Many female lawyers and politicians struggle with the images that are portrayed by the media due to their fashion. Notably, Hillary Clinton has for years been an icon/source of entertainment for the media. She is known for wearing women's pants suits which are the closest resemblance of a man's suit for professional women to wear. These pant suits generally are matching colors with loose fitting pants, a blazer with little shape and worn with a neutral low colored heel. The media has over and over again blasted Clinton for her style because it takes away from her femininity. But once a woman does wear more feminine clothes, she looses some of her credibility or respect. Let's take a look at Clinton's counterpart, Sarah Palin.
Palin had a more feminine edge to her style with a more Jackie-O appearance. She had longer hair which created a more feminist view of her style. Media started paying attention to her clothes more than who she actually was. Magazines ran specials on her favorite lipstick shade. Instead of focusing on her political views, we were worried about her face washing routines. This is an example of how dressing in more flattering clothes labels you as unprofessional. This is a double bind for women lawyers and politicians. If you dress in suits, you are labeled as not womanly. If you dress like a woman, you are not taken seriously.
SOURCES: http://dc.about.com/od/photosofmuseums/ss/MTussaudsPics_4.htm,
http://www.barking-moonbat.com/images/uploads/sarah-palin-tina-f_1009438c.jpg
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