Palin, Feminism and the Limitations of Identity Politics

The nomination and popularity of Sarah Palin has turned feminism on its head.

Rebecca Traister writes in Salon.com (hat tip: BDU):

In this strange new pro-woman tableau, feminism -- a word that is being used all over the country with regard to Palin's potential power -- means voting for someone who would limit reproductive control, access to healthcare and funding for places like Covenant House Alaska, an organization that helps unwed teen mothers. It means cheering someone who allowed women to be charged for their rape kits while she was mayor of Wasilla, who supports the teaching of creationism alongside evolution, who has inquired locally about the possibility of using her position to ban children's books from the public library, who does not support the teaching of sex education.

The paradox Traister points out here highlights the limitations of identity politics. Voting the gender, the skin color, the sexual orientation, isn't ultimately what's important. Issues are. That doesn't mean turning a blind eye to the historical significance of the first possible black president or female vice president. But such firsts are more symbolic than substantive, their power lying more in their ability to inspire and shatter stereotypes than push an agenda.

Palin's success comes in part because she shatters feminist stereotypes of women in power by being feminine. Traister is right to point out the sexism that Palin's candidacy has engendered:

Every time someone doubts Palin's ability to lead and mother simultaneously, or considers her physical appeal as a professional attribute...I bristle

Yet it's because of her being both a career woman who embraces her femininity with pride that women like my mother are so excited by her. When we think of Palin, we think of her being not only a successful politician (which she is) but a mom, in a way we don't think of Hillary Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro or even Kay Baily Hutchinson.

SIDENOTE: The Clintons never used their roles as parents as a political tool. For all the drama swirling around the Clinton marriage, there was none centered on their role as parents. Whatever trauma Chelsea endured as a teenager in the White House remained safe from the public eye. And Chelsea emerged on the public stage this year as a competent, poised, professional and able campaigner. Whatever their faults as spouses, the Clintons must have been good parents. In a short time, we already know more drama surrounding the Palin children than we do about Chelsea or even the Bush twins.

But back to the point: Feminism as a movement faces limitations to the extent it rests on gender identity.

Several years ago, I was in the leadership of a GLBT group in Florida. Some of the women wanted to amend our organizational structure to divide our leadership evenly into male and female. They argued that only women could understand and adequately represent other women.

I opposed this, feeling then as now that such a move would institutionalize our differences and discourage attempts to overcome the barriers between sexes. Just because someone has a vagina doesn't mean she necessarily speaks for all women or has their best interests at heart.

A point that the Palin candidacy drives home.