You want sexism? Here it is

[trinityvixen]

My former roommate and I talked about how we're both watching ourselves to see if we let the media get away with sexist language about Sarah Palin more than we did with Hillary Clinton. Sexism is sexism, it shouldn't matter that I think the latest target of it has all the depth of ditchwater. I'm proud to say that I have taken exception to the language and treatment used to address/discuss Sarah Palin.

Number Fucking One Peeve THAT HAS TO STOP:

Her performance — feisty and spirited — also might have heartened conservatives, many of whom had gone from ecstasy to despair in the period from when she was named until this week.

If I hear Governor Shoots-a-Fucker called "feisty" one more goddamned time, I am going to shoot a fucker.

No, seriously, SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH THAT SHIT ALREADY. You know what "feisty" is code for? Someone who is overconfident and underprepared successfully bullying her--yes, her--way around with such chutzpah people let her--yes, only her--get away with it. And this is only about the twenty billionth time I've heard Sarah Palin called feisty. It's not compliment. It means "upstart" as much as it means "capable." You don't call men feisty, you call them dogmatic--also not a compliment, usually.

The word "feisty" is the only word they can think of any more because they have nothing great or individual to say about her. She's a goddamned caricature, and they know it. But because she's some fragile fucking flower, we can't be mean to her. That? IS ALSO SEXISM. She botched a lot of things in the debate and only seems to have done well because the bar was set so low for her that a corpse might have succeeded. Feisty, indeed, those corpses dontcha know. (Ugh, her and her "folksy" speech.)

And "spirited"? What, she's a horse? Fuck off and die already with this language.

Comments

[viridian.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I agree with you, because I think she plays up the "feisty" angle on purpose. I think she's all too happy to be called cutesy backhanded compliments, from the way she presents herself.

[shell524.livejournal.com]

I'm with viridian on this one. I ran across an article the other day where Palin even SAID that she didn't think her treatment in the press has been sexist.

Does it mean it doesn't exist? No. It does, however, mean that she's more than OK with it, and what better way to take the teeth out of an argument about sexism than for the target to go "Oh, but I LIKE being 'feisty'."

[viridian.livejournal.com]

And I feel like these same commentators wouldn't say it if she didn't play up that angle herself. They wouldn't have called Hillary "feisty", for instance, because there were actual valid criticisms AND compliments to give that had nothing to do with how she presented herself. But Palin is all style and no substance, so any attacks on her are going to sound pretty personal because she refuses to make clear statements that would allow her policies to be attacked.

[shell524.livejournal.com]

True. Feisty does have something of a "aren't you a cute little empty-headed spitfire" tone to it, rather than any actual commentary on the person-(usually woman)-in-question's thoughts or beliefs.

Amusingly, I Googled "Hillary feisty" and found a few references to random people calling her feisty, calling her supporters feisty, someone calling OBAMA feisty (feminizing Obama is a whole other ball of wax), and a bunch of links to the articles about "Feisty Palin" in this debate.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not sure I've ever thought of "feisty" as a specifically feminine descriptor?

But I am the world's worst feminist, honestly. I just don't see the things that other people see.

[shell524.livejournal.com]

It's not specifically feminine, no. My reference to Obama has less to do with him being called feisty, but that there is something of a tendency for his opposition to feminize him (at least according to some of the feminist blogs and whatnot out there, however much stock you put in them).

I mean, there are references to McCain being called feisty, also.

In the end, it's all about connotation, though, which makes meaningful debate pretty much impossible. Especially since people can go on about how they mean it in a positive way.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

So because she's too stupid to know she's being tacitly dismissed by sexist language that makes it okay? I don't agree.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's because she's too stupid, so I guess we're just going to have to disagree on this one.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Confidence is not an indicator of intelligence, truthfulness, or ability. Confidence is only an indicator of confidence.

God, I wish more people understood that.

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

Confidence is only an indicator of confidence.

It often correllates with sexiness, but you're absolutely right on the other three points.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I don't disagree that they're making a point that she's been confident. But they could do it in a less pat-on-the-head sort of way.

purely tangental

[arcane-the-sage.livejournal.com]

Reading this I suddenly pictured Tim Curry with that grin only Tim Curry can give looking at some guy and saying "He's FEISTY!" with that biting motion he's known for doing.

*This thought has been brought to you by the pure randomness that has been my brain today.*

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

Yer gettin' a mite feisty yerself, there, little lady.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I'm glad this is funny to you. Really.

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

Me, too! It's *SO* nice to be able to amuse oneself, when others are not obliging.

Though I have to say, the only real problem I see with their characterization is its redundancy. (Feisty is sprited!) Of course male politicians aren't characterized as feisty, because they aren't. (America isn't ready to elect someone that flamboyant.)

Hmm, actually if I Google "feisty politician", the articles on the first page of hits include articles about two women (one is Palin) and three men (one is Teddy Roosevelt).

But hey, if you ever think they're all being too soft on her, just watch Jack Cafferty's take on her (perhaps play the last 30 seconds a few times over) and take a deep breath. You'll feel better (so long as you remember that they're on track to lose.)

[jendaby.livejournal.com]

Agreed. she should be held to the same standards as male candidates and treated the same as they are. The only time I use the word feisty, I am referring to my cat when he is looking to attack someone/thing.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

"Feisty" wouldn't be so bad if it weren't overused and have this connotation of being head-patting near-put-down. As in, "Aww, you want civil rights, isn't that cute? Aren'tcha just a feisty little thing?" It basically means the person using it respects your zeal but thinks you're a moron. In Palin's case, this is accurate, but they're using it in ways that make it sound like they think "feisty" is high praise.

[mithras03.livejournal.com]

I also think she plays up her cutsiness - it distracts people from the fact that she doesn't know ANYTHING. I didn't watch the debate (her folksy accent nauseates me), but I did hear on NPR this morning that she was almost constantly cheerful, and even winked at the camera. Winked? She and Kenley both have to GO. :-P
And now, for your enjoyment, in celebration of the Obamas' wedding anniversary, their greatest public moments - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/the-obamas-greatest-pda-m_n_130947.html

[mithras03.livejournal.com]

And apparently, Palin found Katie Couric "annoying." You don't say....Exactly like Kenley being like, I don't know why no one likes me.... :-P

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Well, she did make sure to get a shout-out (she used that word, not me) to her peeps at the start and made sure to dis the media in her closing statement. She went out of her way to make it look like the media had set her up. Yep, sounds like Kenley

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Her accent nearly killed me. It couldn't have been more hammed up if it were Tina Fey doing it. (Tina Fey, by comparison was tame.) She was smiling the whole time. Very photogenic, but it also seemed like she was dazed.

[droidguy1119.livejournal.com]

I do see how "feisty" is directed almost exclusively at women. I don't think it's "pat-on-the-head" condescending though. Perhaps it could be a certain type of condescending, but I don't think it's THAT condescending. I would say "spirited" is worse. At least "feisty" (to me) implies attitude. "Spirited" to me sounds almost like an out-and-out put down, that all you have to offer is your determination, which (in terms of the tone of the word, in my eyes) is futile.