The queen of such discourse is Sarah Palin. Praising Arizona’s immigration law and the state’s female governor, Palin said that Jan Brewer had “the cojones” that President Obama “does not have” to take on illegal immigration. Then, Palin blasted “impotent, limp and gutless reporters.” And Palin got in on the “man up” action the other day — turning the phrase on her own side. “Hey, politicians who are in office today,” she said, “you, some of you, need to man up and spend some political capital to support the Tea Party candidates.”
Ladies! If we’re so tough, so confident in our toughness and so comfortable with it, what do testicles have to do with it? The breakthrough appeal of the Mama Grizzly is that she combines the ultimate feminine act — motherhood — with fierceness. Have we really come a long way if cojones equals good and lack thereof equals wimpy?…
Don’t equate typically female characteristics or activities (baking, wearing high heels) with weakness.
Don’t — even, or maybe especially, if you’re a woman — equate toughness with manliness. At least not unless you think it’s acceptable for your opponent to tell you to behave like a lady.
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