Palin's Answer to Sexism: "I Don't Know." Enough said. Or is it?

Gov. Palin's recent answers to questions about sexism reveal that her experiences have been very different from that of the average American mother. If only the fight for equal rights was truly over for all of us!

ABC's Charlie Gibson asked, "Is it sexist for people to ask: How can somebody manage a family of seven and the vice presidency?" Her answer started with: "I don't know."

Well, yes, that question is sexist. Did anyone ask Sen. John Edwards four years ago if he could handle his family of five while being vice president? Enough said.

But the rest of Governor Palin's answer was even more disappointing. She said, in part:

"I'm a product of Title IX, also, where we had equality in schools that was just being ushered in with sports and with equal opportunity for education, all of my life. I'm part of that generation, where that question is kind of irrelevant, because it's accepted."

Is it possible that Governor Palin is unaware that profound bias confronts millions of working mothers in our nation? We'd all like to be part of a generation for which sexism is "irrelevant" and women are "accepted," particularly when so many of America's 83 million mothers face maternal profiling, also known as hiring discrimination based on maternal status. At MomsRising, we hear every day from women who hit a gender-based Maternal Wall, which is rampant sexism in action.

Here's what the Maternal Wall looks like: On average, mothers make 73 cents to a man's dollar, while single moms make only about 60 cents to a man's dollar. In fact, a recent Cornell University study concluded that, with equal resumes and job experiences, mothers were 79% less likely to be hired than non-mothers.

Mothers face discrimination every day and, while it was a huge advance, Title IX hasn't broken down the Maternal Wall. For many of us, it's an issue that's far from irrelevant.

Perhaps Governor Palin's answer stems from the fact that she's a government official, in a job with a pre-set salary high enough to support a family and afford high quality childcare. It takes nothing away from her accomplishments to ask her to recognize that salaries at her level, which bring the health coverage, flexibility and other benefits she enjoys, are out of reach for most families.

Her experience is far from the norm. For example, nearly half of all private-sector workers, and 79% of low wage American workers, don't have a single paid sick day for themselves or their children.

How government employees can set their own benefits much higher than most of the rest of us, vote against the same policies for all, and still sleep at night is beyond me. I can only hope that they simply don't know how much farther ahead they are in terms of pay and benefits in their current positions.

These issue impact all of us, male, female, Democrat, Republican, parents, and non-parents.

It's great that Governor Palin has gotten the supports she needs. The rest of us need them too. It's time to leave the moose burgers, hockey, and sexist questions behind -- and get back to hearing about what the candidates will do to aid America's working parents.

We need to know what Governor Palin would do to change the fact that nearly a quarter of families with young children live in poverty, and that a baby is born every 41 seconds without healthcare.

Governor Palin clearly isn't everywoman, but every woman, and every man, deserves to have their family economic security taken seriously.

Follow Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rowefinkbeiner

Comments

[Musicalita]

Everyone:

Please take a moment to vote in this PBS poll being conducted on Palin. It takes about 30 seconds only.

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

[lewes17266]

You should read this essay concerning the qualifications of our leaders.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-gilfillan/dont-hire-palin-how-palin_b_122726.html

[biggduude]

Palin wasn't asked for a broad discourse on sexism, she was asked whether a particular question was sexist. Her answer was not "on sexism." Her specific reply to the question ("I don't know") seems fair enough. She went on to point out that she has benefitted from Title IX, which is also true enough. She was not asked about discrimination against working mothers or pay differentials.

[Muriella]

Sexist? Probably, but has there ever been a candidate, male or female, with something even close to the family dynamics of the Palins?

Men often cite personal family reasons for stepping down from, or declining an invitation to run for public office. For instance, if a male Governor had...

