Sarah Palin's 'Boobgate': The aftermath
Bloggers went into overdrive last week amid speculation that Palin had gone under the knife — but mainstream pundits say breast size is hardly the issue
"Did Sarah Palin get breast implants?" satirical political blog Wonkette asked playfully last week, posting new images of the former VP candidate and Tea Party leader in an arguably flattering white shirt — and prompting a flurry of blogger "commentary." Though the mainstream media shunned the topic, now that Palin has stated publicly that she did not undergo breast augmentation surgery, pundits are bemoaning what the viral popularity of the "Boobgate" meme says about the perception of women in politics. (Watch Sarah Palin respond to the rumors.) A sampling of reactions:
The double-standard is alive and well: "Eyes up, grow up!" says Karen Valby at Entertainment Weekly. Too often, the national conversation about women in the public eye "begins and ends with their appearances... [and] the tone becomes sneering, small, and cruel. Why are we so fascinated by Sarah Jessica Parker's 40-something face, but react with "some affection" to Alec Baldwin's "bloated barrel gut?" Whether you agree or disagree with Palin, "let's all agree to look at her mouth when she's talking."
"Sarah Palin's boobs are real, get over it"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Boobgate' shows how far women have to go: "In light of this year's primary election results, some may call 2010 the political year of the woman," says Mary Sanchez at the Kansas City Star. "Don't be so sure." It's hardly "unqualified progress" when a leading political figure can't show up at the Belmont Stakes in a white t-shirt without being "scrutinized physically."
"You've come a long way, baby — or have you?
The episode also showed how humorless conservatives are: While Wonkette is pretty clearly a comedy site, says Roy Adrosso in The Village Voice, "rightbloggers" naturally "rose to defend the former governor's breasts from charges of augmentation in deadly earnest" — finding time, naturally, to lament the Left's women for their "drab clothing" and "perpetual sourpuss."
"The week we talked about Sarah Palin's [breasts]"
This episode was a bi-partisan embarrassment: Whether Palin had breast surgery is "less the story than the fact that we made the possibility of her new breasts" a story, says Abe Gurko at The Huffington Post. If you support Palin, "get your mind out of the gutter" and focus on bigger issues. If you're "from my camp" and "want her to fade into the sunset," you'd be well advised to shut up, too.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Week Unwrapped: The dark world of illicit gambling
Podcast Plus, the pension pot shortfall and Obama's silence on Harris
By The Week Staff Published
-
Leonora Carrington: Rebel Visionary – an exhibition of 'unearthly delights'
The 'captivating' show features over 70 pieces spanning everything from paintings to tapestries
By The Week UK Published
-
Patrick Bishop picks his five favourite books
The acclaimed historian chooses works by Ernest Hemingway, Richard Cobb and more
By The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published