A former beauty queen turned governor triggered a nation of updos, maybe even her most memorable contribution to the 2009 presidential campaign. Sarah Palin, is not just any old politician in fact I barely heard of her or what she had done in her political career I just heard she was a moose hunting mama with a knocked up teenage daughter. Why do we tend to focus on the woman instead of her actions?
I cannot remember a time when I heard what President Obama was wearing, was it an Armani suit or a Ralph Lauren? Who cares! Female politicians are given grief over their choices of clothing they can’t be too dressy or too pretty because then they aren’t taking seriously but if they are ugly or dress poorly they are depicted unfavorably in political cartoons. In general women are supposed to be pretty, dressed well, and they are supposed to be quiet! So what does society do when they want to belittle a woman and her opinion? Pick on her appearance. Janet Napolitano and Hillary Clinton come to mind when I think female politicians getting roasted for their appearance. No they might not be the most conventionally attractive women, but they are darn good politicians in any case. You may not like their policies but they got to the top of the heap and they’re still going pant suit or not. Of course everyone should take pride in their appearance but the fact that Michelle Obama is now a fashion icon and people aren’t focusing on her good causes (families of troops etc.) is never a good thing. Issues not head bands are what is important and the fact that no one cares what Joe Bidden was wearing makes a true statement. We still view all women and objectify them; we make fun of their appearance to put them down when in fact we have had some awful looking presidents. Either way being dressed well or being ugly, or pretty, or frumpy if you are a female in politics you’ll still be attacked one way or another it makes no difference. It is easiest to attack females for what they wear then what they say.
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I feel like women are caught between a rock and a hard place. You provided two great examples, Sarah Palin, a female politician who embodies female characteristics such as long hair and stylish outfits and Janet Napolitano, a woman who is not the epitome of femininity. What should a woman do? It seems like wardrobe selection is a lose-lose situation for women. I find it sad that woman are ridiculed for what they are wearing rather than what they are saying and doing. This just reflects the attitude of the nation and "how far we (women) have come."
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