Lucia

de Vernai

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September 15, 2008

Uh, Sarah, Those Shoes You Might Have to Fill Aren’t On Sale at Macy’s

“I love those hockey moms. You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” These enlightening words from Sarah Palin received a standing ovation at the Republican National Convention. The Alaskan governor’s pride in her one-of-the-girls attitude swept many women away from civic concern and into a shopping spree.

Her lipstick, wigs to mimic her hairdo and her Naughty Monkey red patent leather peep toe pumps, which I recall seeing on a cross dresser at a nightclub this summer, are all the rage among American women shoppers. Sarah Palin’s emphasis on her appearance is reminiscent of Sex and the City in encouraging sexist stereotypes of women as shallow and image obsessed. The case for women’s equality and the eradication of sexism in our political system loses its persuasive power when women empowered for political participation would rather blog about the shade of Palin’s lipstick than her inability to define the Bush Doctrine.

This is a part of the ideal strategy for Republicans. Technically they have a woman running for office, shielding them from the liberal accusations of being the Old Boys Club. At the same time, Palin’s political caliber is not a threat to continuing Old Boys Club policies. The official story is that you can be feminine and still a part of the great American democratic process. The truth is that the part you play in this process is irrelevant if, instead of learning your party’s policies, you go shoe shopping.   

Women have the right to choose. It is discouraging and frightening to see that we opt for Palin’s useless PTA analogies and tracking down her eyeglass frames (they’re on backorder, sorry). Blaming upbringing, environment and men no longer fits the bill. Women are exercising their agency and the critical, rational thinking that we had to prove we have. What for? Judging by Palin and many of her followers, so that we can make the independent, fully informed decision to buy the stacked, not kitten, heel.

Palin’s first interview as a vice-presidential nominee with ABC’s Charlie Gibson was an embarrassment. Not just for Republicans, but for all women. Palin looked stylish and well put-together as usual, but things got ugly when she clearly could not answer a simple question about preemptive strike strategy. She’s pretty, all right . . . but can she negotiate with Pakistan? Does she know any names of Pakistani leaders? (No, “bad guys” is not one of them.) And most importantly, will matching fabric textures be enough to garner respect and attention of world leaders?

Probably not. American women who rejoice, because they can finally identify with a female politician with whom they feel they could be manicure buddies, are about to endanger the future of our country. Palin may be easier to relate to for most women than Hillary Clinton or other high-profile female politicians. But her girls-night-out humor and pretty face are not going to be able to distract from economic, environmental and military problems – nor solve them.

The office Palin is running for would require her to fill in some large shoes, and not the kind that go on sale at Macy’s at the end of the season. 

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