Hillary’s Fashion Preferences – A Relevant Question?
17 Aug
In an interview back in 2010, Hillary Clinton challenged the double standard often imposed on female leaders in her response to a question about her fashion choices:
Interviewer: Okay. Which designers do you prefer?
Hillary Clinton: What designers of clothes?
Interviewer: Yes.
Hillary Clinton: Would you ever ask a man that question?
Interviewer: Probably not. Probably not.
(via Boston Review)
Two years later, her response to this question had an internet revival spreading across blogs and online media last week.
The question wasn’t relevant to the important work Hillary does, nor should her fashion choices be used to pass judgement on her as an effective leader. One thought for you to ponder though:
Sometimes interviewers ask people in the public eye about their personal lives. While all of us are unique, many women do appreciate fashion, just as many men appreciate sport. So was the interviewer’s question really so sexist? Would we be making a fuss if an interviewer asked Obama what his favourite NBA team is?
Is there unnecessary pressure on women in positions of power to stifle any ‘femininity’ in order to gain respect and compete with the men?
Just a little food for thought for your Friday 
Happy Weekend friends!
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