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Jun
3
Congrats to all the winners but one in particularly with whom I’ve spoken before: Julie Germany.
Julie Germany 29, Nonpartisan
Julie Germany, director of George Washington University’s Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet, has devoted herself to examining how evolving technologies impact the political process. She has already authored an impressive assortment of papers examining the roles and potential of online political fundraising, peer networking groups, and other web-based technologies that are quickly becoming critical to waging effective campaigns. Germany, who runs 50 to 60 miles a week, has a reputation among colleagues for being extremely disciplined and focused. Carol Darr, who is Germany’s predecessor at IPDI, says her former student is a strong leader and effective manager who always stays ahead of the curve. “Julie stays on the cutting edge of the new communication technologies and has a consistent record of spotting trends well before the political community is aware of them,” Darr says.
There’s no one older than 35 and a lot of white-looking guys in the bunch. Still, does look like there’s some diversity – enough? Given this unprecedented campaign cycle we’re in re: first this and first that?
Regardless – way to go, Julie and if anyone knows any of the others, please let us know what you think. Patrick Ruffini is the only other name I recognize.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:15 pm June 3rd, 2008 in Campaigning, Elections, Youth
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37 Responses to “Campaigns & Elections 2008 Rising Stars”
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Shalom Jill,
The following is totally off topic, but the first thought that occurred to me this morning when I saw Director Germany’s photo was:
Why in the 21st century, nearly 40 years after Feminism’s second wave, is a professional adult still dressing like that?
If the director were Jules Germany and he appeared without a tie and his shirt open to the third button he would be dismissed out of hand.
Why do women perpetuate the attractiveness over competence myth? To me this is the equivalent of a Black man or woman shucking and jiving to get ahead.
Why do women tolerate the double fashion standard? A man can own five identical suits, a dozen shirts and a double handful of ties and be a perfectly dressed professional.
When was the last time anyone noticed what kind of suit Barack Obama or John McCain wears?
Yes. I’m ranting here. But Germany’s picture pushed me over the edge this morning.
B’shalom,
Jeff
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Jeff – wow. Well, first of all, Julie appears to have a camisole or shell or top on underneath her jacket or blazer. That is totally normal. Second, she’s wearing brown – not one of my favorite colors on a blonde but it is very popular (I own one brown suit I like but I still never got with the program).
Third – this is the thing about trying to get to post-feminism (to the extent I know ANYTHING about that, and I don’t actually think I do): doesn’t matter what she wears, shouldn’t matter what she wears.
In other words: why do you care what she wears? See – women should not have to be dressing to accommodate the thought bubbles that pop up in everyone’s head (which by the way are so numerous, they’re part of what keeps women from going places and doing things).
It’s so funny you write, “perpetuate the attractiveness over competence myth.”
What “perpetuate”? She looks nice! Good for her. If anything, she looks kind of tired to me.
People don’t notice McCain or Obama’s suits because the media and society in general don’t run those narratives on men who come to the public eye or get in the public eye.
This is the problem with the media doling out our info – they run the narrative.
Don’t feed into it.
We are allowed to look nice, Jeff. For ourselves, and for others.
She looks absolutely appropriate.
Now – if she’d been photo’d with her boobs hanging out like Angela Merkel at the opera for this particular shoot, that’s something else.
Shalom Jill,
That’s precisely my point. Why is it perfectly normal for an obviously talented professional to appear in public with an article of underwear — that’s what a camisole, regardless of current fashion, is — exposed?
Again, imagine Jules Germany with the scoop neck of his sleeveless undershirt exposed in the same way as Germany’s camisole. (Would Jeff go to the office dressed that way?) Why do we allow a double standard?
Which is more important: looking nice or being perceived as professional, competent and intelligent? And yes, we can do both, but the more we notice one, the less we notice the other.
That she looks absolutely appropriate is the issue: why is this appropriate? Because fashion houses and magazines tell us so?
There’s a media connection for you.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Thanks for the shout-out, Jill!
These posts are really interesting! Who would have thought that the first piece of scathing criticism of me on a blog would be about my . . . clothes? I’m humored but also saddened.
Regardless of Jeff’s intentions (and based on my perceptions as a 29 year-old woman), this argument contains subtle but offensive and somewhat hostile misogynistic undertones. The line of argument strikes me as ridiculous as the line of reasoning that “women in public office shouldn’t be judged based on their appearance, but boy should she get a nose job.” It’s disappointing to me that Jeff appears to think that he’s calling me out for the betterment and liberation of all women, when he’s really shackling me and professional women like me with the same old pair of cuffs.
