Gov. Palin is in many ways a new kind of woman candidate for public office — or at least new to the national, presidential stage. Most women politicians of the past decade or two have fought to be judged for their professional qualifications. They offered their families as image-softeners, giving personal narratives voters could identify with, but they generally did not offer motherhood as a qualification. Palin does. Her hockey mom personal narrative is used to demonstrate that she gets the concerns and shares the values of ordinary (non-elite) Americans. Her ability to juggle a BlackBerry and a breast pump, to dismiss the chef and chauffeur, to be governor and the CEO of the Palin family, is all put forth as evidence of impressive managerial skills. Her decision to proceed with a Down syndrome pregnancy — and her daughter’s decision to proceed with her own pregnancy and marry the guy — are put forth as evidence of the Palin character and the sincerity of Palin convictions. She has made motherhood an essential part of her campaign resume.

Yet the McCain/Palin campaign has tried to have it both ways: She’s the family-values candidate, but you’re a sexist if you examine her family values.

I don’t want to have to assess Gov. Palin’s maternal qualities as part of her resume. It makes me (and women generally) uncomfortable to be judged as mothers by pundits. I think we’ve had more than enough of being judged in this way. But Gov. Palin has created a political dynamic where it is essential to do that. She has forced the issue. Whether this is a service to women trying to balance their work and family lives is a fair question, but it’s not a question we can avoid.