By now, many of us are aware that Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter, is pregnant. You probably have listened to the media pundits trying to spin this in several different directions.
Some are gleefully rubbing their hands together, expressing overwhelming euphoria. Senator Obama issued a statement saying, “I think people’s families are off-limits, and people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president.” He specifically denied that his campaign had anything to do with the information becoming public.
Most of the debate on Bristol’s pregnancy deals with whether or not her mother Sarah is responsible, because of her public insistence that abstinence education is what we need to be teaching our children. Some see this as proof that preaching abstinence to our children is a failure, as clearly this approach did not stop the Alaskan governor’s daughter from deciding on her own to engage in sex. Others feel that Sarah Palin is not responsible, because a parent can only control a child’s behaviour to a certain degree. Some claim that the whole debate is irrelevant because it is a family matter. Here you have three opinions on one pregnancy.
It astounds me that people believe that they have the right to even enter into discussion on what another does with their body. It seems that in our post-feminist world, women’s reproduction is still something that is open for social discipline. I find it interesting that no one considered for a moment, that pregnancy could have been an active choice for this young woman. Immediately we assume that birth control failed, that she lacked morals, or that her closed-minded harpy of a mother did not engage in conversations with her regarding sex and sexuality. We claim to acknowledge the autonomy of women and yet motherhood as a conscious decision never once entered the debate.
Yet motherhood cannot be considered an entirely active decision simply because the female body is policed. Though we claim to honour motherhood in this society the opposite is quite true. The number of people using this pregnancy as a tactic to shame Bristol, and her mother Sarah, speak volumes about how we understand motherhood. Unless you conceive within a socially prescribed manner (read: lawfully married) the act of giving life is something to be ashamed of. We have not moved far from sending out daughters across the country to hide a pregnancy.
The stigma of unplanned pregnancy is never attached to the father. The male in this situation is guilt free, as he, of course, is just doing what is natural. This has much to do with the fact that femininity has been entrusted with the guardianship of sexuality. Each year, young girls across the United States get dressed in their finest and pledge their virginity to their fathers. The family vagina must be kept pure at all costs because socially we have decided that it is a symbol of honour. That women have the same sexual desires as men is simply not something that we can countenance, because to do so would place women on an equal level with men.
Though Bristol is going to have a difficult time having this child in the public spotlight, there are many issues that she will not face. If Bristol lived in Harlem, and her name were Latifah, this conversation would take a very different tone. That Bristol is a child of privilege, and is white, will forestall the questions of who is going to pay for raising this child. If Bristol were a Latina, there would be cracks about whether the baby was conceived to drain the limited social safety net and achieve US citizenship
Race and class will protect Bristol from the attacks that poor Black and Latina women face on a daily basis when they decide to become mothers. She will not have to negotiate social services trying desperately to get pre-natal care. She will not be looked upon as a social leech, or a raving whore. The aforementioned are labels that are attached to WOC. She will not lay awake at night wondering where the money to raise this child is going to come from.
Bristol can count on her race to ensure that she is treated with dignity when she must deal with the medical establishment. In the end it will be decided that while her identity is spoiled, it is only temporarily so. She will marry and become just another respectable white woman that has had a baby. In time people will forget that she had the temerity to become pregnant outside of wedlock, as she performs the socially prescribed activities of motherhood. Her whiteness will ensure that she is forgiven, as all are well aware that there is a “shortage” of white babies being born.
This is because the babies that matter are white. The newborn white infant does not usually languish waiting to be adopted. He or she is desired and praised. The fact that Bristol has fulfilled her biological destiny, and produced a white child to help maintain white hegemony, will, in the end, endear her to society. After all what are white women for, if not too breed and raise perfect white babies to advance the race.
Bristol’s status as a despoiled identity will be difficult for her, but it is only temporary. We will pretend that we are having conversations about morality, while ignoring the real issues of race, class and gender in our understanding of motherhood. In the end she will emerge reborn and reconstituted, a tribute to what white women are meant to do – breed.
Excellent assessment of the public use of female bodies as symbols. The gender question has exploded since Palin’s entry onto the scene and I find this to be a lucid and grounded take on the larger picture, beyond who will snatch up the disaffected Hillary supporters. Cheers.
I was waiting for you to write on this, Renee.
As a white women who is pregnant with her second child, from a different partner, never married, I to some extent feel stigmatized. However, I do not feel as much so as I did with my first born-when I was poor and uneducated and living as a single mother on social assistance. The simple fact that my social location has improved has taken the social heat off of me. I am aware thought that as bad as I was treated because of my situation with my first, it would have been far worse if I had been any other colour than white.
I thought your article was very insightful. Thank you.
Wow. I didn’t come away with any of the sentiments expressed here. I think it is unfair to necessarily turn this into some kind of a race thing.
The issue of out of wedlock birth and single parenting is one of the biggest issues confronting our society, as it permeates a whole host of things not the least of which happens to be child preparedness in the education system.
This woman/girl is going about it the old fashioned way in that she is going to marry the father and has a supportive nuclear family around her. This is not going to be a single teen mother out on her own with the benefit of state assistance trying to make a go of it.
And therein lies the rub. The extent to which the nuclear family has broken down to the point where young people who find themselves faced with an unplanned pregnancy have little on which to fall back other than some state assistance.
The Palin girl seemingly has a supportive family around her. She will not necessarily be out on her own trying to figure this our for herself. The issue to me, admittedly an older white male, is not the color of the Palin girl’s skin but the strength of the support system around her and how can the society operate in such a way as to encourage other classes, races, etc, to step up and operate in a similar fashion.
