The problem here is not that Megan McCain is not fat, as charged. It's that women of all appearances should really simply refuse to discuss individual appearance at all in the context of politics. Many of the replies to Ms. McCain's blog rush to assure her that she's attractive and not fat, seemingly unaware that "no, really, you're pretty enough to talk politics" is just the opposite side of the coin to "you're not pretty enough to talk politics".
But, yes, I definitely agree with your main point. My frustration that the conversation about politically active women still centers around their appearance first is well-tempered by the understanding that we've come a long way in the past 100 years, or even the past 15. Ms. Clinton may have been seen as too assertive / not feminine enough for the First Lady role, but she's certainly not widely seen as too assertive for the role of secretary of state.
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Date: 2009-03-16 06:34 pm (UTC)But, yes, I definitely agree with your main point. My frustration that the conversation about politically active women still centers around their appearance first is well-tempered by the understanding that we've come a long way in the past 100 years, or even the past 15. Ms. Clinton may have been seen as too assertive / not feminine enough for the First Lady role, but she's certainly not widely seen as too assertive for the role of secretary of state.