There is a reason why vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wears glasses. She doesn’t want passes. She wants votes. However; no matter how much she tries to play it down, her beauty continues to haunt conversations in news stories, blogs, and youtube videos.
Why would she want to play down her beauty? Because at a certain level in an attractive woman’s career, a pretty face can be more of a burden than a boost. Whenever Ms. Palin is called a hottie, a MILF, a babe; she is objectified, which compromises her perceived competence.
All of the women I interviewed expressed this same concern. Beautiful women are often stereotyped as conceited, superficial dumb broads who rely on their looks to get everything they want in life. How can you promote just another pretty face if that is all you see?
I imagine that Ms. Palin doesn’t walk around thinking she’s beautiful. She goes around thinking that she has issues to deal with in Alaska and now in the presidential campaign. She thinks about her children and her new baby. She thinks about her husband. Then out of the blue, she hears another comment about her beauty.
Some of the women in my film would probably find that annoying. Others would find joy in it. I wonder how Ms. Palin feels?
I totally think Sarah Palin is beautiful. Wait..let me be honest...She's HOT! (I AM a guy after all..) The media and political pundits jump on any trivial matter and exploit it ad nauseum. It is a sad fact about our tainted political process. Although I have no problem whatsoever with Governor Palin's physical beauty in regards to her ability to lead...I do not agree with her political views and I personally believe her selection as McCain's vice presidential candidate smacks of political pandering. I don't believe she is unqualified to be vice president due to her looks. That being said, the Republicans certainly had more qualified candidates to choose from. matt gillespie
I agree that beauty can be a quality that people, both men and women, may use to disempower women. In general I believe women do perceive themselves to have to work twice as hard to receive the same results and respect as men. This does not have to do with being beautiful but with a general gender issue.
Still, regardless of whether or not she was prepared to be vice-President, Sarah Palin, does serve as an example of how harsh the media is toward women based on looks. Women are ripped apart as their looks matter much more than men. I've noticed it is not just in the media, but in general conversations. At least at the parties I've been to, the first thing a man will say about a female candidate is how he feels about her sexually. Maybe men think this is alright to do, but it's not. To me it shows men think that all that matters about women is whether or not they are sexually appealing. Who cares about the rest. It plays down a woman's hard work and power.
Though women, unfortunately are just as bad, if not worse in objectifying women than men. Women seem to care so much how other women look.
Also, there is the stereotype that beautiful women are stupid. That beautiful women all twirl their hair and are happy to be beautiful. Because what else matters? This can lead to success for supermodels. But what about those highly attractive women who want recognition in other venues? Unusually good looks are really an impediment. Not because of the looks themselves, but because of how people react to the looks. Both men and women will disempower an unusually good looking women, because everyone is trying to compete while the woman is just doing her job. Or trying to do her job, whatever that profession may be.