The morning of this picture, I put on the same type of brown suit and sleeveless shell that millions of other professional, hard-working American women wear to work across the country. I don’t think any of us should apologize because one man doesn’t like our suits.
And, I guess I’m disappointed in myself. I’m sitting here, in the middle of a weeklong conference. We’re looking at human rights and warfare today, and I’ve just taken a break from really important conversations to post an answer – even though I have better things to do than argue with some guy who doesn’t like my suit.
I’ll take my argument offline and return to my conference. Jeff, if you ever want to argue about technology and politics or human rights and warfare – I’m game. I like heated discussions, just not quips about my clothes.
Shalom Julie,
I have no doubt that in any discussion in your fields you would best me. Your credentials, intelligence and ability to clearly articulate your knowledge are not in question.
My note to Jill — she and I know each other well and I’ve shared holiday meals with Jill and her family — was not in any sense a quip about your clothes.
It was, and is, a serious question about why, 40 years into Feminism’s second wave, our society continues to maintain a double standard as to professional attire?
That your picture was the trigger for my question is no reflection on you. It could have been any generic picture of a professional woman dressed in a manner that, if the clothing were transplanted to a male counterpart, would have been seen as inappropriate.
As an educator I often find myself mentoring young men and women as they prepare for the real world. One of the topics I discuss with them is the importance of first impressions as they enter the job market.
Employers may glance at resumes before an interview, but the what happens in the first 30 seconds of an interview is critical.
First, the interviewer assesses the dress of the person being interviewed. Second, the interviewer evaluates the interviewee on their manner of speech.
Would you advise a female student to present herself in an interview wearing a sleeveless shell — without further qualifications — under her suit?
Double standards should always be questioned because they suggest that those subjected to less rigid standards are of lesser abilities. As this is clearly not the case, why do women continue to accept a double-standard in professional attire?
Now those are shackles.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Julie is beyond capable so I’ll let her, as she’s done, speak for herself.
But I have to confess Jeff – I don’t see it in this picture. Do you have a different browser that is doing something funky?
I agree 100% with Julie that what she is wearing and the way she’s wearing it is absolutely in the norm of attire.
To the extent that there’s a double-standard, I only think of it in terms of how the media focuses on women’s clothing at times when they wouldn’t if the subject were a man.
But as far as convention – what we wear and where we wear it?
Again – Julie’s attire is absolutely not something I see as standing in anyway – no offense Julie! I like the suit, from what I can see.
Looks like we need to have lunch soon, Jeff.
Shalom Jill,
Sometime in the next few days go out and buy a black, scooped-neck, sleeveless undershirt for Jeff and ask him to wear it to the office instead of his customary shirt and tie.
What do you think would be the response from the judge if Jeff presented himself in court attired that way?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jeff – what Julie has on is in no way comparable to a black scoop wife beater shirt. I have the exact kind of tops that she has on and several variations. They aren’t intended to be worn by themselves without the jacket on.
I know! Let’s have lunch in the Nordstrom cafe or in Beachwood Place and we’ll go check out some clothing stores!
Although being the bad JAP I am, I really am not the best tour guide. lol
Shalom Jill,
You won’t find a more fashion-challenged individual than myself.
But why wouldn’t a sleeveless, scooped-neck undershirt — in black silk or Egyptian cotton perhaps — be comprable in this situation?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Now that’s the Jeff I know re: asking why it wouldn’t be comparable.
I do not know any men who work in an office such as my husband’s – or any office I worked in, such as Bellefaire – who would ever wear such a top underneath a suit jacket – with no other top. It’s not done – it’s a true undergarment -as in, under the button down or whatever, and that’s because men take off their jackets.
Now – I can’t vouch for Julie or any other woman, but it is very common for women to wear those shells and NEVER take off the jacket. It would have to be a case of being very very unusually warm or something to wear the shell without the jacket -it’s just a convention of suit wearing (one reason I don’t wear so many).
I’m THRILLED that men and women do not look alike or dress a like – works just fine for me. And I agree that there are conventions of clothing related to office style.
And I think you know me well enough to know – I can be pretty prudish, or not, depending ont he situation.
But I really really am adamant here – Julie is absolutely 100% A-Okay in what she has on.
I’ll reserve other questions for you for off=line
Shalom Jill,
So, if Jeff left his jacket on it would be fine?
And if any professional woman dressed as Julie took off her jacket it wouldn’t be fine?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jeff would not wear it alone – it would be under a shirt. A woman’s blazer is like that shirt-layer when a shell is underneath.
