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If finding respite from the criticism of her detractors was Sarah Palin's goal when she resigned as governor of Alaska on July 26, she failed miserably.

At Salon.com this week, Juan Cole wrote an entire column comparing Palin to Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Not only are Palin's political ideology and aspirations still being scrutinized, but her personal life is as well. (The rumor of an impending Palin divorce, although it has been officially denied, remains a hot topic of discussion.)

Regardless of whether or not she ultimately decides to run for the office, as long as Palin is polling well against other Republicans she will be treated as a presidential hopeful. I understand that. What is not so easy to understand is the intense hatred for Palin and the nature of some of the criticism aimed at her -- especially that coming from self-described feminists.

A Narrow Feminism
The dictionary definition of the word "feminism" as a "doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men," has not always matched the widespread understanding of the word by the general public.

Over the past few decades, feminism has come to be associated with a more narrow liberal agenda with groups like the National Organization for Women claiming to speak on behalf of women in America. Issues such as abortion rights and ending sex discrimination in the workplace have been at the forefront of the movement.

Click here for more on Palin and the feminist agenda after the jump.

And that's certainly true of the feminist party line on Palin. Rather than celebrating the nomination of Palin as the first woman GOP vice-presidential candidate, self-described feminists have been some of her harshest critics -- most likely because she did not fit their stereotype of what a feminist is. Some even argued it was impossible to be a social conservative and a feminist.

Much of the early criticism of Palin focused on her decision to work while being a mom with five children. Oddly, now that she has resigned as governor she is being criticized by some of the same people for quitting her job.

The Pro-Life Problem
Many of the so-called feminists who attack Palin cite her pro-life position. They claim to be speaking for the majority of American women. But in May, Gallup found for the first time in nine years of their values survey that more women identified themselves as pro-life than pro-choice.

Antiquated notions of feminism deny the reality, and diversity, of women today. Believe it or not, there are conservative women who find it possible (thanks in part to technology and greater workplace flexibility) to have successful careers and families.

Today's women, both liberal and conservative, choose to hold their own opinions on issues, and to elect people who share those opinions. They want fair treatment of those women running for public office, even when those candidates -- like Palin -- don't adhere to a liberal agenda. That's a concept any feminist should grasp.

Lorie Byrd has been political blogging since 2004. Read more from her at Wizbangblog, Townhall.com and American Issues Project.org.

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