ColumnIf you’ve met more than a handful of American women in your life, then you know all women are unique. So, why haven’t fashion designers and politicians read that memo?
Society seems to have a strange desire to make all women the same. We’ve noticed quite a few instances of this societal behavior over the past week, but the following two stories caught our eye. Why were they interesting? Well, because the people at the heart of these stories are demanding we change this all-too-common dialogue.
Yeah, It’s Hillary
While Hillary Clinton was recently accused of being unfit for the presidency because she’s had to take some time off due to phenomena–a serious illness–she’s also had to deal with other negative press.
Recently, a prominent Republican tried to accuse Clinton of looking too angry… Yes, we’re serious.
The New York Times recently reported that “Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, wrote on Twitter that Mrs. Clinton had appeared ‘angry + defensive’” during last week’s national security forum on NBC.
Here’s all of Priebus’ tweet so you can see what he wrote:
“@HillaryClinton was angry + defensive the entire time – no smile and uncomfortable – upset that she was caught wrongly sending our secrets.”
Nah, Reince. She was just too consumed with answering questions. Maybe she, like many women, just has what you men can’t seem to stand: a bitchy resting face.
But the real question is why do people want Clinton to “smile more” yet they don’t care about Trump’s face? Is it because she’s a woman and everyone expects women to be “nice” and “accommodating” all the time, no matter what? Of course it is. So, you know, even when she’s talking about national security she should be always thinking about her appearance.
Fashion Designers
The other story that caught our eye this week concerns Tim Gunn and his official “boy, bye” to the boring, out of touch fashion world.
Gunn recently penned an editorial in The Washington Post about how absurd sizing in the fashion world is.
Titled “Designers Refuse to Make Clothes to Fit American Women; It’s a Disgrace,” his article is full of great observations about how stupid designers can be about everyday women’s sizes. Gunn is, thankfully, over that:
“This [designers’ overwhelming desire to only cloth thin women] is a design failure and not a customer issue,” Gunn writes.
“There is no reason larger women can’t look just as fabulous as all other women. The key is the harmonious balance of silhouette, proportion and fit, regardless of size or shape. Designs need to be reconceived, not just sized up; it’s a matter of adjusting proportions. The textile changes, every seam changes. Done right, our clothing can create an optical illusion that helps us look taller and slimmer. Done wrong, and we look worse than if we were naked.”
Damn straight. It’s insane for designers to think that women have to change in order to fit their beauty standards—it needs to be the other way around, bozos.
So, everyone, take note. American women and women everywhere owe you nothing. Just leave us alone and maybe you’ll get our business… and our vote.
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Image of Hillary Clinton via Shutterstock, Evan El-Amin