An Exercise in Contradiction: Bachmann’s “Ladylike Toughness”
Author Sarah Kaufman delivers a wide variety of sexist remarks in yesterday’s Washington Post profile of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Her main point? Bachmann’s views are unwavering and inflexible, which contradict her prim and proper outward appearance. Kaufman seems to say that if Bachmann dresses like a lady, she needs to act like one too—or risk driving away potential voters.
Kaufman argues that Bachmann’s rigid beliefs and “toughness” of opinion might seem like strengths to Bachmann herself—but in reality, they’re weaknesses in the eyes of voters because they make her seem off-putting and unapproachable. You know, unladylike.
So it must come as a relief to Kaufman that Bachmann counteracts that toughness by dressing as though she’s “auditioning for schoolmarm in chief.” Yes, it’s time for some good old-fashioned style criticism to go along with the accusations of inapproachability. Kaufman talks about Bachmann’s fashion choices in a way that makes the Congresswoman sound more like Mad Men’s Betty Draper than like a serious candidate:
Take her appearance, every aspect of which is polished and soothingly retro, from her pink lipstick and false eyelashes to her hair, whether in a lacquered updo or an equally unmovable blowout…Declared the petite woman in a cocktail suit and pearls: “If I were president, I would be willing to use waterboarding.” She was the very picture of a Junior League luncheon organizer.
That’s just plain sexist, and we’re disappointed that an otherwise-respected publication like the Washington Post would print this kind of gendered language. Whether or not you agree with Bachmann’s views, we can all agree that she’s more than just some relic from the 1950s. And any candidate who has made it this far in the presidential primary deserves far more than to be called a “Junior League luncheon organizer” or “schoolmarm in chief.”
After all, this is a candidate who plans to visit all 99 counties in Iowa between now and when their caucuses take place on January 3. She may be tough, but she’s just as serious as the male candidates in the race. Stop writing about her like she isn’t.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 12/13/2011