It’s a convention/style/warmth/coolness thing. If I had a blouse on underneath the jacket, I’d take off the jacket. and that would be like the men.
Shalom Jill,
Yes, if you, or any other professional woman, were wearing a blouse we wouldn’t have had this invigorating discussion.
So if Jeff had SSNUS on under his dress shirt he could wear that dress shirt unbuttoned to the third button and that would be fine?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Ack – what is ssnus?
Jeff. I love you. What she is wearing is fine. It’s not provocative. It’s in the manual.
No. I do not expect that Jeff could wear a shirt unbuttoned to the third button – but there are a lot of reasons why that’s the case.
And on that note, you know – I don’t typically write about my beloved so I’m going to have to demur.
But seriously? I would love to continue this conversation in person at lunch.
Shalom Jill,
Lunch is always a pleasure.
Can we live blog it or maybe post the video to YouTube (No. 1 child can run the camera)?
Just kidding.
All next week I have an Orange student at 1 p.m. so I free before that time at your convenience.
B’shalom,
Jeff
B’shalom,
Chiming in late here –
I’m typing this at my office computer wearing a slightly low-cut knit top with dress casual ralph lauren slacks. All in brown.:) No jacket, but I work in a building which is seriously over-heated in the zones I am required to spend time in. And I wish that Julie hadn’t had to defend what she was wearing…. It really wasn’t OK to bring this up, not in a year where Hillary was criticized in the WashPost for showing the slightest hint of cleavage.
Yes, please live-blog.
Maybe go to the Public Square rapid stop during peak hours & observe what the work attire is.
Shalom Cheri,
When can it ever be not OK to draw attention to societal double standards based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or ethinc heritage?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Honestly, i think this is giving Julie a bit too much credit. How can one be involved in politics and not have actually worked on a campaign? Forget what she is wearing, she doesn’t have the credentials to back it up.
FWIW, I think the shell/undershirt analogy is imperfect. To me it seems comparable to objecting to a woman wearing a skirt because a man wearing a kilt would not be taken seriously. To state the obvious, acceptable business dress for women and men differs.
Shlaom Anon,
That’s true. You’re absolutely right!
Now the question must be: why is that?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Now the question must be: why is that?
Uh, because men and women are different?
That may sound as if I’m being flip, but I’m not. Men and women have physical differences. Men and women have different standards for non-business wear. Men and women (in the aggregate) have sociopsychological differences and may differ in how they want to project themselves.
All these differences (and others) do not disappear when people enter a workplace. Why would we not expect at least some of these differences to be reflected in standards of business dress?
Heh, heh, heh (my written impression of the George Bush chuckle). Now here’s an argument I will fight over, Adam White! Give me a call. My number is on our website (www.ipdi.org), and I’ll read you my resume! I’m not as awesome as many of the other talented people who also won the award, but I do think I have enough qualifications for my category!
Back to my conference …
Shalom Anon,
Sorry, the men and women are physically different argument doesn’t hold up.
There are different body types for men as well, yet professionals in Western culture manage to wear slightly modified (pleats or no pleats, single-breasted or double breasted) suits.
And Anon when you don’t take a man wearing a kilt seriously, watch out.
So I ask again, why is there a double standard?
B’shalom,
Jeff
In regards to Adam’s comment, it seems that there may be some jealousy in the air. Julie has a long list of experiences in the political realm–from directing an institute to running conferences and creating publications–in an area that is very specific and few people are knowledgeable about. Whether or not it includes a campaign is irrelevant.
Sorry, the men and women are physically different argument doesn’t hold up.
Fine, reject physical differences. What’s wrong with the other two differences I cited?
There are different body types for men as well, yet professionals in Western culture manage to wear slightly modified (pleats or no pleats, single-breasted or double breasted) suits.
When you say “professionals” in the context of suits, I take it you mean “male professionals.” Are you suggesting women should have a standard “uniform” comparable to (and as dull as) suits for men?
So I ask again, why is there a double standard?
By your earlier comments (“Why do women perpetuate the attractiveness over competence myth?”), I assume the “double standard” is that the women are allowed to accentuate their physical attractiveness while men are not. Again, I’ll offer the second and third differences between men and women that I cited in my last post.
Shalom Anon,
As to your second point: …women (in the aggregate) have sociopsychological differences and may differ in how they want to project themselves.
Now I think we begin to approach the core question. Why would a professional wish to project themselves in any other way than that of being a competent, intelligence professional? What other message is appropriate to send?
Take a look at these two pictures of doctors.
