Sexist?

I am a feminist, and as such I have no problem calling something or someone sexist. In fact as a sociologist, sexism is one of those things that I just notice, without even trying to, all the time. With that said, I am getting more than a little bit tired of the McCain campaign referring to every single criticism and/or critic of Governor Palin as sexist.

There has been sexism in this presidential campaign no doubt. Senator Clinton experienced a whole lot of it. Governor Palin has experienced some already. I agree with commentators that in portions of her interview with Charles Gibson, it is fair to call him sexist.

But……today a McCain campaign spokesperson said that Tina Fey’s impersonation of Governor Palin was sexist. Seriously!?! The skit was not exactly flattering, but neither was it sexist.

Governor Palin, as the first female vice presidential candidate on the republican ticket, and perhaps the first female vice president, is going to encounter her fair share of sexism. If the campaign insists on calling every legitimate question about her qualifications and record, every impersonation, and every criticism sexist, the American people are going to miss it when she inevitably encounters actual sexism. They simply won’t care about it anymore.

If the McCain campaign keeps this up, I am afraid that the American people are going to miss out on a great opportunity for a serious public discussion about the realities of sexism in the United States.