I've been casually listening to the news as I plowed through three chapters of Algebra homework today, (yeah, I know) and it seems that Gov. Sarah Palin is still a pretty hot topic. For good or bad, it seems that EVERY decision she makes is a national media craze. I don't know what to make of it. All of this talk about her has put a question in my head that needs to be answered.
Is Sarah Palin a good model for future women politicians? The reason I'm asking is because I thinking of my little cousin who, at 16 years old, has made such an impression in the Washington State political system she was issued a ticket to the Democratic National Convention.
But back to Sarah Palin. Even though she's a cutsy small town hockey mom, she happens to be governor of the largest state (by area) in the union, came one election away from being the first female VP of the United States and has turned the Republican National Party upside down. However, lets face it, the way she presents her self as a girly girl, helps the media shift focus to her wardrobe fund instead of the issues she stands for.
And while she is on the TV, I think of two other prominent female politicans over the years, Hillary Clinton and Ann Richards, and I think of how very different these three women are. Hillary has turned out a very sucessful career by being a very no-nonsense politican. However, she is thought of as a carnivore that will eat her young to get ahead.
Ann Richards made a career out of making fun of the Bush's but ultimately lost to one.
So, my question to the masses is where does Sarah Palin fit in and when it is all said and done, which one of these three women will be looked back on as the model for future female politicians?
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4 comments:
Depending on where you stand, they can all be looked at as a "good" female politician model. I think in general, women have come a long way to get to where they're at. They went from not being able to vote back in 1920's to running for president of the most powerful country. How cool is that? . . . . oh yeah, pretty cool to hear about your little cousin.
Instead of asking "what," I'd ask who...
I agree with you: Sarah Palin was on my TV this morning, giving a very short press conference (!) from the Republican Governors' meeting in Miami. Why is she giving a press conference?
And how does Palin connect to your cousin? Did your cousin say she was influenced by Palin? (I wouldn't think too much since she was invited to the DNC).
Do you think the 'girly girl' image is more media-created than Palin? I would argue so--Palin seems more interested in Moose hunting than clothing (see photos of her prior to the RNC). I also think that Palin, Clinton, and Richards are not cut of the same cloth. But what about other female politicans, like Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi, or even, dare I say it, Michelle Bachmann? Because there are thousands of women in U.S. politics, from state to U.S. congress, and everywhere in between. Their diversity is just as broad as the diversity in male quarters...so I wonder. Is this a question of women as role models or just politicians as role models?
What would your cousin say?
OK I really liked your blog. It was very interesting to read, but I think after the whole election media should just leave Sarah Palin alone. I dont think their is anything wrong with being girly girl and a politician at the same time. If it was a man nobody would've given him a hard time on his clothes, but just because she is a female is being critizied non stop.Overall it was fun to read good job and iam looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. The fact that she was a girly girl shouldn't be a detractor. And yes, being from Alaska, she really isn't like that at all...
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