Mama Grizzlies!!
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While some may view this as just more Palin shenanigans, I think there is something to this. I think there is a general trend by conservatives and the fringe right to feminize their movement. We see this for example in O'Donnell's victory in Delaware, but more in the wider context of the right being the family values position. Well, I have no problem with this because I believe that this general trend will either fizzle out insignificantly, or if not, it is bound to backfire.
My reasoning is that the rhetoric of femininity, as it occurs in the conservative movement is predicated on two things. Traditional family values, and the empowerment of women. I believe that these two positions are fundamentally and irreconcilably contradictory. Tradition family values rests on the assumption that a natural, god given, order exists in which women and men have fundamentally different roles to play within society. The role of women in society is within the private sphere, whereas a man's place is in the public sphere. I'm not going to delve into the specifics of what this entails in practice, but in short, it amounts to a woman's place is in the home, and men work to provide for the home. This is in no way compatible with any concept of women's empowerment, insofar as being restricted to the private sphere is a form of disempowerment, which it is.
But clearly, Palin, O'Donnell, Coulter, and others who are spearheading this movement must realize that they themselves, as working, professional women, cannot subscribe to strictly traditional gender hierarchies (family values). Clearly, Palin must understand that "a fundamental transformation of America" was indeed necessary for someone like her achieve what she did, such as run as vice presidential candidate for the Republican party. This contradiction was felt most saliently when in the run up to the election, Palin could not decide if she was a feminist or not. This incident, which likely produced tremendous credibility problems for Palin, first in her denial of feminism, second in her avowal of it, and third, in her indecision about it, only represents the tip of the iceberg compared with what's in store for conservatives if they continue to push this line. Not smart, not smart at all.
We can expect a resurgence of a strong, active, and powerful feminist movement in the months ahead if conservatives continue to push this line or do so more forcefully. As they do, they will be challenged on this basic contradiction that I have pointed out, and their position will become increasingly more incoherent.
I say, hurray for Mama Grizzlies! A new day is dawning!
