back to article Democratic congresswomen 'less feminine in appearance' than Republicans

Time-rich psychologists in the USA say they have discovered that female Democratic politicians are significantly less feminine in appearance than Republican ones - so much so that it's often possible to tell which party a woman politico belongs to just by looking at her. Official pic of US Rep Michele Bachmann Michele …

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  1. Mike Bell

    Fits in with Republican Ideology

    Everyone can be a millionaire (just try hard enough and forget for a moment that if everyone had a million in the bank it would be worth very little as a consequence)

    Everyone can be Governer of California (just try hard enough)

    Everyone can be pretty (just try hard enough)

    1. TyD
      Big Brother

      Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

      I think it would be easy to detect party affiliation by an intelligence review of written non-partisan material. The candidates would write about a non-partisan subject like their family. When the material was graded, I would expect there would be a significant difference between groups based on party affiliation. I would anticipate that those who got elected based on how smart they are and not how pretty they are... I think you get the idea.

    2. RICHTO
      Mushroom

      Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

      Everyone knows there are only two type of Republicans - Rich ones and Stupid ones.

      Both being characteristics commonly associated with hotter looking fluff...

      1. csumpi
        Facepalm

        Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

        Everyone knows there are only two type of Democrats - Liar ones and Freeloader ones.

        Neither characteristic is commonly associated with good looks...

        1. RICHTO
          Mushroom

          Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

          You mean like all those hard working Americans that dont earn enough to pay taxes?

          I see the Republicans have been working hard in Florida: http://www.theonion.com/articles/florida-to-experiment-with-new-600lever-voting-mac,29699/

          Finally you have a president who has done something about your third world health care system - you have a health care system that costs twice as much as Canada's - but produces inferior results. For that alone (and not starting any wars) I hope he gets re-elected.

          1. Hud Dunlap
            Trollface

            Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

            If Canada's health care system is so good, why did my Dentist move here?

            1. Killraven

              Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

              "If Canada's health care system is so good, why did my Dentist move here?"

              Typically? Most medical professional's that move from Canada to America do so because their personal income can multiply by several times. It has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of care involved.

              And for every story of a Canadian that goes south for some obscure treatment, you can find 100 Canadians that live in America but maintain dual citizenship so they can go back home for better quality for the non-rich, healthcare. Yes, you can argue that they do so because it's free, but the costs to go back north (transportation, mixed work, etc, etc.) tend to even that out.

            2. RICHTO
              Mushroom

              Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

              I expect he moved so that he can rip off gullible Americans with overpriced dentistry. They are after all used to paying rediculous amounts...

          2. Alan Dougherty
            WTF?

            Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

            Did.. did you honestly just post a link to the onion as an argument?

            Really?

            On a tech web site?

            Are you Iranian?

            I hope you are trolling...

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

              I think he meant to post this link instead about how the Republicans managed to find many cases of voter fraud in the swing states:

              http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/29/3026835_p2/state-republicans-find-fraud-close.html

            2. RICHTO
              Mushroom

              Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

              I am well aware of what The Onion is. If you read the article it is pretty clear what I am getting at...

      2. lardheppus
        IT Angle

        Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

        A venn diagram of the two groups would show considerable overlap.

    3. Tom 13

      Re: Fits in with Republican Ideology

      No, Republicans believe ANYone can be any of those things. It's Democrats who believe EVERYONE should be one of those things. It's an important distinction many under-educated and overly self-confident liberal opponents fail to make.

  2. Tank boy
    FAIL

    Oh dear.

    Thank you UCLA for wasting everybody's time on useless statistics.

    1. Lars Silver badge
      Coat

      Re: Oh dear.

      What about the color of eyes, weight and length. Education, perhaps too difficult to measure.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Oh dear.

        Lars --- What about... Education, perhaps too difficult to measure.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html?_r=0

        The Tea Party Republicans have been identified:

        - wealthier than average Americans

        - more highly educated than average Americans

        The Tea Party Republicans seem to have a lot in common with average Americans:

        - send students to public schools like average Americans

        - support social security (instead of cutting it's payroll support, like Democrats did with the Stimulus law)

        - support medicare (instead of cutting it, like Democrats did with the Health Care Reform law)

        It is very strange, how the political parties which do the most horrible things in the United States, do so with the support of their political parties, when the political party constituents blame the other party for it. Uneducated bigotry is an amazing thing.

        1. Killraven

          Re: Oh dear.

