In the News

Stop It With the Sexist ‘Likability’ Test

Author Juanita Tolliver argues that it is time to end the sexist double standard for women running for office; instead of speculating about candidates' "likability," news outlets need to focus on their policy ideas, accomplishments, and merit.

Standing in her kitchen, describing how her family struggled to make ends meet after her dad got sick and her mother worked a minimum wage job, she reinforced her commitment to fighting for vulnerable families and made a historic announcement: “…Today I’m launching an exploratory committee for president.”

And cue the media response.

Mere hours after Elizabeth Warren kicked off the 2020 presidential election cycle on New Year’s Eve with her announcement video, a flurry of media headlines danced across Twitter proposing that pesky, sexist question that’s long haunted girls and women acting with agency and gaining success: “… But is she likable?”

The above excerpt was originally published in InsideSources. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Juanita Tolliver

Campaign Director