Feminism Is No Old Boys Club

Everybody loves to hate Sarah Palin, especially me.

But enough is enough.

A new article in the New York Times slams her for calling herself a feminist while not being enough of one. The authors attack her for being the face of women in politics, but for not being liberal enough for the title.

What is going on here?

Feminist talking heads Anna Holmes and Rebecca Traister were the poison pens behind this hatchet piece. They can’t seem to deal with Palin as a politician and they confuse her abilities with her reproductive organs.

• Since the 2008 election, progressive leaders have done little to address the obvious national appetite for female leadership. And despite (or because of) their continuing obsession with Ms. Palin, they have done nothing to stop an anti-choice, pro-abstinence, socialist-bashing Tea Party enthusiast from becoming the 21st century symbol of American women in politics.

Say what you want about her (terrible) policies, but being a woman is not what has kept her on the national stage. She oozes charisma; I may not see it, you may be immune to it, but millions of people lap it up.

They imply that her continued presence in politics is simply a result of what is between her legs. She is not a politician or a speaker or a leader — just a woman filling a national appetite.

The authors are also convinced that feminism and progressive politics are one and the same:

• Sure, the Grizzlies sound somewhat progressive on paper. But from their opposition to reproductive rights to their work against health care reform and labor policies that would empower American women, their ideas are just antiquated clichés dressed up in designer suits.

The liberals were the first to embrace the tenants of feminism, but that hardly means conservatives are banned from recognizing women’s rights. We should be cheering that such a dyed in the wool Republican proudly wears the mantle feminist!

The Democrats attack the inequities between men and women by suggesting government programs, because that is their modus operandi. When there are problems in society they tend to take proactive steps to address it.

But the Republicans are a different kettle of fish. They tend to vehemently oppose intervention (unless it is to prevent change, such as in the issue of gay marriage) and claim that they want the government out of people’s lives. At first glance it may not seem feminist, but there are ways to make it work.

Feminism fights for the social, political and economic equality between the sexes. For me, it has always been common sense. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone saw if that way?

By making a liberal worldview mandatory, we unnecessarily confuse the issue. We may disagree on how to get there, but as long as we agree that “women are people too” we are both feminists.

Take the sign off the door that says “No Conservative Girls Allowed” — the last thing feminism should be is an old boys club.