          "- support medicare (instead of cutting it, like Democrats did with the Health Care Reform law)"

          More amazing how the Conservatives like to say this, but fail to mention that that money's associated COSTS to Medicare have also been moved over to general health care, leaving Medicare with no net change as a result.

          Before: Medicare + Non-Medicare = Total Health Care Cost

          After: (Medicare - Misc) + (Non-Medicare + Misc) = Total Health Care Cost

          1. Tom 13

            Re: but fail to mention

            Even the CBO admits the Republican plan scores the change more accurately.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Oh dear.

          "more highly educated than average Americans"

          You're talking about the same group that, for the most part, rejects evolution and the basic scientific model. This same group of people is so ignorant about fetal development, that they don't understand when a collection of cells develops enough to have a nervous system and yet want to make policies to restrict women rights. They've also managed to fabricate an American history centralized around their particular brand of religion.

          HAHAHAHAHA!!!

      2. Tom 13

        Re: Education, perhaps too difficult to measure.

        No, it's because you can't even cherry pick the data to make Dems look good on that one. And while it would be easy enough to get past peer review, once it hits the stands it's subject to public revue and subsequent ridicule. Followed inevitably by pulling the paper for academic fraud, and loss of prestige for the journal.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Oh dear.

      "Thank you UCLA for wasting everybody's time on useless statistics"

      May not be a waste of time for everybody. Munters now have evidence that they're not going anywhere in the GOP, and MILFS needn't waste their time with the Democrats. So there's two groups to whom this may be useful.

      1. MJI Silver badge

        Group Of Pictures

        What does it have to do with politics?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Group Of Pictures

          Are they some how implying that the democrat women are more manly so in effect if you want to vote for a female candidate then vote for a republican one?

          Either way is sounds like they have too much time on their hands.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Group Of Pictures

            Images like this float around the internet.

            https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByTGp3o4dldLTmFyN292NnhyaTA

            In nations like the United States, they are a representative government... Americans elect people to represent them, represent someone to be their face in front of a camera, to be their voice in front of a microphone, to be their hand when writing a law.

            To diminish the importance of any one of these things, in the political process, is a mistake.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Group Of Pictures

              "Images like this float around the internet....represent someone to be their face in front of a camera, to be their voice in front of a microphone, to be their hand when writing a law."

              If the face is so important, why is one group represented by posed studio shots, and the other by candid shots, clearly selected to be unattractive?

              You are a weird lot, and we are sadly aping you.

    3. Killraven

      Re: Oh dear.

      It's reading that's at least good for a giggle. Education-wise, it's simply practice for Statistics and similar classes. The education is in doing the project and following paper, non necessarily in the specific subject matter.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Welcome to the USA

    It is quite obvious - they investigated USA, not for example, Italian politics.

    All of these are equally unattractive and look like something that has been specially selected to ensure that no sexual related scandal can ever take place.

    Now that is what I would call a feminine politician:

    http://www.google.com/search?q=Nicole+Minetti&hl=en&client=iceweasel-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial&prmd=imvnsuo&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0LZlUOyyCcLD0QXq2ICACw&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1266&bih=568

    Or on a bad day the PMILF (in her younger days): http://www.google.com/search?q=ukrainian+prime+minister&hl=en&client=iceweasel-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eLdlUOzdG5Gr0AXh0oGIAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1266&bih=568

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Welcome to the USA

      Could be worse, Widdecombe or May come to mind!

      1. MJI Silver badge

        Widdicombe or May

        I'll give you Widdicombe

        May is not too bad, better than Short or Waquie

        Flint or Menche not bad at all.

  4. hplasm
    Devil

    True

    "It may be unnecessary for Republican men to exhibit masculinity through their appearance,"

    It's obvious they're dicks...

    1. pete 22

      Re: True

      "Dck" is actually the most popular first name in congress, statistically speaking. No, seriously.

      1. King1Con
        Angel

        Re: True

        LOL!

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: True

      Categorizing any group of people is bigoted.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: True

        "Only bigots categorize groups of people".

      2. sabroni Silver badge

        Re: Categorizing any group of people is bigoted

        Typical comment from the stupid anonymous cowards on here.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It could also be called

    "The Stepford Wife" effect.

  6. Grikath
    Pint

    Botox v/s brains

    Alternatively, retrophrenology may well help some.

    beer for...well, it's weekend here. yay!!

  7. MJI Silver badge

    That democrat woman

    Looks like Spocks sister.

  8. K
    Devil

    Michele Bachmann...

    MILF... that is all!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Michele Bachmann...

      Maybe if it was required that she wore a ball gag to keep that intellectual dishonesty in. Personally, I'd set my standards higher.