- a son leaving for war
- a pregnant, teen-age daughter who has not finished high school, and is planning on getting married
- two middle children (most often ignored in the average family) just entering the difficult pre-teen and teen years
- a downs syndrome infant and
- an employed wife with whom he shared the household duties

he would take a look at his life and family and say "My family needs me. My family needs all of me. It would be extremely difficult on every member of this family to go through another major change in our life right now. There is potential for more than one tragedy to occur in this family without me stepping into a public and dangerous spotlight. My present position gives me the opportunity to do good things and gain experience for the job that I believe I was meant to do. In four, eight or twelve years, I will still be young, and my family will be in a better place, and then I will do what I want and need to do in the Big Game.

When asked to run as VP Sarah Palin should have blinked ... at least 5

[theaudacity]

For all of you feminists out there, who think Obama is on your side.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/09/13/mccain-pays-female-staffers-better-than-obama/

Once again, words not actions.

[timezone]

Looking at the voting records of both McCain and Obama, and who supports them, this feminist is for Obama. I go with the person I trust and I don't trust McCain.

Just some examples, McCain said Obama got all this money from Fannie and Freddie, when in reality, McCain got over 160,000 from directors and lobbyists from them and Obama....1­6,000. Obama got over 160,000 from the EMPLOYEES of those organizations. McCain has had decades to work for the American people and look where we are. He's been buddies with Bush and voted the great majority of time, in line with the Bush Administration and now he's constantly criticizing Bush's administration. He's like a rat leaving a sinking ship because that ship no longer serves him. He's said how Obama will raise taxes, but fails to mention that it's only for the people making 1/4 million plus a year (like McCain and his cronies and and a large segment of his supporters)!

As a U.S. citizen, the Republican party can't try to fool me a third time.

[lewes17266]

You should know about VAWA or Violence Against Women Act which was drafted by Senator Biden.

[Number15]

For real? More people are dividing a smaller pot of money. Outside of the world of republican math, that equals a smaller sallary. divide 100K between 4 people each one gets 25K divide 100K between 6 people each one gets 16.6K sooo.... 28 male staffers vs. 30 female.

I'm not saying it isn't unfair. But i'm pretty sure obama wouldn't make his female staffers have their rapist baby. I don't even like obama he's about as qualified as Bush was ... but they way i look at it, he can't possibly do worse... and i'm not going to let a bunch of congressional fat cat tell me what i'm allowed to do with my god given reproductive rights while they allow viagra to be subsidized.

I never thought i'd become one, but I am a purely single issue voter this time around... Roe vs. Wade.

[PumaAnn]

I thought her answer was on the money. First, it's up to voters to decide. She certainly has the right to run, and she is running for office, and that's that. Her actions indicate to women that sexism should not stop anyone from going after what they want. If so-called "liberals" chose to make it an issue, and they did, then shame on them.

[timezone]

PumaAnn, you're absolutely correct in that sexism should not stop someone from running, however, her lack of experience, knowledge, and common sense should keep US from voting for her. I'm one of those women who don't think being a woman in and of itself gives someone the credentials or ability to be a good choice for the U.S. I urge all the Palin supporters to look at her experience (or lack of) with regard to the economy and foreign policy, just to name a couple. Just because she has the rah rah spirit of a cheerleader, doesn't mean she has the chops to lead our country.

[caterpol]

Her answer indicates nothing of the kind.

Her answer atually indicates that she doesn't see sexism as a relevant issue for her generation. As if all of the sexist issues of the past have been solved already so she doesn't see it as a problem. Perhaps you agree with this statement. Most women don't.

The correct answer would have been that the question is entirely sexist, but questions as to her qualifications for the job of VP----outside of her gender----are absolutely relevant.

[Ron333wood]

I've had this kind of sick feeling in the pit of my stomach ever since the Republican Convention when I first heard Sarah Palin speak. There was something in her voice that made me extremely uneasy and that sensation intensified as the content of what she was reading spewed forth. I racked by brain, because I had heard this before...l­ong ago...the name that belonged to that strident, whiny voice. EMILY LITTELA...­the Gilda Radnar character on Saturday Night Live...bac­k when it was funny. Remember how she would come on with a "rant" that always started with "Ya knooowww" and then would go off twisting and warping a situation until someone would step in and correct her. Then it ended with "Never mind". I guess the only difference between Emily and Sarah is than in one case the distortion was caused by confusion and in the other by deception.

