And speaking of adding 2 cents to the HuffPo forum on women and Palin (see previous post, below), here’s Virginia Rutter chiming in already with 8 cents of her own! -GWP


Not a Woman Thing

By Virginia Rutter, PhD

Framingham State College


Last week I kept getting those emails, “women against Sarah Palin.” Though I am a woman against Sarah Palin (and McCain), I did not join. Believe me, Palin is a problem: As Deborah put it in HuffPo today “I firmly believe that Palin is unprepared and find McCain’s choice,and logic, insulting to any Clinton supporter worth her salt.”


Still, I didn’t sign, I didn’t forward. Why? Palin’s policies and positions are anti-feminist and anti-woman, so why shouldn’t women stand up together against her?


Here’s why. Because I believe that the “women against” gambit feeds into the identity politics of Sarah Palin that make her so damn scary. Ironically, by mounting a “women against” campaign, we make her a “woman’s candidate.” And that is what is driving us f-ing crazy. (At least one poll shows a boost in support from Republican women.) Maybe I read too much Foucault back in the day (or perhaps have more recently seen too much Rove?), but I am telling you this looks like a tough one to handle.


Her identity politics are about “I’m a hockey mom so respect me.” “I am an authority figure, so don’t question me.” “I’m a Christian, so don’t doubt me.” “I am a woman, so don’t get feminist with me.” On the facts, womenagainstpalin are totally right. On the politics of it, it doesn’t work. So, I am not going with womenagagainst. Instead I’m sticking with “she’s more Bush than Bush.” (Pun intended? Oh gosh, no.)