Chapter 25: Women as Leaders in Conservative Women's Organizations

Ronnee Schreiber

Women as leaders in conservative women's organizations Hillary Rodham Clinton's impressive run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 generated national attention to women in politics. Once she left the race, however, discussions about gender, sexism, and elections were muted. Enter Sarah Palin. Unlike Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sarah Palin is decidedly conservative and her candidacy suggests we need to gain better insights into conservative women political leaders. Palin differs from many feminists in that she opposes legal abortion, favors limited government involvement in social programs, endorses tax cuts and heartily advocates the teaching of intelligent design in the classroom. However, like Clinton and other women leaders, she sees herself as representing women. In this way, Palin embodies the many faces of a growing conservative women's movement in the United States—a movement that has significant implications for conservative and gender politics. This entry puts Palin's candidacy in a broader context by ...

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