Hillary Clinton's cleavage controversy
Hillary Clinton’s bust line made headlines last week. The Washington Post dedicated an article to a look at the past and present fashion choices the former first lady has made.
Heretofore, she has always exuded a matronly, buttoned-up aura, which may or may not have a lot to do with her clothing, but several days ago, the presidential campaigner let the world have an ever so slight glimpse of her (gasp!) cleavage! (Shown here in its barely detectable nature).
Is it simply the contrast from showing no skin to showing some at all that is causing a stir? Is Clinton trying to vamp it up a bit, or unbutton her collar so to speak to seem more relatable to Americans?
Robin Givhan, writer of the aforementioned article, “Hillary Clinton's Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory,” has the following to say:
“Showing cleavage is a request to be engaged in a particular way. It doesn't necessarily mean that a woman is asking to be objectified, but it does suggest a certain confidence and physical ease. It means that a woman is content being perceived as a sexual person in addition to being seen as someone who is intelligent, authoritative, witty… It also means that she feels that all those other characteristics are so apparent and undeniable, that they will not be overshadowed.
To display cleavage in a setting that does not involve cocktails and hors d'oeuvres is a provocation. It requires that a woman be utterly at ease in her skin, coolly confident about her appearance, unflinching about her sense of style. Any hint of ambivalence makes everyone uncomfortable.”
Who knew that the small gap between breasts would open such a wide chasm of commentary?
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unregistered guest
23 Jul 2007
So, a woman shows a little cleavage... maybe... and its breaking news for The Washington Post? I guess in a world where newspaper readership is down and space needs to be filled on the many 24/7 cable news channels, yes, it's headline news. Thank goodness I'm not a celebrity or politician who's every move and every look is critiqued! I'm not a surgeon, but I work with a breast augmentation surgeon in Indiana, and in the real world, the decision to undergo breast augmentation to maybe show a little cleavage has nothing to do with politics or paparazzi, and everything to do with just wanting to feel a little (or a lot) better about ones looks so as to live a more fulfilling life. It's possible, you know, that Hillary wasn't making some bold political move; maybe, she was just unbuttoning her jacket because it was more comfortable to do so. I guess, as they say, it was a slow news day. I just can't believe this was a story that required a reporter to write, ink to be produced, papers to be printed and delivered and time wasted reading. What's next? John McCain loosens tie a bit… is he itching for a fight and sending a subtle signal to opponents across the aisle?
25 posts
23 Jul 2007
I've had big boobs since fifth grade and it's taken me a long time to come to terms with my rack. This sort of inspection of a neckline drives me insane. Women should be able to look like their best selves without losing any of power, influence, or respect. Now, if Hilary was showing a thong above her Jones New York trousers, that would be another story.