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The first of the final series of debates leading to the historic 2016 U.S. election took place last night. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took the stage to convince the American people of their worth to lead the nation.
What did debate commentators address first? You might expect them to focus on each candidate’s preparation process, perhaps the results of previous debates. If they wanted to diversify their coverage, maybe even yesterday’s weather in Hempstead, NY.
However, the first discussion topic was Hillary Clinton’s wardrobe and appearance.
Donald Trump’s clothing was not addressed. He wore a dark suit, white dress shirt and a blue tie. He also had an American flag pin on his lapel. How important is this attire to his potential role as president of the United States?
Clinton’s clothes shouldn’t have been a topic of discussion either.
Focusing on a woman’s clothing enables a person to fallaciously judge a woman’s character based on her appearance. Is a person’s appearance a reliable indicator of their ability to fulfill a job?
Clinton is among women who have been working against this erroneous practice, famously responding in 2010 to a moderator’s question about her preferred clothing designers with, “Would you ever ask a man that question?” Probably not.
The big question is: if we say this about a woman when she competes for the most important job in the country, how are women being treated in other professional settings that are not broadcast for everyone to see?
A job candidate should be judged based on their qualifications and whether or not they can fulfill the position. Are they the complete package with a proven track record? Do they possess the right character, actions and work for the job? These are the important questions.