[gn482]

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

Christian right has organized to swamp this on-line PBS poll. Please get vote against Pahlin and let your friends know too. thanks GN

[ptillen]

Taking a poll on PBS's NOW program does seem a little like preaching to the choir. How are the results of this poll at all important or influential?

[lewes17266]

gn482, Palin is the running mate because McCain was desperate for support from the Religious Right when his pandering to Hagee turned bad. The Religious Right hated John McCain before Palin and were even threatening not to vote at all. They are selling her now to their very gullible target market just like they sell forgiveness. The leaders of that group are very influential. Their fans vote as they are told, think as they are told, hate who they are told to hate, and send their money to their millionaire leaders.
Please read this essay - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-gilfillan/dont-hire-palin-how-palin_b_122726.html
Please read my profile.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Dear Ms. Kristin,

the only reason I read your article because I have listen to women who made the pro-life decision to have a child or children for years on this same subject. It pop-up during this season of politics.

I'm over fifty yrs old, I'm pro-life for all people just not for me. I did not want to be mother.

What I can never understand in my life time is the fact women having the control to raise the boy baby to become a man complain about how these men treat women. you would think after 100s of years in America with millions of people coming to this nation to get an education, no woman has written a best seller on "HOW TO BRING UP BABY BOY, TO BE A GOOD MAN to respect Women" DUH.

If women keep doing the same thing with boy babies,but want all men to respect women when they are grown, why not do what some women have done. There are some men who was raised correctly.

[tbirdalum]

Made in, I'm 68 yrs old and I'm a man who has great respect for women, I love them and all the issues they have to deal with. I'll tell you why I have great respect for them. When my mom and dad raised me, they taught me to respect everyone or I got my as* whipped and now that I look back I love them dearly for the way they raised me.


O for 08

[valkyrie607]

"I'm over fifty yrs old, I'm pro-life for all people just not for me. I did not want to be mother."

Does this mean that you had an abortion at one point but wish that other people wouldn't?

That's pointless. Other people's choices aren't going to change what happened to you in the past.

It's difficult to understand your post. Please consider taking better care with your grammar.

[lewes17266]

In other words, it is about being a responsible person, especially in parenting, but even moreso in the parenting of a little boy since there is such a problem in our society with men disrespecting women (from the point-of-view of a woman of a certain age)....I think.

[SeanGardner]

"Is it possible that Governor Palin is unaware that profound bias confronts millions of working mothers in our nation?"

She just might be. Why would she (despite a surplus for the state) cut crucial funding for teen mothers and WIC (women, infants and chilren) recipients? Why does she oppose the EQUAL PAY for EQUAL WORK bill in Congress? Why did the non-partisan National Partnership for Women and Families give Alaska a D-minus when it comes to its parental leave policy - there's no guarantee of paid leave for new parents? Beyond that, why did Govenor Palin charge rape victims $300 to $1200 for RAPE KITS when she was Mayor of Wasila?

This woman has some nerve, thinking that she can beat Joe Biden in a debate, and beat him on the issue of Women's Rights? Joe Biden, who has a sterling and unimpeachable record on women's issues, is going to smash that woman duing the debates.

She can't hide behind forever behind the McCain's army of unqualified political hacks and oppo-research rookies. She will have to face the music soon, and Joe Biden will expose her for what she is: awoman who would much rather pretend to be a champion for working mothers and their families instead of producing a record that would confirm it beyond all doubt.

[Shabba]

Good looking women do not experience as much bias as unattractive women. Same for men. Only 14.5% of men are six feet and over, yet 58% of CEO's six feet or taller. Sarah probably never experienced much bias with men tripping over themselves to curry favor with her.

