italian-catholic) is treading on dangerous theological ground when he calls abortion a reproductive "right".Theologically speaking the case on abortion has been decided.
Its been defined as an "intrinsic evil".One has the freedom to do evil but never the right.Just about all the "anti-feminists" your side is always carping about are anti-abortion because they agree with the abortion is evil argument. It has nothing to do with subjugation of women. That fear all comes from the paranoia of the so called feminists who have some unresolved issues.You are incapable of understanding our admiration of Sarah Palin unless you get this point.We can agree to disagree but you should know with what point( abortion is evil NOT lets keep women under the thumb) you are at odds with in regards to conservative thinking.

[tdbach]

And you are treading on dangerous sociological ground in aligning anti-abortion movements with any kind of feminism. Abortion rights is the natural front for this trench warfare of feminism against second-class citizenry. More than the right to vote or the equal pay, the greatest, most traumatic assault on women's sovereignty and status as equals in society is male-dominated society's claim over women's bodies, over a woman's right to control what happens within her own body. Whether you think abortion is "evil" or simply repugnant, you tread on another's - yes - rights, when you insist that you can reach your hand up her vagina and into her womb to block a surgeon's scalpel.

[WorkingClass]

Hate men much?

[djarvis]

"she elevated herself to the Governor's office of the geographically largest state in the U.S.."

Maybe it is GEOGRAPHICALLY the largest state, but it has the SMALLEST population of any state in the U.S. Yes, it's great that she got elected governor, but how can you call her a feminist when she is AGAINST the Equal Pay for Equal Work. She doesn't want women to get paid the same for doing the same job a man does??

[jgravelle]

That's a non-sequitor.

Opposing a nefarious bill subtitled "Equal Pay for Equal Work" doesn't equate to opposing equality in wages.

I support hugging my son. I'm totally in favor of it. But the fact that I'd oppose a government kid-hugging mandate hardly makes me an anti-hugger.

It makes me anti-GOVERNMENT-MANDATED-hugging, that's all...

-jjg
DailyScoff.com

[yappnmutt]

its ironic that when an example of the feminist ideal doesn't conform to the "men are the enemy" urban feminist doctrine while achieving success in a "man's world" as a feminine woman is in the spotlight the "conforming" feminists and their sympathizers come out of the woodwork to disavow her success as an example of women power.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Yes, she is successful, but at what expense?
That she doesn't believe women should have a choice? Buts it's more than that...it's about her imposing her beliefs on other women. That's not progress.
That she is allowing men to dictate where and when she can speak and to whom she can speak? That doesn't sound like feminism to me...that sounds like men trying to make a good example of how a woman should act.
She's the hottest governor in the coolest state...do you think anyone would say that about Mr. Palin?

[yappnmutt]

her views on choice are her opinions and beliefs. shouldn't feminism allow all the views of women not just the ones they want to impose on all women?

in politics, other people(almost all men) DICTATE WHAT male politicians say, with what words and when. what's the difference with a female politician?

she is the hottest governor in the coolest state. a lot of males and lesbians ascribe to that desciption. i think similar things have been said about a lot of attractive public figures. a certain kennedy and a clinton come to mind.

palin, like her or not, is the feminist ideal. she is powerful, she is feminine and she is hot.

[NoSillyName]

Palin is the UNDERTOW.

[navi999]

Palin is so successful because she appeals to a large group of women who feel they have been not only ignored by the feminists in this country but also insulted. Any woman who does not immediately agree with a liberal view point of the world should expect to be called uneducated, an embarrassment or not even a woman at all!

"Christian patriarchs and their hopelessly calcified, religiously condoned misogyny, but also with the self-abnegating, submissive female Uncle Tommies whose ambitions and eagerness to please the powerful males of their tribe are so desperate that they would sell out their sovereignty over their own bodies. And yours too! "-Cintra Wilson at Salon

"Her greatest hypocrisy is in her pretense that she is a woman."-Wendy Doniger at Washington Post

Is it really a surprise that some women feel they can identify more with her than say Wilson or Doniger? Perhaps if women like these would stop attacking and insulting other women and practiced the acceptance and openmindedness that liberalism preaches, women like myself would be more receptive to their views.

[kellysmalltowngirl]

I agree. Denigrating people who are not like you is not a way to gain their confidence and trust and, consequently, their vote. And we CANNOT WIN wthout their votes.

Where is the respect for diversity???

Obama Biden '08

[Pupadup4oBama]

TOUCHE!!!

