Scandal double standard
Alissa Armstrong
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Columns
In 1982, the now-Senator Scott Brown posed nude for Cosmopolitan Magazine as "America's Sexiest Man," and today's media did not crucify him for it.
But why, when a female politician such as Sarah Palin finds herself in the spotlight, does every little mistake make the spotlight? Our media is scandal hungry and after absolutely anything they can sink their teeth into, especially with regards to women.
Apparently posing nude for Cosmo does not constitute something the media would consider as bait for ridicule. If Senator Brown was a woman, the media would be all over him for what he had done. Why do we put so much pressure on women and not men to always be perfect?
Sarah Palin, wives of politicians, and any other woman in the media spotlight know all too well the way of the media. They search for that one mistake, that one trip and fall, or that one fashion faux pas to ruin their image. These stories translate into ratings and feed the public's want for scandal and mistakes.
I was really surprised to learn about Brown's nude photo during a Torch meeting rather than hearing it on the news. Is the media trying to protect his image? If so, what for?
During the last Presidential race, Vice President Candidate Sarah Palin was asked how she could be a mother and be the Vice President of the United States. Have they ever asked a male Presidential or Vice Presidential Candidate if he could be a father and a politician?
I do not think so. The same thing happened when the world was made aware of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant. The media was all over Palin and her daughter.
Now, I am not taking anything away from Brown, for I feel he is a great politician and will serve as a great conservative asset to Washington. It just sheds light on the simple fact that women, time and time again, will be the target of the media and that a double standard exists.
I want to see the media treat all politicians equal, regardless of gender. They need to report on facts and political views, and allow us to get to know the candidate as a politician, not as a celebrity.
But why, when a female politician such as Sarah Palin finds herself in the spotlight, does every little mistake make the spotlight? Our media is scandal hungry and after absolutely anything they can sink their teeth into, especially with regards to women.
Apparently posing nude for Cosmo does not constitute something the media would consider as bait for ridicule. If Senator Brown was a woman, the media would be all over him for what he had done. Why do we put so much pressure on women and not men to always be perfect?
Sarah Palin, wives of politicians, and any other woman in the media spotlight know all too well the way of the media. They search for that one mistake, that one trip and fall, or that one fashion faux pas to ruin their image. These stories translate into ratings and feed the public's want for scandal and mistakes.
I was really surprised to learn about Brown's nude photo during a Torch meeting rather than hearing it on the news. Is the media trying to protect his image? If so, what for?
During the last Presidential race, Vice President Candidate Sarah Palin was asked how she could be a mother and be the Vice President of the United States. Have they ever asked a male Presidential or Vice Presidential Candidate if he could be a father and a politician?
I do not think so. The same thing happened when the world was made aware of Sarah Palin's daughter being pregnant. The media was all over Palin and her daughter.
Now, I am not taking anything away from Brown, for I feel he is a great politician and will serve as a great conservative asset to Washington. It just sheds light on the simple fact that women, time and time again, will be the target of the media and that a double standard exists.
I want to see the media treat all politicians equal, regardless of gender. They need to report on facts and political views, and allow us to get to know the candidate as a politician, not as a celebrity.
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