Palin and the Double Standard

[trainedmonkey]

1) People say the family thing is only an issue because she is a woman. Not for me in the slightest. If the VP candidate were a man with five children, one of which is 4 months old with special needs and one is 17 years old and pregnant, I would likewise say that he should not be elected. Sure it can be done. But either family or country will be

Comments

[komcaast]

I call BS. No one's said these things about Obama, who has two young children who will theoretically be equally neglected while he's president.

Just because rigid gender definitions hurt men, too, doesn't mean there isn't a double standard.

[trainedmonkey]

i think two children well both school-aged and on a stable trajectory is different than five. There will be two babies for most of the terms if she were to be elected. There is a huge difference. Babies need time and attention that 10-year olds don't. Ask someone who has cared for two children both under the age of 1 at the same time.

However, I accept you challenge of BS. true there is probably some Double standard. I suppose it rubs me the wrong way because I feel it is overemphasized. They have been declaring sexism about democratic comments that are in no way sexist.

[yattaboe]

1) I don't know. I think if someone, male or female, is to run for office, then it is reasonable and even important to allow for them that they are taking care of and making arrangements for whatever family situation he or she may have. If nothing else, this kind of critique seems to presuppose a rather nuclear family unit as a given and a standard (as opposed to say extended family arrangements/alternate family arrangements in which care may be spread). In any case, I don't think it's my biz, I do think any questioning of the family 'issue' would take us far afield, and I also do think such scrutiny over questions of family and care is placed way more heavily on women than on men