Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Sarah Palin says her photo was sexist — well, yeah

By Rick Larson, Herald Managing Editor

So Sarah Palin, who’s coming here next week for Thanksgiving with her family and also plans a book signing, thinks a Newsweek magazine cover photo of her was sexist.

She’s right, of course.

In case you didn’t see it, the cover shows the former Alaska governor and now best-selling conservative author posing with her hands on her hips wearing running shorts and a long-sleeved red athletic top.

The photo, which strikingly shows off Palin’s well-toned legs, was originally taken for an article in Runner’s World magazine about Palin, who’s a marathon runner.

Newsweek’s cover headline says “How do you solve a problem like Sarah? She’s Bad News for the GOP — And For Everybody Else, Too.”

The story, which you can read here, talks about Palin’s attraction as a potential populist candidate and what that may mean for President Obama and any prospects for regaining a level of bipartisanship in our national political scene.

The story is definitely not about Palin’s choice of running shoes or her training regimen, so she cried foul.

“The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page, which now has more than a million friends.

Palin’s fans are predictably agreeing with her. But so are some media ethicists, like Kenny Irby of the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, who told The Associated Press the issue with the photo is the context it was used in.

“The image is not sexist,” Irby told The AP. “The words are more damaging and questionable. The powerful pairing is the issue. Why did they use this photo — where half the frame is her legs — when they had thousands to choose from?”

Irby added, “It’s a pretty underhanded shot at her credibility.”

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham defended use of the picture in an official statement: “We chose the most interesting image available to us to illustrate the theme of the cover, which is what we always try to do,” he said.

In other words, a picture of a good-looking woman with nice legs sells magazines. Of course, any editor understands that sex sells.

It’s not unusual for a woman in politics or professional life to be treated in a sexist manner. Nor is it restricted to political party — just ask Hillary Clinton, who’s had to ignore countless sexist insults about her appearance or no-nonsense manner.

Sure, photos of a shirtless Obama made the news when he and his family were vacationing in Hawaii, and there have been photos of other male politicians jogging and looking fit.

But they weren’t used on a magazine cover. With a story talking about their political ideas and societal impact.

Will this photo hurt Palin? Unlikely. She’s pretty much a love her or hate her personality, and most people already know where they stand when it comes to Sarah.

But let’s not try to say this use of her photo was anything but a sexist choice that most likely wouldn’t have been made if the subject was a man.

Rick Larson: 582-1522; rlarson@tricityherald.com

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