I’ve been thinking all day about what Stephanie wrote on this blog earlier. And while I know she meant it in the best, most feminist possible way, the comments show the whole idea hits a nerve.
I have three kids, my youngest is three months older than Palin’s, and that isn’t stopping me from doing my job. Nor is it stopping Clara, my co-editor, who has a new baby; nor did it stop Stephanie; nor will it stop Palin. Of course I’m wondering how the hell she’ll do it all–as, I’m sure, is she. And of course she will figure it out, as women do every day, often with far less support. But the point is, that’s for each one of us to decide, and no one else.
Too many women have been patronized out of jobs they wanted with pseudo-considerate treacle like “I thought your priority right now was your family.” It’s happened to friends of mine; it’s happened to me; if you have ovaries, chances are pretty good it has happened or will happen to you. That’s the reality of living in post-women’s lib America, and that’s why one part of me is heartened by the Palin pick. People may find lots of reasons why she shouldn’t be in the White House–but at least, having little kids didn’t put her out of the running in the first place. And for that, I have to confess, I’m grateful to John McCain.
