The 46th President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in today and their inauguration was nothing but historic. Winds of change grace 2021 as we see Kamala Harris inaugurated to the office – the first woman ever to become the Vice President of the United States.
Yes, it is 2021. And with all the awareness and activism surrounding sexism and racism, Forbes is currently being slammed online for its blatant sexist reportage on Kamala Harris, in comparison to that of Joe Biden.
Two tweets posted by Forbes, one on Biden and the other on Harris, shows a stark difference. On one hand, they pondered upon Biden’s next political moves as he takes office. However, on the other hand, they pondered upon what Harris would wear.
Have a look at the two tweets here:
Kamala Harris just created history and Forbes focused on what she would wear – this angered people online. Many highlighted how if this would have been a fashion magazine, it would still have been acceptable. But Forbes essentially focuses on business and leadership – something which went missing from the tweet addressing Harris.
Oh, hello there sexism. pic.twitter.com/niTdkV7mfb
— Abe Greenspoon (@worldofabe) January 19, 2021
This is Disgusting. Can we please stop treating women in politics like they are on a fashion runway? How about what she’s thinking or what she’s planning to do. Her clothing choice is just not that important.
— John Tartt (@jtartt) January 20, 2021
This is totally sexist because of the magazine it is in. Forbes is not a fashion magazine. If the VP article had been run in Cosmo, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But it was a business magazine, they should have run an article discussing the duties she’ll be doing, info article.
— Mary Bell (@marbels1984) January 20, 2021
Oh yes, what she will wear is definitely more important than what she’ll do… #facepalm pic.twitter.com/FQvqTKQqpK
— Amy Richardson (@Ames_at_Work) January 19, 2021
Welcome to identity politics, where qualification doesn’t matter, only your ethnicity and other superficial factors.
— Vincent Sodenkamp (@VSodenkamp) January 20, 2021
The more things change, the more they stay the same🤦♀️ https://t.co/FcJZNfs5NZ
— Anjana Pillai (@anjanap02) January 21, 2021
We don’t give a f*** what any woman is wearing and neither should you @Forbes. Now is the time to DO BETTER and focus on the incredible history that was made today by @KamalaHarris ! #Inauguration2021 #KamalaHarrisMakingHistory https://t.co/BTiKSK3AW8
— Cassie Thompson (@HotHerps) January 20, 2021
They wouldn’t talk about a man that way. Any man regardless of their position. That’s the point. And I will bet you 💯 of woman got the sexism without any confusion.
— NanSmurf (@nan_smurf) January 20, 2021
Ya, it started off with just being sexist because its "what's the man doing vs what's the woman wearing", but then they doubled down on their shitty post by adding in race and a small dig with "chucks and pearls". Fuck @Forbes.
— Your friendly neighbourhood software developer (@virtua_sloth) January 20, 2021
read this & know that sexism is real. women are so much more than what we wear. https://t.co/tSiK87SeW3
— madison smith (@madsjsmith) January 21, 2021
And while history is being made, the only comment is what a woman will wear, 🤦🏼♀️. https://t.co/thxAXEIAfE
— Joanne Willesee (@poppywillowgirl) January 20, 2021
A woman is much, much more than what she wears. But alas, as one Twitter user pointed out, the more things change, the more things stay the same.