Women in the past (and, undeniably, even now) have been made to feel like they have to fit into unrealistic ‘boxes’ every single day to satisfy the world around them, with one of the key aspects being their appearance. We should dress nicely, but not over the top. We shouldn’t be prudes, but, at the same time, we shouldn’t reveal too much. The list goes on and on. Fortunately, the tide is changing and many women have the confidence and freedom to express their individuality in any which way they choose.
However, that becomes more difficult if you’re in the public eye. As a keen cyclist, I follow sports journalist Orla Chennaoui on Twitter. She’s hosted a variety of shows on Eurosport, speaks multiple languages, and was even a former all-Ireland triple jump champion. Despite all of her accolades, some people still choose to criticise what she is wearing, as though that somehow detracts from her job. In one tweet, someone asked her why she was wearing “tiny shorts and ridiculous shoes.”
Chennaoui isn’t in isolation here though. Another example of this happening to a woman in the media is Helen Skelton, who appeared on the front covers of the Daily Mail and Daily Express during the 2016 Rio Olympics for wearing a dress that revealed her arms, shoulders and a bit of her legs. They described some of their readers as feeling “hot under the collar” after watching Skelton, begging her to remember that families and children were watching. Surely, the lesson for people to teach their children (besides following Skelton’s great example of dressing for the weather) is to let people wear whatever they are comfortable and feel good in.
Aside from presenters, female politicians also face a lot of scrutiny over their clothing choices. For example, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was photographed wearing a blazer and suit jacket. This photo was shared in a Tweet from Eddie Scarry that read “that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles.” Ocasio-Cortez replied by saying that journalists feel the need to focus on their appearance because “women like me aren’t supposed to run for office – or win.”
And that, in my opinion, is the answer to why so many women in the media are criticised. They aren’t ‘supposed’ to dress in a way that doesn’t fit in with some archaic expectations of women. The people who still believe women need to look and act a certain way are feeling uncomfortable, and they are retaliating via social media and the mainstream media by essentially bullying women on the way they dress. However, the fact that so many women in the media who are criticised for their appearance are gaining support from thousands of people around the world goes to show that things really are changing for the better, and hopefully, someday soon women will be celebrated for their creative clothing choices, not shamed.
Words by: Isla Aimee Rush
Edited by: Holly Phillips