# Is this Newsweek cover of Palin sexist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 17, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941 "2009-11-17T18:59:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/81 "2009-11-18T07:43:29Z")
I’m a little surprised that until just in the last 24 hours or so, no one seems to have ever noticed how many magazines of all types display attractive women (or, hell, bare-chested men) on their covers, if they can come up with the slightest excuse to do so. The rampant sexism on display at my local Borders magazine rack has long turned my stomach, but I’m glad that so many like-minded folks are finally speaking out on this odious habit. Well, not really. The _Newsweek_ cover, IMO manages to make a salient point about the relentless and fairly clever self-marketing of a Presidential wannabe who is nevertheless manifestly unqualified for the position, while providing a good excuse for the sort of arresting image that helps sell a few more copies of the mag. Which, by the way, is probably the main point. If anyone is concerned that I might somehow think of Mrs. Palin as some sort of lightweight just because I happened to get a glimpse of that cover, you needn’t be. It would be difficult to think of her as more of a lightweight (as a politician) than I already did long before the current flap erupted. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/82 "2009-11-18T14:06:57Z")
If you pose for it, then you don’t get to complain about where it’s printed. Period. However I agree there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and anytime Palin gets to cry “OMG! SEXIST!” is probably a victory for her. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/83 "2009-11-18T14:13:13Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > That is not a newsmagazine. Yes it is. I had a subscription to it when I lived in the DC metro. It’s not _all_ news, but it’s partly news. The Obama beefcake pictures were splattered all over news sites on the web as well. He at least didn’t _pose_ for them. Palin doesn’t really have a leg to stand on here. Once she posed for that cover, that picture was “news,” and is fair game for _Newsweek_ to use as a cover. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/84 "2009-11-18T14:15:19Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > … how likely, in any context, would a male politician be portrayed this way on the cover of a news magazine? Pretty unlikely. And plenty of pics are around of various male pols in things other than business suits. Well, I don’t think this is being portrayed by anyone as simply something “other than a suit.” Back on page 1 of this thread I asked if anyone could: _recall any previous incident where a national politician posed for a similar photo? And I’m not talking about candid shots …_ But no one has offered a posed photoshoot where a male politician sowed some thigh, bared his chest, etc. I guess you could make an argument for “candids” taken during clear photo ops - W in his flight suit, Dukakis in the tank. And I think it entirely appropriate for such images to be used by whomever for whatever purposes they wish. I have seen or read nothing in this thread to change my personal opinion that this was \* Just not how you want to pose if you want to portray yourself as presidential.\* ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/85 "2009-11-18T14:48:04Z")
Moving this trainwreck from IMHO to The BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/86 "2009-11-18T14:52:05Z")
I’m a little surprised nobody has mentioned the obvious. Whether you like her or hate her, the most salient question many people are asking is whether she’s running (as a presidential candidate in 2012). I think \*Newsweek \*is not-so-subtly suggesting they think she will attempt to do so. This cover kills me. The combination of the running suit, crackberry and American flag is hilarious commentary on Palin. Thank you, Sarah, _Runner’s World_, and _Newsweek_. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/87 "2009-11-18T14:56:32Z")
I’m moving this from The BBQ Pit to In My Humble Opinion. The IMHO moderators are free to overrule me and move it back to the Pit. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/88 "2009-11-18T14:57:11Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > Palin’s primary appeal is the way she looks Nixon’s got her beat on that; plus you can see [_his_ hairy titties.](http://media.photobucket.com/image/nixon%20beach/SericeousBurden/blog/shirtless-nixon.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/89 "2009-11-18T15:01:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Yes it is. I had a subscription to it when I lived in the DC metro. It’s not _all_ news, but it’s partly news. It may have some news in it, so does _Runner’s World_. Here’s their website: [http://www.washingtonian.com/index.html](http://www.washingtonian.com/index.html) (the divisions are “Food & Dining” “Style,” “Health,” and “Homes.”) That isn’t the same type of magazine as _Time_ or _Newsweek_, (where the divisions begin with “Nation,” “Politics,” “World,” etc.) not by a long shot. Though the insight into your magazine subscription choices is enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/90 "2009-11-18T15:09:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Moving this trainwreck from IMHO to The BBQ Pit. I apologize if this qualifies as mod-commenting which should go in ATMB, but the tone of the thread sure fell short of what I consider Pit-worthy. I’m not sure if I am more disappointed that IMHO is expected to be so meek such that this is excessive, or that the Pit is so castrated that this fits there. Actually, I thought it valuable that folk of differing opinions were able to exchange their views as politely as they have. Movingit to the Pit just encourages participants to lower the level of their discourse. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/91 "2009-11-18T15:09:59Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > If you pose for it, then you don’t get to complain about where it’s printed. Period. Sure you do. A photograph is no different than a quote, really. The context is important. How would you feel if [this](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_A6ZBb9wCU3o/SsD2no5Sm3I/AAAAAAAAJvA/88x6rIxX-O4/Michelle%20Obama001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)photo was on the cover of Glamour magazine, coupled with an article titled “Is it OK to cheat on your husband? Michelle Obama speaks out!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/92 "2009-11-18T15:14:49Z")
