Judging Julia

Posted: Monday 28 June 2010 08:11pm

Perception counts. We may feel obliged to toe the PC line and say how a politician looks – how anyone looks, for that matter – is irrelevant; that it’s all about vision, character, confidence, personality, intelligence, talent, work ethic and moral values.    

Thankfully all that is true, but looks – by that I don’t mean raving beauty or a ripped body, but presentation and individual style – count for a great deal, like/admit it or not.        

PM Julia Gillard and Governor General Quentin Bryce after the swearing in ceremony

 How we dress, groom and present ourselves sends a message about who we are. In a few seconds we are subliminally sized up by others on the basis of what they see, and almost unconscious judgements are made. Other, more conscious judgements are then added, but the dye is cast.         

 Trawling my Facebook page and blog sites on the day of Julia’s ascension was a fascinating and hugely entertaining exercise.        

While there was a generally “wow, great” vibe, the new PM’s appearance copped a disproportionate amount of attention in the historic circumstances (and I was in there with the best of them).         

Among comments posted by (female) Facebook friends:         

* First woman PM. OMFG. I rang my mum. Of course, we’re all still obsessively talking about her fricken HAIR, but let’s just take it one step at a time.         

* We simply cannot have a female prime minister with such bad hair.         

* If we’re going to have a woman PM, does it really have to be someone who wears floral tapestry coats?         

 My contribution was about The Voice (as in, would rather gouge eyes out and drive nails through eardrums than listen to), of which we will inevitably be hearing so much more. The adenoidal drawl drives me to distraction.         

Major pity, because she has so many potent things to say. The power of oration, as evidenced by all charismatic leaders of history (for better or worse), is a lethal weapon in garnering public favour.         

 An Australian celebrity commentary site noted: “Now that Julia is representin’ the world stage next to France’s Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and America’s Michelle Obama, we think she might need to get a glam squad to turn things up a notch. (We’re only saying this because we care.) Yes, it’s about her policies, but you know people are going to analyse her looks, so once she looks fabulous, all the critics can take a chill pill.”         

They indeed had a point.         

A friend on holiday in LA on the day of Julia’s appointment was miffed our historic event got squat attention in the US media. I’m not saying it was because Julia doesn’t look or posture like Carla Bruni, but you have to wonder whether the French president would have had as much cut-through on the international scene if not for such a striking presence by his side.         

Glamazon French and US First Ladies, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama

 In The Huffington Post – an influential American news website and aggregated blog, featuring various news sources and columnists – I found a small reference that day, followed by comments from browsers that mainly focused on Julia’s appearance. She was likened to unewzual British actress Tilda Swinton and Cynthia (Sex and the City) Nixon, described as “a mild hotty” and there were a couple of dubious remarks about her red hair.         

Now none of this is fair, but it’s a fact of life – perception counts, especially in our age of celebrity politics.         

In her early days as Deputy Prime Minister, Julia got rather testy about the relentless harping on her hair and clothes, pointing out she was not a celebrity.         

But now she’s the First First Lady, she needs to rethink. She IS now a celebrity of sorts, embarking on the most important role of her career. And one that will take her to the world stage, representing US (as in her people, not the US of A).         

PM Gillard and First Partner Tim Matheson

 The First Hairdresser, Tim Matheson, will have his hands full being First Partner and so there’s an opportunity for someone more impartial have their way with The Hair.         

Just as Kevin-O-Seven is said to have had a stylist advise on his Prime Ministerial polish, there would be fashion mavens aplenty itching to get their hands on Julia’s look.         

PM Gillard, the offending pantsuit and Treasurer Wayne Swan

 She’s a good looking woman with a lush figure, so ditching the utilitarian, ill-fitting pantsuits would be a fine start – especially the nasty, very disappointing pin-striped number straining across the waist she wore at her swearing-in ceremony, in sharp contrast with the impeccably haute Governor General Quentin Bryce, many years her senior.         

If there’s any doubt, Hillary Clinton – one of the contemporary world’s most driven and successful female politicians, joined the program to greater ends.         

As husband, Prez Bill’s other half in the 80s and 90s, she reinvented herself from “geek” uber successful career woman and Arkansas Governor’s wife  to sleek US First Lady and woman of international influence. And founded her own future political career upon that. image (nasty pantsuits notwithstanding).         

When she made her own run for the presidency in 2007, another makeover ensued.         

 “There she was, aged 59, sharing a stage and the harsh glare of television camera lights with two men who have superficial but powerful advantages over her,” a female commentator observed. “At 45 Barack Obama is – and looks – significantly younger. Youth and energy are the watchwords of his campaign. John Edwards, tall and well-dressed, is unfailingly telegenic. He looks what he says he is: “A nice guy.” What was she to do?”         

Story short, Hillary is reputed to have had a facelift and other anti-ageing procedures, softened her look and overall presentation to stay ahead of the game.         

She didn’t win the Presidential election, though made a good fist of the campaign. She is now US Secretary of State; no shabby feat. Go figure.

by Jenni Gilbert

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