I am 50 years old (next month); have been a feminist since I was 8 and realized that I would never be able to be a major league baseball player because I was a girl.
When I went to college (Indiana U; ask me later about my class with Bobby Knight), I STILL thought I could be a player and went to the gym to play basketball. There were exactly zero women on ten courts; but I wanted to play, so I got myself into a game, with four young men I didn't know as teammates. Gym bball is rough & tumble; as many of you know. I took a charge and got absolutely blasted into the next court. One of my teammates tried the "how could you do this to a girl" line on the guy. I intervened with "No problem, I picked the game."
Follow me below the fold for my real point.
There are realities about being a woman competing in a traditionally man's world.
- Women cry. We cry when we are upset, when we are happy, when we watch a sappy movie. We especially cry when we are angry (ask any woman; most will tell you that is the most frustrating thing about womanhood. Never mind inconvenient periods, and cramps, and usually being smaller than most guys. Damn it, if only I could not cry when someone pisses me off!) When Hillary's voice cracked in New Hampshire, that didn't rally women voters to her side. When legions of male journalists commented on it, nearly all with a slight sneer; THAT is when women flocked to her side. (okay, I have no actual evidence of this other than me & my friends; but I only supported her for about five minutes in the campaign and this was it so I think this is a fair statement.)
- Men will ALWAYS know and react to you as if you are a woman. ESPECIALLY if you are good looking. (I am a middle-aged lesbian who looks like a middle-aged lesbian; once in awhile men "forget" that I am a woman and treat me like one of the guys. This is often very helpful to me.)
- Men have louder voices. They can nearly always talk over you in a meeting. Or on a news show. This is very frustrating. IMPORTANT: DON'T LET THEM! Perseverance very important here!! (ask Rachel Maddow)
- And here's my real point: If you pick the game; YOU CAN'T WHINE if somebody knocks you into the next court. Governor Palin said yes to Senator McCain. In my opinion, this leaves her open to , well, being treated like a guy. So if it's fair to make fun of Michael Dukakis because he looks stupid driving a tank; if it's fair to push-poll about Sen. McCain's adopted child; if it's fair to make fun of John Kerry's wife; if it's fair for John McCain to make an INCREDIBLY tasteless joke about 16 year old Chelsea Clinton; well then, you have chosen to make you and your family fodder for scurrilous discussion (in her case, it helps that much of it is true). YOU CAN'T GET ALL "OOOOOHHH, THEY'RE PICKING ON ME 'CAUSE I'M A GIRL" if you said, "sure, I'm not qualified, and my teenage daughter is pregnant, and my professional life is riddled with scandal, and I have a special needs infant at home, but I'd really love to run for vice president on your ticket."
Okay, alls I'm saying is, we as women are either equal, or we aren't. It isn't okay to act like we should have different rules. Victim feminism isn't feminism. IMHO, Sarah Palin is setting women in politics back for another generation. The message I am getting from her candidacy is: It's good to be hot. And when the going gets tough, play the "You're being sexist" card. Come on Governor Palin, woman up!! I desperately want you to lose this election; but, geez, woman, represent, will you? You are embarassing us all!!
First diary. Be gentle.