On his first day as Secretary of State John Kerry quipped that he has "big heels to fill."
Some might say this is a witty homage to his predecessors of Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice. Obviously, Kerry wasn't talking about their clothes, but it truly goes to show that female leaders are still seen as "female leaders" rather than just leaders.
During his speech, John Kerry said, "Here’s the big question before the country and the world and the State Department: After the last eight years, can a man actually run the State Department?”
Why does the service provided by the female Secretary of States need to be qualified? Remarks like Kerry's open to door to sexist comments. Need we remind you of John's Edward's joke about Hillary Clinton's blazer? Or the lipstick on a pig comments? Or when a McCain supporter asked Arizona Sen. John McCain, "How do we beat the bitch?"
These little asides and jokes trivialize the hard work performed by both female and male leaders. Let's focus on their achievements, not their genders, and certainly not their outfits.
These little asides and jokes trivialize the hard work performed by both female and male leaders. Let's focus on their achievements, not their genders, and certainly not their outfits.
