May 12, 2003

FEMALE POLITICIANS endure terrible sexism,

FEMALE POLITICIANS endure terrible sexism, as Natasha Stott Despoja eternally complains:

My now famous [Doc Martens] shoes … generated more publicity than my policy comments ... [Female politicians are] still subject to greater levels of media scrutiny and are more commonly described in terms of their appearance and family status.

Hold on a second, little blonde politician girly. The WSJ's Lisa Schiffren has been doing some media scrutiny of her own:

I had the most astonishing thought last Thursday. After a long day of hauling the kids to playdates and ballet, I turned on the news. And there was the president, landing on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, stepping out of a fighter jet in that amazing uniform, looking - how to put it? - really hot. Also presidential, of course. Not to mention credible as commander in chief. But mostly "hot," as in virile, sexy and powerful.

For how long must we men tolerate this objectification?

UPDATE. The leering sexism continues!

Posted by Tim Blair at May 12, 2003 05:15 PM
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