Reactions to story from The Washington Post

• 

  Sexism & Clothes

  http://theenlighteneddespot.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/sexism-...
  70 days ago in The Enlightened Despot · Authority: 2

  Hillary Clinton recently repeated one of the tropes of the campaign: “I think you have to ask yourself and it’s a little exercise I’d like everybody in the press, and really all of us, to go through: Would the same thing be said about a man in a similar position and the answer 99 times out of 100 is no. I think it’s been a long time since anybody covered what Barack Obama, Joe Biden, or John McCain wear or their hairstyle or any other personal characteristic like that.” To which there are two responses.  First, this is demonstrably false: the media has done a commendable job of tracking the story of Biden’s hair plugs;  also well covered is Obama’s elegant dress sense, and particular attention was paid to his acceptance speech ensemble. Second, in our society women have a broader range of clothing choices than men.  In this, our society is like every other society ever in the history of humanity.  These choices are an expression of identity; you might complain about this on “don’t judge a book by its cover” lines, but that’s adolescent - shut up and dress respectable like for your sister’s play, junior.  And since women have more choices in clothing, they have more opportunity for expression, and this is a valid topic for comment. Below the fold, a bonus edition of “Yglesias being wrong” (a copyrighted feature of this blog). Here’s Yglesias addressing this: Robin Givhan mounts a defense of paying disproportionate attention to the outfits of political women: “It is not sexist to have noticed that Sen. Hillary Clinton delivered her         convention speech dressed in head-to-toe mango. Only an obstinately unaware person would have ignored this question: Senator, why are you dressed like a tropical fruit? One assumes it was to ensure an eye-catching photo for the history books and to underscore her “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits” legacy.” A woman in politics could choose to dress consistently in the same kind of drab colors that her male colleagues choose, but that would be noteworthy in its own right. And if she chooses not to do so, then her bold colors become noteworthy. What’s sexist here isn’t noticing a bright orange suit, but the set of differing conventions and expectations about what male and female politicians should do — conventions that all-but-ensure a higher overall level of scrutiny will be given to women’s wardrobes. Well, no.  The key sentence is the last one, where Yglesias points out exactly what he thinks is sexist.  Apparently what is sexist is “the set of differing conventions and expectations about what male and female politicians should do”, but what those are, Yglesias doesn’t say.  Is it the expectation that women will dress well?  We do expect that, but we also expect that of male politicians (c.f. Kerry in a mango suit).  Or that they will dress colorfully?  Or not colorfully?  I hope that’s not what he means, because we don’t have either of those expectations. In the end, we talked an inordinate amount about Hillary’s clothing because it was inordinately terrible.  Who can forget the yellow pantsuit that the press corps called the ‘bumblebee suit’: Tagged: hillary clinton, Yglesias being wrong
• 

  Another Weak and Feeble Woman?

  http://www.thewideawakecafe.com/?p=2040
  86 days ago in The Wide Awake Cafe » Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi Dead - I'’m Glad He’’s Dead · No authority yet

