Why are women politicians judged by their looks?

Newly appointed British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have a lot in common: they are the same age, unpretentious and in political leadership positions. They're also women, which seems so amazing that the media has to keep reminding us. Being a woman is a crazy thing. When it comes to Merkel, the majority of Germany only noticed that she is a woman when she showed herself in 2008 with a daring décolleté in the Oslo State Opera. “How much décolleté is a chancellor allowed to show?” and “top or flop” were the questions that occupied Germans in the silly season from then on.

Theresa May, of whom everyone is wondering if she is “the new Angela Merkel” (or the new Margaret Thatcher, if you like), experienced her own décolleté debacle in March 2016: during a debate on the British budget in the House of Commons May wore a red, cut-out dress under her blazer – and a lace bra underneath, as the Daily Mail immediately reported breathlessly. According to the gossip newspaper, the interior minister outdid the finance minister. Not with a political statement, no, but with her daring, low-cut choice of clothes! Under the hashtag #Budget2016 – a hashtag that I strongly suspect doesn’t usually arouse so much passion – everyone could then play fashion police: “Pack your rolls”, some demanded, “What was Theresa May thinking ???” asked the others. In between, some voices of reason: "Theresa May is the longest-serving Secretary of the Interior since 1892, but she has breasts, who cares?"

Yes, who cares? Apparently a lot of people. But they are not only interested in Theresa May's breasts, but also in her shoes. Leopard print is the most eye-catching pair, even making the cover of The Sun. The accompanying headline: "Heel, Boys", which means something like "Walk, boys". According to Google Trends, there was a spike in searches for "Theresa May shoes" and "Theresa May fashion" in the days following May's appointment. In any case, the British seem to prefer to google things afterwards – as we know from Brexit. In general: Brexit! Of course Theresa May has to negotiate that, but honestly, that's not half as exciting as her footwear. The fact that May met Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon was basically only worth mentioning because May wore her scarlet "war heels".

Politicians can only lose when it comes to looks

Scarlet red? Is this a reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter? So let the guesswork begin. With male politicians, on the other hand, no one would suspect that there is more to their clothing than, well, the need to cover one's body. "Jean-Claude Juncker chooses a dark blue suit to discuss Britain's future in the EU" or "Matteo Renzi's aggressive white shirt" – no one has ever read anywhere. In order to make it into the headlines in terms of clothing, you have to resort to more eye-catching accessories. Alexander Dobrindt, for example, opted for golden shoes. For politicians, on the other hand, a hairstyle is enough: Hillary's hair tie, Angela's pot cut. The gray hair of, let's say, Joachim Gauck, however, does not make headlines.

In general, politicians can only lose this game. If they look inconspicuous like Merkel, that's "boyish" and "unfeminine" - just like mom, a completely desexualized being. If they look emphatically feminine like May, it's an attempt to distract their male colleagues. Political content somehow gets out of focus in the whole discussion about hair and animal patterns. Short haircuts, leopard prints: It's also clear that politicians like May and Merkel don't just wear what their husbands have ironed and put in their closets. Dress to success and impress! Take, for example, Margaret Thatcher's famous handbag, of which Thatcher herself said: 'Of course I am adamant when it comes to defending our liberties and our laws. That's why I carry a big handbag." Said handbag even made it into the Oxford English Dictionary: The verb "to handbag" means to treat someone or something inconsiderately and insensitively. So I'm positive about the future and waiting for the day when Theresa May's leopard shoes get their own entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Perhaps as "to shleopard" - a neologism of "shoe" and "leopard" which means something like: "doing one's own thing, being unimpressed".