
Congressional Babes
By Jill Filipovic • March 06, 2007•Women and Law in the Media
Was this a glimpse of Loretta Sanchez, siren, a politician known for her strenuous workout regimen and fondness for come-hither heels? Or was this Loretta Sanchez, harried congresswoman, too wrapped up in important national issues to take a break in the name of modesty? Few members of Congress, if any, are such a walking Rorschach test. In the decade that Sanchez has represented central Orange County, the Democrat has been viewed alternately as a masterful fundraiser, legislative lightweight, political mentor, headstrong politician, leading Latina voice and one of Congress' "babes." Her latest headline-maker, quitting the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, mixes two familiar elements in Sanchez's career: politics and the risque.Compared to, say, Hillary Clinton, who is a ball-busting lesbian because she isn't feminine or sexy enough. Which is the only way that she's taken seriously. The whole thing is exhausting. Cross-posted at Feministe.
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jessie March 06, 2007
I recently met LA City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. Among her other accomplishments: she’s one of only a handful of women in the whole country across all political offices to hold office while pregnant and give birth while elected. She was the first such person to serve on LA City Council.
Legal Eagle March 08, 2007
In Massachusetts we had the nation’s first pregnant governor, Jane Swift, who had twins while in office circa 2001. The examples of Greuel and Swift suggest a distinguishable, third mold that professional women are fit into: mothers. These are women who are gendered (as opposed to the figure of the almost-a-man, “ball-busting” female professional) but they are not exactly sexualized. Far fewer commentators seem to lust after the “sneaker-wearing soccer moms” swept into office in the Senate last decade than after Loretta Sanchez. There is the emerging prominence of the MILF archetype which melds sexpots (Sanchez) + soccer mom (Swift) into a hyperfeminine hybrid that may become the new, singular alternative to the de-sexed ball-buster. I can’t say I’m looking forward to that. Seems like the MILF mold will only add layers of expectation, to ding me if I’m sexy but not nurturing, or vice versa. Since frankly, I am neither sexy nor maternal, I guess I’ll have to be a ball-buster. Sigh.