To Cry Wolf

By Amy Yensi-

The cries of Conservative pundits of sexism in the treatment of the Republican Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has perpetuated an increase in the number of women on cable news shows. While there is no "official study" to pinpoint this gender shift. It is visible that the job of analyzing the political race horse used to be primarily deligated to men. However, the push back by the McCain campaign of most critiquing of Palin as sexist, has caused many of these talking-point programs to invite more women in the political arena to to participate in the commentary. This strategy negates the cries of discrimination based on gender. CNN Anchor Campbell Brown even made an appeal to the McCain campaign to "free Sarah Palin." One can't help but wonder if Brown was solely speaking for herself or if she was used as a spokesperson because it was safer for a woman to make such a statement.

Although the feminist in me enjoys that more and more women are the go-to political experts, there is a negative to the constant cries sexism. Prior to this campaign, one rarely heard charges that news networks and politicians were acting sexist, now its become commonplace. Do I think that some of these charges are justified? Absolutely. However, not all of them are. Many of these accusations, are seemly aimed at changing the conversation when the political discourse is not beneficial for the campaign making the allegations. Furthermore, every time the sexist card is wrongfully used, it devalues the legitimate cries of sexism that may come about in the future. Pretty soon, when someone is accused of sexism, skepticism may overshadow the validity of the argument.

Here's to hoping the political "powers that be" find another scapegoat, so that women who are subjected to the humiliation that is sexism can speak out and not be ignored because "we hear it all the time."