Where women transform the world

Quit judging ambitious women who happen to be moms!

So...I'm hardly a fan of Ms. Palin. I'm still peeved at her anti-community organizer comments at the convention since I'm, you know, a community organizer, and I disagree with everything I know about her political positions thus far.

But all this judgment about how she went back to work three days after she had her baby, and how dare she consider running for office with an infant and a bunch of kids is peeving me. Do you think for one second if it was her husband running, and he'd gone back to work three days after the kid had been born, there'd be the same kind of judgment? I certainly don't. Ditto for the fact that they have a bunch of kids. (I also don't think he'd've been chosen to run, since she was clearly chosen for her gender and her nonthreatening--to Republicans, at least--stances, but that's a separate issue.)

And, to be completely fair, is Obama getting flack for campaigning while his kids are young? I don't recall any. If Michelle was running for president, I'm pretty sure she'd be getting some of the "you're-a-bad-mother" flack...which male candidates just don't get. Imagine how much more flack Hillary would have gotten if Chelsea had still been a kid!

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emily on September 6, 2008 at 9:41pm

Honestly, I don't know how you can be a good mom OR dad while being president or vice president. But, you're right, we're quicker to judge women. I think we need to focus on her policy instead of her family - it's just hard when politicians are always bringing their "family values" into their campaigns.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrea on September 8, 2008 at 5:45pm

Amen to that!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrea on September 8, 2008 at 5:45pm

I agree with everything you said and I think the criticisms of Palin should be limited to her positions on the issues. Having said that, I find her positions extremely frightening and awful for women. Any negativity about her ability (or presumed lack thereof) to be both a mom and a leader are unjust, and distract from the real problems with her status as a running mate on the GOP presidential ticket. In fact, these baseless criticisms only give her campaign more ammunition. If we look at her record there are plenty of reasons to be concerned. Her parenting skills should not be called into question. In fact, both Obama and Biden have stated that this is how they want to proceed and I hope Americans follow their lead.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sofia Quintero on September 11, 2008 at 3:32pm

There's no better proof that patriarchy in the U.S. continues unfettered than the constant judgments we make about women's decisions regarding work and motherhood. Think about it -- we cannot win either way. If you're a mother who works outside the home, you're a bad parent for not staying home with your children. Yet if you're a mother who chooses to stay home with your children, well, you're a bad mother, too, for not going out and generating additional income to give your children better options. And Goddess help you, if you are single, of color, and/or poor or working class, too.

None of this is new. What is new is the participation of women -- including some who would even call themselves feminists -- in this bashing. For example, look at Rebecca Walker's latest diatribe against her mother Alice in which she essentially blames feminism for their poor relationship.

I've always said that feminism is about giving women choices. Some women choose to follow traditional paths, and others will not. The point of female liberation is that women have the opportunity to do whatever personally and professionally is best for them the same way men do as opposed to being pressured into specific roles based on nothing more than their genitalia. :)