A and B
If faced with a choice between A and B and the certain knowledge that each is equally qualified to perform your surgery, which would you choose?
Which one do you think a majority would choose?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jeff – you continue to focus on what is in the mind of the person viewing the women or man, rather than what’s in the mind of the person dressing. It’s the wrong place to start, in my opinion.
For example, with your A and B, that B doctor? I don’t know her but it looks like one of those doctor sisters out in California who do all the sexology stuff. I would imagine that her clients are perfectly fine with how she dresses.
At some point, we all have to dress for ourselves and deal with how people choose to interpret it. In this case, I see Julie as being completely appropriate, you don’t, and Julie makes it clear that it’s normal for her and her environs.
None of that negates your interpretation or reaction, but I just think that for ANYONE to be dressing solely based on how any single other individual might interpret it? Well – that’s not reasonable.
Have you ever read the essay I wrote about how my mother hates my hair?
Shalom Jill,
First, this was never about Julie. As I’ve said before, it could have been any generic photo.
Second, you nailed my point when you said:
At some point,we all have to dress for ourselves and deal with how people choose to interpret it.
We must be conscious of how our actions (or in this case, dress) will be interpreted. If the interpretation is not what we expected or desired, then the responsibility is ours, not the person making the interpretation.
The clarity of the message is the obligation of the sender, not the recipient.
And for the record, the first photo is Dr. Jocelyn Elders and the second is an actress who plays the administrator of a hospital on television.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Jeff wrote: “We must be conscious of how our actions (or in this case, dress) will be interpreted. If the interpretation is not what we expected or desired, then the responsibility is ours, not the person making the interpretation.”
Right. And just as I would not have expected that anyone would have a problem with what Julie is wearing in the photo, I think we can say fro what she wrote that she didn’t expect it either, she took responsibility for how she dressed, and that’s that.
What she projected is a-okay with me. And she seems to be okay with what she feels she projects, based on what she wrote here.
So – then – all should be fine in the world, I would think. Can’t please everyone.
(I understand re: not about Julie; n/p)
Shalom Jill,
Thank you.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Did I ever tell you about how I wore too open open-toed high heels to shul once?
Now I think we begin to approach the core question. Why would a professional wish to project themselves in any other way than that of being a competent, intelligence professional? What other message is appropriate to send?
Why would any professional want to portray herself in any other way than a competent, intelligent professional? Because attributes in addition to competence and intelligence are relevant to how one is assessed.
What attributes am I talking about? Attributes such as values, openness and attractiveness, which can be reflected in one’s dress and grooming.
With respect to the last attribute, I would suggest that being attractive (but not provocative) can be compatible with being viewed as competent, intelligent, and professional. We might agree that attractiveness shouldn’t affect anyone’s success, but it does, whether we like it or not.
Take a look at these two pictures of doctors.
A and B
I see that it’s already been noted that B is an actress in a fictional hospital. Anyway, would showing that much cleavage be appropriate in a real medical setting? Probably not. But I don’t think that picture is comparable to the photo that started this whole discussion.
If faced with a choice between A and B and the certain knowledge that each is equally qualified to perform your surgery, which would you choose?
For the sake of argument, let’s assume Jocelyn Elder (a pediatrician) and Lisa Edelstein (the actress) are actually surgeons. Under the assumption that both are equally qualified, in making a choice I’d probably rely on third-party opinions, the surgeons’ schedules/fees/hospital affiliations, and their interactions with me (were my questions answered? did the doctor listen to my concerns?).
Would I wonder about a low-cut dress? Yeah, but it probably wouldn’t be a deal breaker. (But if the garment were a sleeveless shell I wouldn’t think a thing of it.)
With respect to this thread, I find it fascinating that an ordinary shell would provoke so much discussion. It’s not as if we’re talking about someone in a typical business environment wearing a belly shirt (which would be totally inappropriate).
And that’s all I have to say.
Lots going on here since I popped in, not any time to respond till now. Still on Jill’s side here & I like what Anon is saying as well.
The Hill (a semi-daily publication about activities in and around the federal government) annually publishes an article called “The 50 Most Beautiful People on the Hill”.
I thought a link to this article would help to more fully show what working political DC types of various ages are wearing to the office.
http://tinyurl.com/69rj25
(and yes, you will find our own esteemed Democratic U.S. Senator in this list.)
Shalom Anon,
Interesting. How is showing an inch of belly skin different from showing five inches of chest skin?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Shalom Cheri,
And you don’t find a striking difference in the appearance of the men and most of the women in these photos?
B’shalom,
Jeff
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