This article by Campbell Brown (not very well written but very clear and accurate) has me thinking about how we judge women in politics and in other professions as well. As a production editor, I work mostly with women at a publishing company. My job requires an independent work ethic; I am free to wear or not wear make-up at will. I can wear a pantsuit or jeans to work, as can my supervisors, and have the luxury of being judged based upon my work and not my appearance.
In the past, I have held jobs unlike this one, and it makes me appreciate my employer a great deal. It fits in very well with my freelance side jobs; I tend to work on these late at night in my pajamas.
I feel like being able to select what I wear allows me to express myself on a daily basis. Sometimes I dress up when I don’t have to. Sometimes it’s a jeans day.
Regardless, the same does not hold true for women in politics, such as Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin. Both have been judged on appearance: A woman in politics will be ridiculed without experience, but if she’s been around long enough to have any political experience, she looks too old.
There’s also the matter of what the female poltician chooses to wear. A dress might look too traditional, but a pantsuit might come off as too blase. Regardless of our feelings on the matter, the divisive nature of politics does incite a negative comment on appearances come election season, especially when female candidates are concerned.
I mean really. Could Cindy McCain get any redder?