  No crooked leg, no bleared eye, No part deformed out of kind, Nor yet so ugly half can be As is the inward suspicious mind. Today is the birthday of Elizabeth the First, born September 7th, 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII of England and his second wife, Anne Boleyn in Greenwich Palace. I learned about Queen Elizabeth early on in my elementary years and from that time on, wished that my birthday had been on the seventh instead of the sixth of September. I missed it by about thirty minutes. But, never-the-less, I am a student of the Elizabethan Age, so named because of the captivating rule of Great Britains'’ Elizabeth the First. Happy Birthday Good Queen Bess! My loving people, we have been persuaded by some, that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear; I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonor should grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, by your forwardness, that you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble and worthy subject; not doubting by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people. Elizabeth I of England - 1588 In this day of shock and awe that a woman has been selected by John McCain as his vice presidential choice it is useful to remember another great woman, Elizabeth the 1st of England. In her early years Elizabeth was called bastard, illegitimate, and only a woman, but when at age 25 and the young Elizabeth ascended the throne of England she prided herself on being ‘’mere English'’. The nicknames, Good Queen Bess, Gloriana and the Virgin Queen would come much later, after Elizabeth had avoided the ensnarements of various political intrigues during the years her half-brother Edward and half-sister, Mary reigned on the throne of England. Katharine Parr, Elizabeth’’s stepmother arranged for 10 year old Elizabeth to have the most distinguished tutors in England, foremost among them Roger Ascham. As a result, Elizabeth was educated as well as any legitimate prince, and she displayed a genuine love and aptitude for her studies. Her mind has no womanly weakness, Ascham would write approvingly, her perseverance is equal to that of a man. And later, She readeth more Greek every day, than some Prebendaries of this Church do in a whole week. And so she did; Elizabeth’’s love of scholarship never faltered and, in an age when women were considered inferior to men, she was a glorious exception. Her mind has no womanly weakness, wrote Roger Ascham, Elizabeth’’s tutor. But her 44 year reign on the throne of England, called by many the greatest epoch in England’’s history put away any thoughts of womanly weakness. Interestingly, Elizabeth became Queen at the age of 25, after the death of her half-sister, Mary. She was helped in her accession by a man by the name of Heath which, coincidentally, also happens to be the maiden name of Sarah Palin. Her smooth accession was further assured by the Lord Chancellor, Nicholas Heath. Parliament had been in session while Mary lay dying and, on 17 November, Heath announced her death to the assembled lords and commons. He then said, ‘’Which hap as it is most heavy and grievous unto us, so have we no less cause another way to rejoice with praise to Almighty God for that He hath left unto us a true, lawful and right inheritrice to the crown of this realm, which is the Lady Elizabeth, of whose lawful right and title we need not to doubt. Wherefore the lords of this house have determined with your assents and consents, to pass from hence into the palace, and there to proclaim the said Lady Elizabeth Queen of this realm without further tract of time.'’ There was no dissension at Heath’’s words. Traditionally, Parliament dissolved upon the death of the reigning monarch - but Heath’’s prompt actions ensured Elizabeth’’s lawful recognition as queen before the lords and commons dispersed. And, as a leading Catholic, Heath also secured the loyalty of his religious party for the new queen. Today the medieval men and women of the Democrat Party and media are condescendingly casting Sarah Palin as a mere woman who could not possibly govern. She has five children, they complain, she is a hockey mom, is not acquainted with the Washington elite, eats moose stew and is a Bible believing Christian. The Queen of Daytime Television refuses to even entertain inviting Sarah Palin to visit her own crumbling domain. Bush Derangement Syndrome has virally morphed into Palin Derangement Syndrome, why, Shock! Sarah Palin is a Cowgirl! In every public appearance since being announced as John McCain’’s running mate, Sarah Palin has looked elegant in her understated suits but Robin Givhan could not bother to write about her in this article. She could write about the Democrat Governor of Montana’’s bolero tie but ignored Sarah’’s great appearance on her night at the Republican National Convention in the black pencil skirt and shiny, silver-colored jacket. I wonder why that is? Fausta has a delicious take on Sarah Palin’’s fashion choices. Another fashion blogger gives Sarah a perfect ten. But is fashion that important in the politics of this day and age? Not really, but the look of Sarah Palin is definitely part of her appeal. Queen Elizabeth the First of England was, like her ancestors, the maker of manners. There have been some American women in the past who have made an impact on the fashion of our nation such as Dolly Madison, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, and Jackie Kennedy. Now even Sarah Palin’’s choice of glasses is getting some attention. Still, this is only the icing on the cake for conservatives and Republicans. Sarah Palin’’s fashionably good looks is possibly the only aspect where she has been received well or at the very least, ignored by the mavens in the media. As Hugh Hewitt writes, Chicago Machine Politics is behind many of the smears of Sarah Palin. Hewitt calls them out.. The Obama thugs that tried to intimidate Stanley Kurtz are now busy sending e-mails alleging everything about Sarah Palin except an illegal polar bear hunt, and that may be in tomorrow’’s in-box. Teams of Obamians are arriving in Alaska to invent veneers for smears, even though by now the record of rebuttal is so complete that perhaps even the New York Times will hesitate before publishing another round of lies and retractions. (Then again, probably not.) Exposure as a dirt-monger doesn'’t deter those without a conscience. One wonders whether typical Americans can see the double standard the media employs when covering Barack Obama and running mate, Joseph Biden as opposed to John McCain and running mate, Sarah Palin. Roger Kimball writes that Obama’’s Higher Oleaginousness keeps questioners in the media at bay. This kid glove treatment of Obama is more evidence that those in the media do not want to know any facts about Obama that might be hurtful. As Sarah Palin and John McCain continue to campaign I begin to wonder who is really more feeble and weak, Barack Obama or Sarah Palin? Palin has no help in the left-wing media Armada, in fact, she has been attacked continuously by them while Obama has been more of an invention of the media than anything else. How these words must have pierced the hearts of the media elite: ‘’I'’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion, I'’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.'’ The above Sarah Palin quote in some way made me think of Good Queen Bess'’ declaration to her countrymen when facing the Spanish Armada… I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; Happy 475th Birthday Queen Elizabeth! Happy entry into American National politics, Gov. Sarah Palin! Hopefully, one day we will be calling this time of efflorescence the Epoc of Sarah.
• 

