Time and time again, successful women are belittled to nothing more than their looks. Scarlett Johansson did not become a Golden Globe Nominee by deciding whether or not she was going to wear a pushup bra for an audition. Nicki Minaj did not get numerous singles and albums on Billboard’s Top 100 and 200 by sleeping her way to the top, she earned it by working day in and day out. In 2011, Complex Magazine even published “The 50 Hottest Women in Politics” reducing powerful female politicians by writing, “Cristina Fernadez de Kirchner. Office: President of Argentina. Party: Justicialist. Why You Should Vote For Her: She's a fashion icon who has been known to be late for meetings with other world leaders because she took too long to get ready.” This was the first woman president for Argentina, a powerful, strong, intelligent woman, but instead of focusing on her policies, her plans, or what she has done, for her country, reporters focused on her physical appearance and belittled her and others like her to a ranking of their beauty.
Powerful women are still being asked sexist questions. Reporters frequently push aside professional courtesy and ask hyper personal questions, normally in regards to appearance. Women still have to prove that they are worthy of the positions they have, since not only having the position in the first place is enough. Many an interviewer has asked women questions such as “How do you juggle both being a mom and work?” “What kind of diet did you have for this role?” “Have you had surgery lately?” Or the infamous, “Who are you wearing”? Transphobic questions are common and just as disgraceful as well. Laverne Cox has been asked these types of questions, reducing her skill merely to her transition. In an interview she did with Wendy Williams, she was asked, “You’ve got breast implants?” To which she coolly responded, “Off camera, I can talk to you, but I’ve chosen not to talk about any of the stuff I’ve gotten done, because I think so often when trans people’s experiences are talked about, we far too often focus on surgery and transition, so I don’t talk about that.” Women of any position, no matter what their skill or success, are reduced to questions about what they’re wearing or if they’ve gotten botox and enough is enough.
It is time that reporters start asking women about their skills and not who makes their shoes. Interviews are for real questions, to actually get to know these women and their struggles/processes, not for “what’s your gym routine”? Women have not earned their success by putting on heels; they earned it by working hard, and that is what needs to be highlighted and acknowledged in media. Journalism must recognize that all women fight for every single thing they earn, and that it is not to be diminished by some sexist questions.
