Discrediting the female politician through her body

Why elected women feel compelled to defend their abilities

Western society prides itself on promoting equality between men and women. Yet, there remain ancient ideas and visions in people's minds that continue today. Aristotle once said that the female sex was too physically weak to be intellectually strong. Therefore, it would have no place in politics. This view, according to the author Giulia Sissa, is reflected in the attitude of women politicians today.

Since then, many elected women or candidates for elections feel the need to affirm that they are capable of making decisions, of being strong. A speech that their male colleagues never have to hold because the social opinion is that the man already has in him his qualities. An ideology that tends to change but that is still strongly anchored in the political mores. Besides, in general, female politicians are much more attacked on their looks than their ideas.

Time: 18min40