I make no apologies for my red lipstick.
Earlier this week, I received a telephone message at The Guardian from a woman who wanted to share her concerns with me.
Fair enough. I get lots of calls from readers who challenge my coverage — it’s par for the course when you’re a political journalist.
But this woman’s concern was not about my coverage or about my work at all. It was about my appearance.
“I just came away from coffee with about 10 people, and you were the topic of our conversation. And it was your appearance as a reporter,” the woman said in her telephone message.
“The cleavage and the red lips don't belong on a reporter. We don't want you with dark-rimmed glasses and laced-up shoes, but you should have a more professional look. You're not going to a party, you're going out to cover a story. Thank you, bye."
She didn’t leave a name.
I was incredulous. What does my lipstick colour have to do with covering a news story?
As an avid user of social media, my first instinct was to post something online. I began to type a message detailing my fury over the injustice of any woman having to endure these kinds of comments. After all, it’s 2016, right? But as I typed I realized an angry message would only be extending the cycle of judgment and negativity this woman and her friends chose to engage in.
So I chose to stay positive and let her know I do not plan to change my lipstick colour or my clothing.
“Dear woman (who did not have the courage to leave your name): I will wear what I please,” I wrote in a post on Facebook after a transcription of her voicemail.
“Oh, and the shade of lipstick I wear is called "Siren in Scarlet" from Maybelline. Just in case you wanted to try it sometime. Which reminds me, my current tube is almost done, I'll have to remember to stop and buy some more before legislature reopens next week.”
The response I have received is nothing short of remarkable. Hundreds of comments on social media, emails, phone calls, even people stopping me in the street. Women have been sharing their own experiences with negative comments about their appearance. Other female journalists and politicians have recounted upsetting tales of having to put up with nasty and even sexualized comments about their clothing, hair and makeup.
It was a powerful reaction — one I never expected or intended, but one that should be noted. This is striking a chord because despite the fact it is 2016, women still face a double standard. We are judged on our clothing and our makeup. Wear too much and you’re a harlot. Wear too little and you’re letting yourself go. Dressy is too much and casual is not enough.
Why?
Why can’t women wear what they want? And why are some of the harshest critics other women? Why can’t women empower one another and support one another to be confident and comfortable with their choices, whether in clothing or lifestyle?
Provincial cabinet minister Tina Mundy was one of many who reacted to my post, and I liked what she said.
“Strong women build each other up, they don't tear each other down.”
This positive message for women to support one another seems to be working.
On Friday, one of the calls I received was from a local woman who wanted to give me a bouquet of red tulips to brighten my day. Many others said they planned to buy and wear my shade of lipstick in solidarity, and some even posted photos of themselves sporting their red lipstick.
I hope this kind of positivity and support can be the takeaway. Stop judging women on their appearance. Let’s support and respect women for their intellects and their contributions. And if they want to be a siren in scarlet red lipstick, I say, absolutely.
Teresa Wright is The Guardian’s chief political reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or at Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa.
I make no apologies for my red lipstick.
Earlier this week, I received a telephone message at The Guardian from a woman who wanted to share her concerns with me.
Fair enough. I get lots of calls from readers who challenge my coverage — it’s par for the course when you’re a political journalist.
But this woman’s concern was not about my coverage or about my work at all. It was about my appearance.
“I just came away from coffee with about 10 people, and you were the topic of our conversation. And it was your appearance as a reporter,” the woman said in her telephone message.
“The cleavage and the red lips don't belong on a reporter. We don't want you with dark-rimmed glasses and laced-up shoes, but you should have a more professional look. You're not going to a party, you're going out to cover a story. Thank you, bye."
She didn’t leave a name.
I was incredulous. What does my lipstick colour have to do with covering a news story?
As an avid user of social media, my first instinct was to post something online. I began to type a message detailing my fury over the injustice of any woman having to endure these kinds of comments. After all, it’s 2016, right? But as I typed I realized an angry message would only be extending the cycle of judgment and negativity this woman and her friends chose to engage in.
So I chose to stay positive and let her know I do not plan to change my lipstick colour or my clothing.
“Dear woman (who did not have the courage to leave your name): I will wear what I please,” I wrote in a post on Facebook after a transcription of her voicemail.
“Oh, and the shade of lipstick I wear is called "Siren in Scarlet" from Maybelline. Just in case you wanted to try it sometime. Which reminds me, my current tube is almost done, I'll have to remember to stop and buy some more before legislature reopens next week.”
The response I have received is nothing short of remarkable. Hundreds of comments on social media, emails, phone calls, even people stopping me in the street. Women have been sharing their own experiences with negative comments about their appearance. Other female journalists and politicians have recounted upsetting tales of having to put up with nasty and even sexualized comments about their clothing, hair and makeup.
It was a powerful reaction — one I never expected or intended, but one that should be noted. This is striking a chord because despite the fact it is 2016, women still face a double standard. We are judged on our clothing and our makeup. Wear too much and you’re a harlot. Wear too little and you’re letting yourself go. Dressy is too much and casual is not enough.
Why?
Why can’t women wear what they want? And why are some of the harshest critics other women? Why can’t women empower one another and support one another to be confident and comfortable with their choices, whether in clothing or lifestyle?
Provincial cabinet minister Tina Mundy was one of many who reacted to my post, and I liked what she said.
“Strong women build each other up, they don't tear each other down.”
This positive message for women to support one another seems to be working.
On Friday, one of the calls I received was from a local woman who wanted to give me a bouquet of red tulips to brighten my day. Many others said they planned to buy and wear my shade of lipstick in solidarity, and some even posted photos of themselves sporting their red lipstick.
I hope this kind of positivity and support can be the takeaway. Stop judging women on their appearance. Let’s support and respect women for their intellects and their contributions. And if they want to be a siren in scarlet red lipstick, I say, absolutely.
Teresa Wright is The Guardian’s chief political reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or at Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa.