[anghiari]

I think it is totally disingenuous of women to challenge that asking a mother of five who wants to be Vice President f she can do the job? Am I the only woman who thinks that question isn't sexist? You show me a working woman, married with a husband with a decent job, and tell me she doesn't still carry most of the burden of managing the lives of their children? Ask any father the date of his kids next dental schedule or even what size shoes they wear. All of this screaming about they don't ask men these questions? Neither do many of the wives and mothers who are complicit in allowing husband/fathers to live very narrow lives when it comes to being a full partner in participating in the lives of their children. What husband knows his daughter's ballet class schedule? When's the last time he got cookies or cupcakes ready to take to share with his child's school classmates in celebration of his child's birthday? Or the myriad other aspects of children's lives that far to many fathers are clueless about. These are all the reasons men running for Vice President are not asked these questions. They have wives. Is it fair, no it isn't, but it is real and the way things are. Anybody notice Condi Rice's travel miles in the last several years? What if she had five kids?

[violettefemme]

From another female, who has been the stay at home soccer mom, the class mother, the cupcake baker, AND (when they got older) a mother with a full time job...you got it exactly right.

I don't think it's sexist at all to ask Palin these questions, about both her personal experiences and her women's issues policies.

Surely I'm not the only one wondering what she's on to be returning to work 3 days after birthing her fifth child under bizarre conditions like 10 hour flights and then taking on the VP slot.

And does ANYONE know what she has to say about 5 colleges in 6 years? And is anyone even sure she actually got a degree from one of them?

I find her and her family life and her history to be VERY strange and disturbing actually. She's like a....

a....

STEPFORD CANDIDATE.

Obama-Biden 08!

[timezone]

Great points, Sean

[quindy]

We should demand to have the same exact benefits that our elected officials have. After all, we are paying for them. They, especially republicans, are against 'socialized' health care and other benefits for regular people, but they enjoy the same socialized benefits for themselves. These people have no shame.

[blueshield]

"Is it sexist for people to ask: How can somebody manage a family of seven and the vice presidency?"

I'll have to disagree and say, no, it's not at all sexist to ask.

It IS sexist not to ask a male.

Why would we assume family obligations and issues (like Sen Edward's wife bout with cancer) don't affect a person's performance, regardless of gender? Of course it does. We know that from our own experience.

And since a man's ability to father and raise kids is also an indicator of character, integrity, and moral values, why NOT ask where he puts his priorities? Jo.e. Bid.en has no trouble with that question being off limits to ask him: he's living it.

I think if we're going to finally break through the sexist barrier, it will be when there is EQUALITY and even-handedness without regard to gender.

We SHOULD ask if Sar.ah Pal.in is capable of governing AND meeting her family obligations. If she can make the case she's doing both well - and from my view, she's not doing so well with either - then she's a better leader for it. And the same should go for men.

[Missmn]

Thank you, blueshield. I think you've hit the nail on the head.

[schatsie]

Palin is a BUBBLE GIRL, just like Bush.... I cannot believe that she does not know or has not discussed this issue with any other women in her 24 years of her adult life....Sh­e really is Out of Touch with the working/middle class...

When are we going to see her tax returns????

[listeningpost]

I don't think it's useful to tag those conditions as "sexist" because it stops conversation. The word has enough stigma attached to it to make the comment an ad hominem attack. Actually, Title IX isn't a bad place to begin discourse. Some battles have been won and there's no point to continue to fight them. It's just extra baggage that polarizes the discussion.
Palin's position from there on is tepid at best. KRF makes great points but many of them are economic rather than based on sexual politics.
Don't Motherhood and Fatherhood go hand in hand?
Perhaps we are ready for a Parenthood Manifesto.

[loax]

Sarah is like Marie Antoinette "Let them eat cake"

[kdalt]

A worthwhile and intelligent post--

for another gender and politics article--see
"Sex and the Presidency":

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/092008/09212008/411116