I say this as a father of 4 all with the same woman who has also coached in excess of 25 different youth sports seasons, seeing kids from a wide variety of family situations. I was absolutely floored by some of the stuff I saw which opened my eyes to just how tough some of the family situations are out there.
The Palin girl has put herself behind the eight ball, but it is not the end of the world. She is better off than others based on her support system.
Good work, Renee. I definitely think that race IS an issue, because we simply wouldn’t treat a young black woman’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy in the same way. But perhaps class is ultimately the bigger issue as far as the mother’s well-being is concerned, because for as long as a young woman has a support network, she is much better off, that much is true.
Yet I think if we observe society closely, we will notice how even wealthier nonwhite women are treated – by their doctors, their neighbors, their friends. Whiteness still confers more humanity on those with white skin.
Sure, things have changed for the better, but we still have a long road ahead of us. We can admit as much.
Captain, when I get embroiled in issues about race, I generally DO try to turn it to issues of income or socio-economic status, to throw around a big word.
It is still true minorities are disproportionately in the lower income brackets. The central issue then becomes a question of why and what can we do about it. Critical determinants of income and economic standing ARE such things as whether or not you are in a single or two parent family, for example.
As to your last point that things have changed but we can do more? I have no disagreement with that statement. We likely differ as to what it is we may think is needed, however, as I think the issues raised with respect to elements internal to certain cultures bears greater attention these days. Bill Cosby might have a generational disconnect, but his sentiments have merit. A younger individual such as Chris Rock through his stand up and sitcoms are going a long way towards getting some of these simple points across as well.
I dimly recall an article in the Wall Street Journal that discussed essentially the bifurcation of the black community, with the split being largely generational. The younger blacks had a greater proportion in what were called the middle and upper income brackets and harbored sentiments with respect to inner city problems far more along the lines of a Rock or Cosby. Older blacks were generally less affluent and more sympathetic.
Obama’s had to do quite a tap dance around that, which I thought he articulated quite well in his speech on race when he was discussing Reverend Wright as from another generation. This middle aged white male got it, but apparently it did not resonate with society.
So, yes, there’s more to be done, but part of that is a push back to demand more personal accountability as well. A number HAVE succeeded under the existing structure. What’s unique to them versus those still languishing?
Ten to one family structure is in there. It may not be the Donna Reed “mom and dad” structure, it could be a couple strong Aunts, Uncles or grandparents, but I’m willing to bet a supportive nuclear family is in the mix.
We can’t legislate morality, be we sure as hell can stop issuing transfer payments that enable counter productive situations.
Renee, great post.
I agree with almost everything you’ve said. But I still say leave the kid off limits. I agree with Obama’s public statements.
I am so saddened that this has anything to do with race for anyone. That thought never would have crossed my mind, and I’m proud of that.
I was a single mom at 20 and I was called white trash. I never understood why my skin color came into play, still don’t. All I knew was I was the luckiest gal alive with a beautiful baby girl.
I cannot begin to understand where race comes into anything… and I’m so glad I don’t.
As always your post is very thought provoking. Thank you for sharing and I respect your opinion. 😉
I agree with you completely. What a pleasure to have found your blog. Excellent post.
I agree with almost everything as well…but I just can’t bring myself around to the idea that Bristol and her partner chose to become pregnant teenagers….I think if they were older I wouldn’t have so much trouble accepting that idea..but the fact remains it’s my problem that I can’t wrap my head around the idea.
I agree with Obama’s sentiment on the situation. However, I’m sure we all know how different this would’ve been if had been one of Obama’s daughters that was the pregnant teen
I don’t see this at all as a issue surrounding this young women’s body. This is about her life and the life of the baby that is coming. A 17 year old accidently or making the decision to having a baby is never a good thing. Not in this society. We are not built for that. Children of a loving, responsible, and committed union have it easier than children born from parents who have been irresponsible, misinformed, and ill-prepared. Even with the support of the child’s grandparents, this child will come into the world at a disadvantage. He or she can definitely catch up, not doubt because God is all-powerful and all-loving. However, in the same way that Sarah Palin was not able to guide her daughter away from teen pregnancy, she will not be able to fully guide her daughter away from making parenting mistakes that are often made by the irresponsible and ill-prepared.
They may get married, but it probably won’t make their situation much better. It’s just a band-aid for the Repubs “family Values” crap. All we can do now is pray for Bristol, Solange, Jamie-Lynn, and all the other young ladies who have accidently or purposely made the decision to take the hard road to parenting.
I have no business commenting on this, really, as a white woman, but honestly, Geoff and Monica, the reason you can’t see how race enters into things is because you are *white*. That’s what racial privilege is.
Here’s an analogy. There are two drivers in their cars, driving down a highway. Both drivers are good drivers. One lane is smooth, well cared for, kept clear of debris and pedestrians. The other has pot holes, crap that has fallen out of other cars, police barriers, eroded shoulders and so on.
Both of them have to deal with bad traffic conditions, weather, etc. The one in the better maintained lane gets to his destination first and demands to know why his companion was late? She must have been slacking off. They were both driving on the same road, after all.
Exactly how much parenting can be done from the office.
I feel Sarah is too career minded and has little regard or a realistic view of how much influence and nurturing a child needs.Hiring nanny’s and such to raise your kids is not the purpose of hired babysitters.
She needed to have an influential role in her children lives.
Obviously it was her choice to return to work after giving birth to her son in April. Three days when usually there is a 6 week maternity leave for most women to bond and their body’s to recuperate for the birth.
I find her absentee parenting appalling.Women can do both and have both worked and raised a family.
I do admire Obama’s professionalism and courtesy as to keeping private matters private but the Republican party has exposed Sarah.