Clothes Don’t Make the Woman
U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (MA) participated in her first political debate last Tuesday. At a time when most Americans are concerned with important issues such as the economy, trade deficits, unemployment, and the war in Afghanistan, it seems Reuters is more concerned with Elizabeth Warren’s ensemble. Reuters made a point of noting that the distinguished lawyer, law professor, and woman who almost headed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was “dressed in red jacket and black slacks.” Seeing as though there were no references made to what male candidates wore to the debate makes clothing completely irrelevant to the issue at hand.
The disproportionate media attention given to what female candidates and politicians wear is just plain sexist. This kind of coverage not only damages the candidate’s political career, but it discourages other women from considering a run for office. Candidates should be judged by what they say and do, not what they wear. The clothes do NOT make the woman.