For women, a life in politics is much more complicated than one might think. Women in politics have to consider not only policy and legislation but also the clothing and accessories they don. Americans often criticize women for their fashion sense, such as the brands they sport, and the stylists they endorse. It’s only natural that female politicians would face increased scrutiny based on the clothes they wear.
Since I began following politics, I have seen specific types of fashion choices female politicians make. Black women politicians rarely wear protective hairstyles but rather have their hair straightened or silk pressed. I find that the most common type of outfit for a female politician is a pantsuit, a pencil skirt paired with a blouse, or a business casual dress.
Women in politics rarely deviate from these commonly worn styles in order to avoid criticism from the press. They need to deflect attention. After all, how can one pass legislation if all the media wants to focus on are one’s fashion choices?
Hillary Clinton is a female politician who is also known for her pantsuits. She calls them “an anti-distraction technique.” She explains that “since there wasn’t much to say or report on what [she] wore, maybe people would focus on what [she] was saying instead” (cnbc.com).
In an interview with Revolt Television, Michelle Obama revealed that she never wore braids as First Lady because when she changed her hairstyle, people were too distracted to focus
on her humanitarian work. Her choice of changing her hairstyle was “a strategic move.” When she cut her bangs in the second term, that was all the media could talk about, and when she introduced her nutrition program, “the article [led] with what her bangs [looked like]” (revolt.tv).
Pushing a legislative agenda takes more consideration than many think, especially for a woman. Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are only a few of many who face unnecessary scrutiny. In the future, I can only hope the American public will focus on legislation rather than on the fashion choices of female politicians.