[Bibbo]

Very valid point and i'm a Sarah palin fan.

[ElBruce]

Third-wave feminism is alive and well, thank you, and it has little to do with Gov. Palin. It's about giving women the freedom not only from housewifery but from boardroomery and letting them make their own lifestyle and sexual choices. Third-wave feminism doesn't look down on strippers or hookers, provided they're happy with what they're doing.

[Pupadup4oBama]

YES!!!!

[BAVirago]

It's not true that the more we talk about Palin the more likely we are to lose this election. That's like saying that the more we talk about racism, the more racism there is. In fact, we need to talk about the reasons *why* Palin is so successful in co-opting a feminist message and *why* American women are so willing to accept a candidate as unqualified as Palin. (One reason may be that they are tired of being so incredibly underrepresented in government. This makes it easier for someone like Palin to step in. If we had a number of women--not just Hillary Clinton-- to look to for leadership, there would be no room for Palin.)

We feminists see Palin for what she is. That's the good news. The bad news is that we are feminists who have laid down our bodies and minds to keep safe and move forward women's causes. Have you? Or is Palin's nomination the first time you've thought to ask what it is that feminism is good for. (Because as bell hooks reminded us years and years ago, feminism is good for everyone.)

Had the feminist message been adopted years ago, you wouldn't be facing down Palin now. That is why so many feminists are feeling retributive at the moment.

[jeanrenoir]

The problem, as usual, is with the voters. Most American women, for one reason or another, are on Schlafly's and Palin's side, not Steinem's. Steinem's feminism really IS "elitist" in the strict sense of being pretty well restricted to college educated women. Wal-Mart hockey moms far outnumber Smithies like Steinem, and feminist of that ilk. I used to think that McCain's own anti-Roe position would doom him with Hillary voters, but I forgot how many Hillary voters are not, ironically, the kind of Wellesley feminist Hillary is. Reagan Democrat women liked Hillary for her Erin Brockovich dimension, her feistiness. These women vote out of resentment and just want to see a woman be ASSERTIVE and "show" the men! Palin's interchangeable with Hillary for this role, and actually BETTER, because women know she started much further down the social ladder than Hillary, down where the masses of white women live. So, as usual, the Republicans channel the resentments of the masses, male or female, and win by attacking "elites" of all sorts, including feminist elites, like Hillary when she naively disdained Tammy Wynette and mothers who stay at home baking cookies in '92.

[BAVirago]

I respectfully disagree with this. If people--all people, not just women--understood Palin & Schafly, they'd have Bush-like approval ratings. The problem is with the media, who dumb down arguments so that they are pablum.

[Bibbo]

Who are you???
Most people are not overly impressed with what you think matters. I did however find very interesting your take on what really motivates the Hillary -Steinem feminists.Resentment that will cause them to support any ASSERTIVE female and "show" men. They need therapy not a candidate.I agree with you and although I am sure you think you are being "put down" I believe there are a lot of men in the world who are self centered sh*ts that need an a** kicking.The thing is the feminists never get it right about which group of men truly value women as persons and not just a hot body. The true men of conservative values (James Dobson,Gary Bauer, Jerry Falwell) stay married and faithful. I know N. Gingrich and others didnt but statistically speaking conservative men treat females(wives and others) better than liberal men.I'm tempted to think the negative view many feminists have towards "men" comes from abuse they have experienced from fathers and husbands(Clinton,Edwards,Spritzer).

[Philip N. Cohen - Huffpost Blogger]

Well put. The anti-feminist who attacks women's rights "as a woman" is part of one proud American tradition. Still, how about some respect for her elders? McCain passed over much more qualified anti-feminist women for his own shameless political purposes...

(Answers to the previous comment: I believe Steinem endorsed Clinton on the logic that Black men shouldn't come before (white) women any more.

[going2ireland]

We have not heard one peep out of Gloria Steinem during this entire election season. And nothing from Erica Jong except to blast everyone for not backing Hillary Clinton.

NOW Erica chooses to remain silent?

And you can bet your bottom dollar that if Betty Friedan were still alive, she would be out front still remaining active in the political arena during this election.

It really bothers me that those that are still alive are keeping quiet.

And too bad that Bella Abzug is gone. Sarah Palin would have only lasted a week cause Bella would never have allowed any of Sarah's lies to be repeated a second time.

[kesiac]

Actually Gloria Steinem has been very vocal on Palin.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,1290251.story