Recently, I was at a networking dinner, when a woman began discussing her business. She writes a blog on fashion and helps female candidates be more fashionable so that they will be taken seriously by America and the old boy’s club. It should be noted, I added the specifics: ”America and the old boy’s club.” 
Why does a woman have to be fashionable for her ideas and solutions to be taken seriously, to contribute to the discussion for reform and progress? I doubt her scrunchie inhibits her ability to think rationally, nor should her last season blazer distract the audience to which she is speaking. You see, I’m believe we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover; an adage introduced in kindergarten.
I understand certain occasions call for specific kinds of dress. Jeans would be inappropriate to wear to a job interview in the same way it would be inappropriate to wear a three-piece suit when building a house. Learning how to dress for the occasion is essential. However, I don’t think we’re talking about women wearing jeans and a t-shirt on the House Floor to deliver remarks regarding a pending bill that’s scheduled for a vote later that afternoon.
We don’t discuss men’s ties, their comb overs, the length of their pants, their over sized belt buckles, cowboy boots, or the style of their suits in the same way women’s fashion sense is scrutinized. The press, voters, or every day’s concerned citizens don’t consider a male politician’s clothes or fashion when they listen to his talking points regarding policy. They aren’t distracted by his comb over flapping in the wind during an outdoor briefing. His cowboy hat is not mentioned in the first sentence, or at any point, in the reporter’s coverage of the event.
Consider the past and current news coverage of Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Sarah Palin, to name a few. Instead of their ideas or qualifications, reporters wrote about their sex appeal, asked whether she’s had cosmetic surgery on national television, or debated the fashion choice of her scrunchie. Whether or not we agree with their policy, we should discuss the issues on their merits, rather than discredit the messenger based on their fashion sense.
The solution to this problem is not lowering our standards or asking women to conform to the ever changing fashion world. Though I don’t claim to have done scientific analysis, my assumption, which was formulated by the number of women studies and women in political leadership classes and  I’ve taken at both the undergraduate and graduate level, is that America is still uncomfortable with seeing women as anything other than an object for sex, eye candy, a homemaker, or just not capable of influencing domestic or foreign policy.
I’m not saying men aren’t forced to play a different game, specifically when it comes to campaigns. Media strategists soften them up by having them take off their blazer, roll up their sleeves, or show them in a park surrounded by family and friends. They want their candidate to appear approachable, caring, focused on families and communities. The assumption being without that, men will be seen as power hungry and only interested in growing their careers without these reforms to their appearance.
At this dinner, the discussion of fashion turned to Elizabeth Warren and how she looked too much like a professor during her 2012 campaign. Rather than this being seen as an asset, it was discussed as a flaw and how much better she looked once she feminized/softened her appearance. Call me crazy, but don’t we want someone in office who leaves an impression of being educated? I’ve spent days trying to understand how her campaign manager, and apparently the Massachusetts electorate, viewed this as a quality that would turn voters away.
Maybe I live in this Utopian fantasy world where I truly believe one day we can value each other for our ideas and not discredit it based on each other’s appearances. I’m also one of the few that doesn’t believe that all elected officials are out to screw America and lock the nation’s political discourse in partisan gridlock. As much of a jaded realist I am on a lot of issues, when it comes to politics, I’m an optimist. True, will concede that number number of truly bi-partisan politicians seems to be declining based on the partisan gridlock.
But this business idea, I can’t help but view as a step back for women. Rather than developing a consulting firm to prep female candidates on issues regarding foreign and domestic policy, it’s on fashion. And the women around my dinner all agreed in the necessity of this service. Yet, I can’t think of one female candidate that appeared in jeans in a campaign ad unless it was her volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Additionally, I can’t help but wonder how this woman would handle someone like me, a gay woman who wears suits, ties, and shops in the men’s section. I’m not sure I’ve seen a gay woman run for office, at least on the federal level, who dresses like I do. Again, this is an assumption, but I believe any campaign manager would tell me to change how my appearance to appeal to the general public and be less controversial. To minimize the discussion regarding my sexual orientation. They’d have me wear dresses, feminine cut suits, and (god forbid) make-up. Why do you think Rachel Maddow is feminized by MSNBC? She doesn’t wear that much make-up or such feminine cut clothing in her daily life. I’m tired of the cookie cutter expectations.
From today going forward, can we all  agree to look at people, candidates, and who ever else, and judge them based on their character, their policies, their merit, and their willingness to evolve as new information is presented. Only if someone is wearing jeans and a t-shirt on the floor of the House should we ever discuss a women’s sense of fashion. Because as much as I despise the cookie cutter approach, there is something to be said about being dressed professionally. And everyone woman I’ve seen speak on the House Floor is professionally dressed. I might not agree with what she’s saying, but at least I’m focused on her words, rather than her clothes.

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