Mia Love: Running for Congress, Not In A 5K
On Tuesday, an article in the Washington Post highlighted Congressional candidate Mia Love’s strengths—but in all of the wrong areas. The Post listed her qualifications as “a 36-year-old mother of three, a fitness instructor and mayor of a growing town.” A follow-up article in ABC News earlier today also accentuated Love’s athletic abilities over her political prowess, while a post in Wednesday’s Daily Mail chose to leave out Love’s public service qualifications entirely, simply asking, “Could this mother and fitness instructor become the first black female member of Congress?”
As if motherhood and bicep curls are Love’s distinguishing qualifications for a seat in Congress. Never mind the nine years that she spent on the Saratoga Springs City Council, three of which she served as mayor. Love’s biography on her website focuses on her work ethic, education, civil service and political achievements.
Her website explains that “nearly a decade of weekly policy decisions reflecting these ideals makes her exceptionally experienced and qualified to do what needs to be done in Washington, DC…”
Only at the very end of her biography does it read that “in her spare time Mia is an avid runner, tread trainer, and accomplished singer and dancer.” Love does not cite her fitness regimen as evidence of her political aptitude, so why is the rest of the media putting so much weight on this detail?
While most candidates would like to emphasize their hobbies outside of their careers, highlighting Love’s role as a fitness instructor while diminishing her political experience is both demeaning and sexist. It is hard to take a candidate seriously when she is labeled as a fitness instructor first, and as a practiced politician second. Coverage of political candidates—male and female—should focus on real qualifications such as political experience and leadership ability. Come November, voters will be looking for the candidate with the strongest campaign platform and leanest budget—not the strongest pectoral muscles. With the recent stream of articles about Love’s fitness finesse, it seems as though the media thinks that Love is running in a different kind of race.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 06/29/2012