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Sexism from The AP

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 08:22:38 PM EST
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John is right. AP's caption describing Speaker-to-be Pelosi's wardrobe is blatantly sexist. They would never have done that to a male politician.

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    Sexism from The AP | 14 comments (14 topical)

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    Turnabout's fair... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by desertswine on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 12:21:50 PM EST
    Perhaps they should use the same fashion critique with male politicians, too, such as:

    "Hastert lumbered up to the podium in a severly wrinkled undistinguished grey suit large enough to cover a standing camel."

    Like that.

    Here's a whole article on Pelosi's Dressing (none / 0) (#1)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 08:37:29 PM EST
    Pelosi redefines the power suit

    I actually liked the article and I think Pelosi has a great look.  From the article:

    Pelosi appears consciously, comfortably and authoritatively female. Attire is not the sole province of women, but in comparison with men, it remains an area in which they have greater choices, more flexibility, the heavier burden.

    The public has settled on the defining characteristics of a powerful man: He wears a dark suit that is well-tailored. He pairs it with a crisp white shirt, and if he wishes to underscore his authority, he wears French cuffs. He wears a four-in-hand -- a bow tie if he wants to emphasize his eccentricity. He tries to look dignified and serious.

    But what does a woman of great power look like? Does she choose her own version of camouflage and, as Hillary Rodham Clinton did during her first campaign for the Senate, wear a black pantsuit as a uniform? Does she wear tailored suits and a lapel festooned with patriotic brooches in the manner of former secretary of state Madeleine Albright? Or, like current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, does she mix professorial reserve with a hint of confident sex appeal?

    Pelosi had to decide how a woman who will be second in line of succession to the presidency should look. And what she came up with is someone who wears a neutral-colored, softly tailored power suit. One that is accessorized with style rather than rote references to love of country. She looks dignified and serious. And in this case, she also happens to look quite good.

    But, guess who picks out her clothes?  Her husband.

    Among those who spend any amount of time flipping through fashion magazines, Pelosi, 66, would not stand out as a style icon. In fact, in a recent "60 Minutes" interview, Pelosi's husband, Paul, admitted that he shops for her clothes because she doesn't especially enjoy afternoons at the mall.
    Well, it's a good Paul likes to shop (none / 0) (#2)
    by Kitt on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 08:44:30 PM EST
    I wonder if he would do mine.

    Regardless, it is a sexist caption. The news agencies do not mention the brand name of the suits Harry Reid, et.al., are wearing or the color of the suits with the tie that has just a tinge of rose to bring out.....

    Pelosi had to decide how a woman who will be second in line of succession to the presidency should look. And what she came up with is someone who wears a neutral-colored, softly tailored power suit. One that is accessorized with style rather than rote references to love of country. She looks dignified and serious. And in this case, she also happens to look quite good.
    Yup, sexist (none / 0) (#3)
    by aw on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 09:02:24 PM EST
    I loved her choice of clothes on election night.  She really stood out in that sea of navy suits.

    Sexist or Elitist? (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 01:40:03 AM EST
    A frequent talkleft reader writes in:

    Big Tent's post about the AP caption for the Pelosi pic misses the mark just a bit, I think... while the AP is certainly sexist in this description, what its really doing is going along with the Rove-approved theme that Pelosi is "elitist" and out of touch  
    with America... nobody shopping at Wal-Mart can afford Armani and that's the drum that's being beaten here. So it's less about sex and more about class distinction.
    How did they know? (none / 0) (#5)
    by narudy on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 06:55:29 AM EST
    There's no way I would know the make and even the color of that suit (outside of blue pantsuit) without being tipped off.

    Query (none / 0) (#6)
    by Deconstructionist on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 07:32:45 AM EST
     How come the AP is sexist for discussing her  clothes but several of the posters here are not sexist for mentioning they like her clothes?

      Isn't it more just as the article says -- there isn't a lot to say about most men's clothes. There's not much to say about minute variations on the grey or blue business suits. If a man in such a position did have a distinct style, I imagine it would get mentioned. I do see frequently that articles about men who have eccentric or casual styles make note of it.

    Entertainment Creep (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 09:08:51 AM EST
    Probably a combination of some of the items mentioned above (the right wing spin machine being echoed by AP) and the tendency for women to be treated differently than men in terms of fashion commentary. But may I add another possibility: the tendency of Hollywood-gossip style reporting that focusses on the esoteric rather than on the topics that actually affect how people live and die.

    The reasons why they do this will have to be the topic of another tread.

    simple answers to simple questions (none / 0) (#9)
    by Sailor on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 01:09:18 PM EST
    How come the AP is sexist for discussing her  clothes but several of the posters here are not sexist for mentioning they like her clothes?
    We were making personal comments amongst maybe 12 people.

    The AP is supposed to be running hard news for millions of people.

    This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions. (h/t to Atrios for title/concept.)

    oh please (none / 0) (#10)
    by Deconstructionist on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 01:16:20 PM EST
      Can you not pass on anything to demionstrate how silly you are? It was a joke but, in any event,  it's the content of a comment not the forum that is at issue.

      A sexist comment uttered to one person in a cave is still sexist.

      I don't think either AP or the posters complimenting Pelosi's style were engaging in sexism but to argue that the size of the audience matters is  just __.
     

    It was a joke (none / 0) (#11)
    by Sailor on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 05:08:23 PM EST
    Can I see a show of hands of folks that found a 'joking manner' in decon's post?

    Decon insists that a few people discussing amongst themselves about a person's choice of clothes is exactly the same as a MSM hard news post that does so.

    Further example that will also escape decon: If it was in the style section, fine; as hard news it  was sexist.

    A sexist comment uttered to one person in a cave is still sexist.

    I don't think either AP or the posters complimenting Pelosi's style were engaging in sexism but to argue that the size of the audience matters is  just __.

    Continuing my previous homage to Atrios (and The Simpsons) Ohhh, the stupid, it burns!!!

    This commenter actually believes that the MSM, reporting news, is just the same as a conversation between two people in a cave.

    For some odd reason I assumed decon had a law degree, god help his clients, especially if they ever come to him for slander or libel help.

    THIS is a joke. (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 08:17:44 PM EST
    folks that found a 'joking manner' in decon's post?

    Quite a bit of what Decon says is a joke.

    Ahem.

    Lighten up, huh? Or light one up. ;-)

    Parent

    AND BESIDES... (none / 0) (#13)
    by Edger on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 08:25:05 PM EST
    Nancy looks good in that new suit. Presidential material in fact.

    I know some girls half her age who couldn't look half as good even in a new suit.

    Men too. :-P

    Another besides (none / 0) (#14)
    by Edger on Wed Nov 15, 2006 at 08:43:56 PM EST
    How can it be sexist? She's more of a man than the snot nosed boy she's third in line to replace as president. Looks and acts and is more presidential too.

    ===
    Serious survey question: Is this comment sexist?

    Sexism from The AP | 14 comments (14 topical)

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