  Another Weak and Feeble Woman?

  http://www.thewideawakecafe.com/?p=2040
  86 days ago in The Wide Awake Cafe · Authority: 56

  No crooked leg, no bleared eye, No part deformed out of kind, Nor yet so ugly half can be As is the inward suspicious mind. Today is the birthday of Elizabeth the First, born September 7th, 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII of England and his second wife, Anne Boleyn in Greenwich Palace. I learned about Queen Elizabeth early on in my elementary years and from that time on, wished that my birthday had been on the seventh instead of the sixth of September. I missed it by about thirty minutes. But, never-the-less, I am a student of the Elizabethan Age, so named because of the captivating rule of Great Britains'’ Elizabeth the First. Happy Birthday Good Queen Bess! My loving people, we have been persuaded by some, that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear; I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. And therefore I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonor should grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, by your forwardness, that you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble and worthy subject; not doubting by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people. Elizabeth I of England - 1588 In this day of shock and awe that a woman has been selected by John McCain as his vice presidential choice it is useful to remember another great woman, Elizabeth the 1st of England. In her early years Elizabeth was called bastard, illegitimate, and only a woman, but when at age 25 and the young Elizabeth ascended the throne of England she prided herself on being ‘’mere English'’. The nicknames, Good Queen Bess, Gloriana and the Virgin Queen would come much later, after Elizabeth had avoided the ensnarements of various political intrigues during the years her half-brother Edward and half-sister, Mary reigned on the throne of England. Katharine Parr, Elizabeth’’s stepmother arranged for 10 year old Elizabeth to have the most distinguished tutors in England, foremost among them Roger Ascham. As a result, Elizabeth was educated as well as any legitimate prince, and she displayed a genuine love and aptitude for her studies. Her mind has no womanly weakness, Ascham would write approvingly, her perseverance is equal to that of a man. And later, She readeth more Greek every day, than some Prebendaries of this Church do in a whole week. And so she did; Elizabeth’’s love of scholarship never faltered and, in an age when women were considered inferior to men, she was a glorious exception. Her mind has no womanly weakness, wrote Roger Ascham, Elizabeth’’s tutor. But her 44 year reign on the throne of England, called by many the greatest epoch in England’’s history put away any thoughts of womanly weakness. Interestingly, Elizabeth became Queen at the age of 25, after the death of her half-sister, Mary. She was helped in her accession by a man by the name of Heath which, coincidentally, also happens to be the maiden name of Sarah Palin. Her smooth accession was further assured by the Lord Chancellor, Nicholas Heath. Parliament had been in session while Mary lay dying and, on 17 November, Heath announced her death to the assembled lords and commons. He then said, ‘’Which hap as it is most heavy and grievous unto us, so have we no less cause another way to rejoice with praise to Almighty God for that He hath left unto us a true, lawful and right inheritrice to the crown of this realm, which is the Lady Elizabeth, of whose lawful right and title we need not to doubt. Wherefore the lords of this house have determined with your assents and consents, to pass from hence into the palace, and there to proclaim the said Lady Elizabeth Queen of this realm without further tract of time.'’ There was no dissension at Heath’’s words. Traditionally, Parliament dissolved upon the death of the reigning monarch - but Heath’’s prompt actions ensured Elizabeth’’s lawful recognition as queen before the lords and commons dispersed. And, as a leading Catholic, Heath also secured the loyalty of his religious party for the new queen. Today the medieval men and women of the Democrat Party and media are condescendingly casting Sarah Palin as a mere woman who could not possibly govern. She has five children, they complain, she is a hockey mom, is not acquainted with the Washington elite, eats moose stew and is a Bible believing Christian. The Queen of Daytime Television refuses to even entertain inviting Sarah Palin to visit her own crumbling domain. Bush Derangement Syndrome has virally morphed into Palin Derangement Syndrome, why, Shock! Sarah Palin is a Cowgirl! In every public appearance since being announced as John McCain’’s running mate, Sarah Palin has looked elegant in her understated suits but Robin Givhan could not bother to write about her in this article. She could write about the Democrat Governor of Montana’’s bolero tie but ignored Sarah’’s great appearance on her night at the Republican National Convention in the black pencil skirt and shiny, silver-colored jacket. I wonder why that is? Fausta has a delicious take on Sarah Palin’’s fashion choices. Another fashion blogger gives Sarah a perfect ten. But is fashion that important in the politics of this day and age? Not really, but the look of Sarah Palin is definitely part of her appeal. Queen Elizabeth the First of England was, like her ancestors, the maker of manners. There have been some American women in the past who have made an impact on the fashion of our nation such as Dolly Madison, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, and Jackie Kennedy. Now even Sarah Palin’’s choice of glasses is getting some attention. Still, this is only the icing on the cake for conservatives and Republicans. Sarah Palin’’s fashionably good looks is possibly the only aspect where she has been received well or at the very least, ignored by the mavens in the media. As Hugh Hewitt writes, Chicago Machine Politics is behind many of the smears of Sarah Palin. Hewitt calls them out.. The Obama thugs that tried to intimidate Stanley Kurtz are now busy sending e-mails alleging everything about Sarah Palin except an illegal polar bear hunt, and that may be in tomorrow’’s in-box. Teams of Obamians are arriving in Alaska to invent veneers for smears, even though by now the record of rebuttal is so complete that perhaps even the New York Times will hesitate before publishing another round of lies and retractions. (Then again, probably not.) Exposure as a dirt-monger doesn'’t deter those without a conscience. One wonders whether typical Americans can see the double standard the media employs when covering Barack Obama and running mate, Joseph Biden as opposed to John McCain and running mate, Sarah Palin. Roger Kimball writes that Obama’’s Higher Oleaginousness keeps questioners in the media at bay. This kid glove treatment of Obama is more evidence that those in the media do not want to know any facts about Obama that might be hurtful. As Sarah Palin and John McCain continue to campaign I begin to wonder who is really more feeble and weak, Barack Obama or Sarah Palin? Palin has no help in the left-wing media Armada, in fact, she has been attacked continuously by them while Obama has been more of an invention of the media than anything else. How these words must have pierced the hearts of the media elite: ‘’I'’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion, I'’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.'’ The above Sarah Palin quote in some way made me think of Good Queen Bess'’ declaration to her countrymen when facing the Spanish Armada… I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; Happy 475th Birthday Queen Elizabeth! Happy entry into American National politics, Gov. Sarah Palin! Hopefully, one day we will be calling this time of efflorescence the Epoc of Sarah.
• 

