The Problem that Has a Name: On “Mama Grizzlies” and Conservative Feminism

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Despite an overall tendency to dismiss some of the struggles associated with second-wave feminism under the theoretical assumption of post-feminism, numerous issues related to women and their rights are yet to be resolved. In the USA, problems such as unequal payment and lack of proper work-family support, together with a steadfast conservative endeavor to hinder reproductive rights, prove the urgency of feminist critical stances. While fostering a culture of life, several conservative groups have been appropriating feminism in order to endorse their pro-life policies; Sarah Palin, for instance, while speaking at an antiabortion gathering, recently sparked a heated debate due to her use of the terms “mama grizzlies” and “new conservative feminism”. By focusing on Palin’s speech, this essay intends to explore how feminism is being redefined by U.S. conservative women so as to reinforce patriotism and reinstate an idealized and institutionalized motherhood.