America's Hidden Curriculum: Palin Part II

Since I wrote my blog about Sarah Palin yesterday, a number of new columns debating her impact on McCain's ticket and her status as a "diva" have sprouted up. The one I found most interesting was by CNN writer Campbell Brown, who basically accuses the Republican party and entire media of sexual bias against Palin. (The link to the article is below)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/campbell.brown.palin.diva/index.html

I find this article by Brown very interesting. She is arguing that the whole idea of Palin being a diva is only being discussed because she is a woman. Brown cites a McCain adviser that said, "Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom," clearly a gender biased claim. Could you imagine this type of thing being said about say Bill Clinton or John F. Kennedy. Whenever there is drama surrounding a woman, she suddenly becomes a "diva" and this is certainly unfair.

I do not like Palin or her policies but I do believe that she is often unfairly judged or portrayed by the media. Because she is a woman, she is expected to fall in line with everything McCain and her party say and do, and if she goes off script she is suddenly a rogue diva.

Joe Biden recently snapped at a reporter, calling her reaction "silly," so where are the calls for Biden's status as a diva? After all, do we think that the Obama aides wanted Biden snapping at a reporter? However, the reports on Biden's behavior fall to the second page, as every one of the unprecedented Palin's actions land in the headlines. How can America change this hidden curriculum?

I am currently reading a book titled "Schoolgirls" for my Psych 353 class on developmental psychology. This book focuses on gender bias against women, and I believe it adds insight to our Palin dilemma. According to "Schoolgirls," girls treated unfairly in school beginning from the earliest grades. Girls are expected to be "deferential," "polite," and "passive," and their actions are viewed as "containable" as opposed to the "inevitable" actions of males.

These biases against women clearly do not change between kindergarten and the race for the White House. Maybe Biden's outbursts are viewed as inevitable, as everyone knows he has a short fuse. However, Palin's actions should be contained. McCain's aides think that they should be able to stop Palin from acting out of script. If Palin is not polite or passive, she is not seen as a "good woman," she is just a rogue diva that has fallen off course.

I could not agree more with Campbell Brown when she says that the attacks of McCain's aides are "beyond ridiculous." While, again, I do not agree with Palin's policies and in no way support her, I think she at least deserves respect as a person. Just because she is a woman does not mean she is not human or equal to men.

I am certainly not a feminist, and before several days ago I never even considered the effects or implications of America's so called hidden curriculum against women. However, I know think that many, including myself, across America have unintentionally judged Palin because we have been taught our whole lives that women need to fit a certain role in order to be acceptable.

Unfortunately, I do not think there is any question that this bias has irrevocably affected the election, but hopefully, maybe, something can be done to one day eliminate this gender bias so everyone can have an equal opportunity to succeed in America.