It IS the Same as Palin’s Head on a Bikini-Clad Body

Sorted under 2008 election, politics, sexism on October 5, 2008

A picture of Sarah Palin’s head on a bikini-clad body is sexist and this picture, found over at Feministing and made by Ann, of Joe Biden’s head on a set of abs is also sexist.

First, the defense of the posting of this picture:

Joe Sixpack

Indeed, this is a play on words. It’s a joke about Palin’s repeated use of the phrase “Joe Sixpack.” What sets this apart from, say, the photoshopped image of Palin’s head on a bikini-clad body, is that the point of the bikini image was, “Isn’t she HAWT?!” I’m not attempting a sweeping statement about gender here, or trying to take a cheap shot at Biden based on his looks, or trying to “level the playing field.” It’s a play on words. One that I found funny.

And when I prefaced it with a note that this explained my feelings on the debate, I meant the absurdity of her “folksy” turns of phrase. And really the absurdity of this entire election. Not that I came away from the evenings festivities thinking I wanted to see Joe Biden shirtless.

All that said, please keep debating this. (Respectfully, of course.)

Firstly, I am glad that Ann is encouraging debate about this image, but the fact that it greeted visitors going to their website to read the thoughts of the Feministing women on the vice presidential debate, because they usually have insightful and thought-provoking things to say, disappoints me.

While it is true that the response to a picture of Palin’s head on a half-naked woman’s body is usually “OMG SHE’S SO HAWT I’M TOTALLY VOTING FOR HER!!!111!!!!!” what if someone were to take this picture of Joe Biden, put it up on their site and say the same thing about him? Would it be sexist then, by Feministing’s standards? Of course it would, but because Ann defends her decision to post this picture by saying that it is a play on words, it is supposed to be accepted when it is simply not funny and indeed sexist behavior.

To point out every sexist picture and remark of Palin, as Feministing and other feminist blogs have been doing, even if we considered that some of the accounts were also defended as being a play on words, and then doing it yourself and claiming it is different is going backwards.

I find it ironic that during the vice presidential debate Biden brought up gender in saying that he knows what it is like to be a single parent yet not a lot of people know that or consider that possibility because he is a man and then finding a picture like this really makes you think about that whole gender equality thing. This picture is sexist and a woman who posts a sexist picture of a man is just as bad as a man posting a sexist picture of a woman.

Via Womanist Musings



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  • I also thought it was surprising that Joe Biden played the gender card HIMSELF. It almost sounded like he was defending himself against Palin out-gendering him. Or something.
  • hm, interesting point of view. You've got me thinking, thanks
  • Oreo
    uhh...didn't you just post it on this site? You wouldn't be "doing it yourself and claiming it is different" would you? What if "someone were to take this picture of Joe Biden, put it up on their site and say the same thing about him" [that he's hawt] ? Ohh, but you're just doing it for the sake of representation and free speech, no?
  • I am very tired of listening about politics. Most politician are good during the campaign but once they are elected ..they almost forgot the promise that they said to all the people.
  • Ahhh.. Joe Six Pack.... Thanks for the good laugh!

    Wasn't she referring, though, to the beer-packs?
  • Thanks for the shout out. I was really shocked when I saw this photo at feministing. I honestly expect so much more from them than to promote sexism in this way. If we believe that women should not be subjected to this then the same holds true for men.
  • I don't know if something like that would really make me vote either. Then again, I'm against all the idiots running for any office.
  • I heard someone say they were voting for McCain-Pain because Palin was the same age as her. Hmm.... I also heard women saying they were upset because Obama defamed the flag by making his logo red, white, blue and round! OMG. OMG. OMG. I should run for president. Not.
  • I also thought it was surprising that Joe Biden played the gender card HIMSELF. It almost sounded like he was defending himself against Palin out-gendering him. Or something.
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