The subscription was a gift. It’s an immaterial difference anyway. The point is that the Obama swim trunks shots were all over the place in the news media, and nobody called it “sexist.” Palin’s choice to do this particular cheescake shot was a deliberate choice on her part to sexualize herself as a political candidate, therefore it’s legitimate news that she did so, and a legitimate choice for _Newsweek_ to use the image as an examplar of how Palin chooses to present herself. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/93 "2009-11-18T15:17:32Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Sure you do. A photograph is no different than a quote, really. The context is important. How would you feel if [this](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_A6ZBb9wCU3o/SsD2no5Sm3I/AAAAAAAAJvA/88x6rIxX-O4/Michelle%20Obama001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)photo was on the cover of Glamour magazine, coupled with an article titled “Is it OK to cheat on your husband? Michelle Obama speaks out!” There is no misleading context. the context is that Palin has chosen to do sexualize her image for political gain, and so _Newsweek_ is using the image that she herself has chosen to present. She wasn’t wearing short shorts because she was on the cover of a running magazine, she was on the cover of a running magazine so she could wear short shorts. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/94 "2009-11-18T15:26:03Z")
Its sexist, but Palin wants it both ways. She wants to play up the sexy part of her persona, understanding that its appealing, but wants to cry sexist when it suits her. So while I think it was sexist, and I’m not sure it was a “fair move” - I also think she’s contributed heavily to people being able to be sexist about her. Few female U.S. national level politicians would have posed for Running World in shorts to start with. It would have been a full coverage jogging suit. Can you see Kay Bailey Hutchinson or Hillary posing like that? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/95 "2009-11-18T15:27:55Z")
How is it sexist? Don’t just use the word. Explain in what way it presents or promotes a pont of view that women are inferior to men. Do those who are calling the picture sexist believe that _Newsweek_ has a sexist agenda, and that it doesn’t like Palin only because she’s a woman? ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/96 "2009-11-18T15:51:53Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > It may have some news in it, so does _Runner’s World_. Here’s their website: [http://www.washingtonian.com/index.html](http://www.washingtonian.com/index.html) (the divisions are “Food & Dining” “Style,” “Health,” and “Homes.”) That isn’t the same type of magazine as _Time_ or _Newsweek_, (where the divisions begin with “Nation,” “Politics,” “World,” etc.) not by a long shot. Though the insight into your magazine subscription choices is enlightening. “Enlightening”? Fuck off with that. ---
**Author:** ![Nattering\_Naybob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@Nattering\_Naybob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nattering_Naybob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/97 "2009-11-18T15:55:20Z")
Palin apparently doesn’t want to be judged by her looks, despite posing for photographs like the Newsweek cover. Odd how she doesn’t mind judging other books by their covers, like profiling American muslims who are obviously all up to no good. [Palin On Muslims In The Military After Fort Hood: ‘I Say, Profile Away’](http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/18/palin-profile-away/) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/98 "2009-11-18T16:05:03Z")
I think there are two questions. 1. Is it sexist? A: Yes, clearly. 1. Does Palin really mind? A: I strongly doubt it. It is a flattering photo, and she now reaps the benefit of looking good on the cover of Newsweek and simultaneously getting to complain about liberal media bias. In my opinion, if she could have anonymously arranged for this phot to be run, she would have. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/99 "2009-11-18T16:13:11Z")
Not sexist. She posed for the photo and, if it was really about “but it was running attire for a running magazine” then there was no need for her to be leaning on a draped American flag. Politics has nothing to do with running (well, for office maybe – I’ll be here all week) but that didn’t seem to be a concern when she posed for the photo. She chose to combine the two and is now playing some lame “sexist!” card when it came back in a way she didn’t like. Although, while I’m here in the Pit discussing photos of politicians, I am so sick of every political article coming with an unflattering photo of the politician in question. Usually them staring downward, blowing air through pursed lips, face scrunched up, etc. It can be a story about passing legislation to give ribbons to kittens and it’ll come with a photo of some Congresscritter looking as though he was just caught molesting the kittens instead. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941/100 "2009-11-18T16:17:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think there are two questions. > > 1. Is it sexist? > > A: Yes, clearly. > > 1. Does Palin really mind? > > A: I strongly doubt it. It is a flattering photo, and she now reaps the benefit of looking good on the cover of Newsweek and simultaneously getting to complain about liberal media bias. In my opinion, if she could have anonymously arranged for this phot to be run, she would have. I think this hits the nail on the head. She has no problem promoting herself on the basis of her looks, which is why she didn’t have a problem posing for the sexy hot-pants photo shoot in Runner’s World in the first place. (Yeah, I know. They’re _running shorts_. Funny, but I typically don’t oil my legs up and drape myself sexily over an American flag when I’m about to go for a jog. Maybe it’s an Alaskan thing.) I also don’t remember her bitching about Rush Limbaugh going on the air calling her a “babe”. This is all manufactured outrage and I’m sure she’s loving every minute of the publicity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-newsweek-cover-of-palin-sexist/517941.md?page=6)