"she's a superstar so don't bog her down a lot of questions" ???!!!

There's some AWFUL repug hack from politico.com on MSNBC this morning. He actually said Palin shouldn't have to answer tough questions.

AND He said that people have to be careful not to use gendered language like "SHRILL" about her.

UH... didn't Palin say that about Hilary??

This is INSANITY.

and therefore is devalued-- especially devalued in the political sphere.

then "shrill" is fair game.

But it's still not a "gendered" term.

When it is used to refer to men, then it used to attack their masculinity. Words that aren't necessarily defined as referring to one gender or another, still can when used that way.

and not merely the fact that her voice IS shrill.

My point is that words that are not defined as gendered, are given gendered meanings in how they're used. I could cite a lot of sociological studies of gendered language here, if you want.

"The dictionary defines the word "shrill" as an adjective meaning: "having or producing a high, thin, piercing tone, high pitched." Since women started running for office and moving up the corporate ladder, "shrill" has been used to describe their strategy and rhetoric whenever they became the least bit aggressive in debate or confrontation. It is a code word for many other not so genteel words that signal "unacceptable female demeanor.""

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-8491827.html

Just as I wouldn't want to hear Hilary described as shrill, I wouldn't describe Sarah Palin that way either. It means more than just the way her voice sounds-- it also suggests an "unacceptable female demanor."

I draw the line at language like "bitch" and "witch", but I am less concerned about words like "shrill."

She's shrill, shrill and screechy. If it was fine when Republican's used it on Hillary then it's OK to use it on Palin.

Jeez, why do we keep trying to tie one hand behind our backs in fighting these people? We can't afford the luxury of that.
:eyes:

Would we attack a republican lesbian by calling her a "dyke" just b/c she is republican, or a gay man a "fag" when he is a republican? I don't want to stick up for Sarah (by any means, I can't STAND that woman) but I think we have to be careful what we say, and be a little smarter about it.

The woman has an annoying voice that I would describe it as shrill. That not sexist, it's a fact.

Superstar? Fuck that shit. She's a nutcase Dominionist propelled to the national scene by one act of VERY poor judgment by a feeble old man who's clearly out of his fucking mind if he thinks this inexperienced, issues-challenged fragile flower is what we need as a nation.

That guy can go shove it.

:argh:

since he has his panties in a wad over "shrill" being gendered?

:shrug:

We got one, and he answers questions.

so much double speak, we almost need a wikipedia to keep up with it!

:eyes:

The upside of this is that McCain't will no longer compare Obama to Paris and Britney in a lame attempt to attack Obama.