North Star Writers Group

Sex scandals and reproductive rights aside, sex and politics are an unlikely pair. Generally, if politics were to be given a face, it would be that of an aging white man, and for good reason. Aging white men, perhaps the least “sexy” demographic imaginable, still have a significant stronghold on American politics.

But for the first time in American history, a woman is well on her way to becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, an honor that brings with it a scrutiny of her sexuality that uniquely accompanies female politicians.

Across the globe, too, women are vying for the position of ultimate power in their nations. In France, Ségolène Royal, a socialist, ran for president and lost. On July 2, Cristina Kirchner, a senator and former first lady in Argentina, announced that she would be running for president. The word “sexy” is most often used in the description of these high-heeled, long-haired, undoubtedly feminine women, while Hillary Clinton is considered the “dowdy” female presidential candidate.

According to ABC News’s Susan Donaldson James, Clinton’s no-nonsense style is a reflection of American puritanical taste. While Ségolène Royal and Cristina Kirchner are known for their fashion sense, Hillary Clinton relies on her trusty pantsuit ensemble, which mirrors the couture of her male counterparts in terms of sex appeal.

According to James, Sen. Clinton’s sensible rather than sensual demeanor and wardrobe will ensure that she remains the Democratic favorite. Never mind her position on the issues, her intelligence and her political vigor. As long as her hem stays low and her neckline high, she still stands a chance against the males.

But Clinton made a bold move this past Friday, and made Washington Post headlines for it. No, I’m not talking about her request for a Pentagon briefing regarding a timetable for troop withdrawals, which was followed by a scathing Pentagon response. Rather, as Sen. Clinton spoke about the costs of higher education on the Senate floor, she dared to wear a black v-neck shirt under her pantsuit, displaying not “an unseemly amount of cleavage,” according to Post fashion writer Robin Givhan. but cleavage, nonetheless.

Rarely do the clothing choices of male politicians make news, and if they do, they are certainly not discussed in terms of sex appeal but rather in terms of how distinguished and, in turn, powerful, the clothing makes him look. For female politicians in America, clothing that covers too much gets them the “dowdy” label. Clothing that covers too little, well, that gets them an even worse label that I won’t mention here. (Hint: it’s almost always reserved for the description of females.)

On the other end of the “sexy politics” spectrum are the YouTube video vixens dubbed the “Obama and Giuliani Girls,” who each made separate music video odes to their favorite candidates and then came together to create a video that includes a panty-clad pillow fight in the name of politics.

Two of the women stand at podiums in mock-debate and sing about the benefits of their respective candidates. Their “debate” sounds like this, “I still want Giuliani on me,” sings one, while ripping off her jacket. “I like my man like I like my coffee” is the other woman’s rebuttal as she lifts a cup of steamy coffee to match her steamy gaze at the camera. YouTube has come to represent the future of elections in America, where candidates and citizens alike can broadcast their political ruminations. I fear the half-dressed, sexualized Obama and Giuliani girls, by far the most watched political videos on YouTube, have come to represent the new face of political discourse, especially when it involves women.

The difference between the sexuality/politics combination as it is used against Clinton, and how it is displayed in YouTube videos, is that the Obama/Giuliani girls, of course, made a decision to appear in these films. Clinton has no say in how the media treats her sexuality. The popularity of the videos, however, is telling. Even the most conservative are comfortable with women in a sexual role, and when a woman tries to assume a political one, sexuality must be brought in somehow, to show that even powerful women are still sexual objects by virtue of their gender.

In the Obama vs. Giuliani videos, the “girls” satirically sing about the sexuality of the two men, but it’s meant to be humorous, and it is humorous because it is rare that male politicians are looked at in a sexual way.

I applaud that female influence is becoming the norm in politics, both here in the United States and worldwide, but I will not declare a victory for women until YouTube videos of a real political debate amongst educated women gets two-and-a-half million views (as the original, sexy, “I Got a Crush on Obama” video has received). I will not celebrate until a woman can enter the political arena without being subjected to sexual critique.

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