  Weekly Feminist Reader

  http://www.feministing.com/archives/010895.html
  86 days ago in Feministing: Main · Authority: 1,814

  So many Sarah Palin links... Fact-checking Palin's RNC speech. Will Palin be the first woman president? Who pays for Palin's child care? Polling shows women aren't buying the McCain-Palin ticket -- they're more skeptical of Palin than men are. Palin's first photograph at the RNC was with the political wives. Phyllis Schlafly uses Palin as an excuse to spew more bile. And Kate Sheppard looks at Palin's environmental record. Bloggers are posting tomorrow on community organizing, setting the record straight about why "community organizer" is NOT a derogatory term. Vanity Fair does the math on Cindy McCain's RNC attire. And on a related note, Robin Givhan (she of the "Hillary's cleavage" coverage) defends writing about clothes in a political context. On the parties' changing stances on abortion. And Habladora asks if the parties are really moving to the right on this issue. CNN runs a classic "career girl" article that reads as if it were published in the 1950s: "...wives rated their marital quality as higher when husbands were the primary earners." Ugh. ... AND then follows it up with an article that actually asks if catcalling is a compliment. They're on a roll, clearly. The EU Parliament decries sexist advertising. A truly tasteless spread in Vogue India featured impoverished Indians wearing outrageously expensive fashion items. On Facebook's gender-targeted ads. Remembering Doris Gibson, who founded Peru's first newsmagazine. Check out Science Debate 2008, where they asked the presidential candidates to answer 14 science questions. Syndicated radio host Jim Quinn referred to NOW as the "National Organization for Whores." And radio host Mark Levin called NOW the "National Organization of Ugly Women." Stay classy, conservative talk radio. Actions and Events Sign up to host a house party for Bitch magazine!
• 

  As Soon as Todd Palin Shows Up Wearing a Mango-Colored Pantsuit, I'll Write About It

  http://sparklepony.blogspot.com/2008/09/as-soon-as-todd-pali...
  86 days ago in Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog · Authority: 156

  Convention speakers made fashion statements all their own: Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer delivered his speech at the Democratic National Convention wearing a bolo tie. Ron Edmonds-AP Bless you, Robin Givhan, for explaining so succinctly why it's OK for... well, for this blog to exist. Yes, I've been conscious of the fact that I'm mostly writing about the gals' fashions, and Givhan points out that, you know, Governor Schweitzer's bolo tie notwithstanding, they're totally the only things worth writing about. Phew! So let's have some more crocheted boleros, Lady Penelope, I'm ready for them.

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