      1. sabroni Silver badge
        Thumb Down

        Re: Michele Bachmann...

        Why do you think other people care about who you want to fuck? Why do you think any article that mentions women is an appropriate place to start telling people about who you want to fuck?

      2. LPF
        Devil

        Re: Michele Bachmann...

        Yeah I'd bet you like to use a ball gag on her.. deviant

  9. IR

    Nah

    It's just that conservative women tend to fit into the stereotype that women must be caked in make-up and have big hair, whereas liberal women don't. You should also notice that half of the attacks on Democrat women by conservative talkshow hosts concentrate on their physical appearance rather than policies.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Indeed, a more intelligent observation...

      than any made in the El Reg article.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Nah

      "You should also notice that half of the attacks on Democrat women by conservative talkshow hosts concentrate on their physical appearance rather than policies"

      Actually, it is just the opposite. Remembering Sarah Palin discussion in the liberal media outlets was about how she looked, sounded, etc. while the more conservative media outlets tried to address the policies.

      Even looking at a more recent liberal talk show, only the Conservative individual was providing facts & figures while the liberal talk show hosts insisted on talking about how they felt or what they heard.

      http://nation.foxnews.com/ann-coulter/2012/09/27/ann-coulter-causes-mass-hysteria-view-whoopi-bleeped

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Nah

        When you quote Fox news, you've lost the discussion.

      2. Tom 35
        Paris Hilton

        Re: Nah

        "Actually, it is just the opposite. Remembering Sarah Palin discussion in the liberal media outlets was about how she looked,"

        Really? I don't remember anyone talking about how she looks, it was mostly about how fucking stupid she was. Writing notes on her hand? What a reject.

  10. Treacle
    Pirate

    Bachmann more feminine?

    With THOSE crazy-eyes? You've got to be joking. She's inane.

    In keeping with the grand American tradition of dyadic political polarization, the "researchers" neglected to analyze faces from any of the other political parties in the land. Only Republicans & Democrats make the cut. Lame.

    1. Anonymous Coward 101

      Re: Bachmann more feminine?

      "Bachmann more feminine? With THOSE crazy-eyes?"

      Are you suggesting it is OK to judge someone on their appearance?

      "Only Republicans & Democrats make the cut."

      They are the only two political parties that matter.

  11. RISC OS

    They might be more pretty but they are not as intelligent... that's called the Bachmann effect too or maybe the Palin effect.

    1. csumpi
      Stop

      Both of those you mentioned, overshadowed by the Pelosi effect.

  12. pete 22

    imagine

    A threesome with Margaret Thatcher and Janet Reno.

    Suddenly, Hilary sems quite attractive now, no?

    1. King1Con

      Re: imagine

      Maggie was an amazing politician... take her over Janet or Hillary any day!

  13. wobbly1
    Holmes

    Psychologists present a subjective assessment as objective fact.

    further undermines their tenuous claim to scientific credibilty. A friend routinely refers to psychologists as psychiatry's hand-maidens.

  14. Sandra Greer
    Devil

    More about ethnicity?

    The Republicans feature more WASPy (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) people of both genders. I suspect they are considered prettier and more feminine by everyone (possibly unconsciously) than the more varied ethnic groups represented in the Democratic party.

    1. David Halko
      Meh

      Re: More about ethnicity? (no, more about money)

      That is one way to look at it - but it is not entirely accurate. The color of the Republican Party if Green (i.e. the color of money.)

      Women (not an ethnic group) are basically independant of either party, with a nearly even split, heavy influence in either political party (which is GOOD for them, equal representation!)

      White (not an ethnic group) - are slightly more dependent upon Republican Party for representation.

      http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/files/2010/11/housechart1a.jpg

      Latino Ethnic Groups - are slightly more dependent upon Democratic Party for representation.

      http://latinosreadytovote.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hispanic-Vote-2010-41-e1326161791632.p

      Black Ethnic Groups - for the most part are enslaved to the Democratic Party for their representation... with a slight uptick in movement towards the Republican Party during the 2010 mid-term elections (odd, with their ethnicity in the Presidency and their ethnicity's dominant favoured party in control of both the Legislative and Executive branch!)

      http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/blacks-and-the-democratic-party/

      One ABC (American Black Conservative) [in his own words] "won't stay on t he Democratic Plantation because of the color of his skin".

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ollRkX0o5cM

      It is not good for ANY demographic to become heavily dependent upon a single political party. It is dangerous when you are counted against those who may offer a better opportunity for you. This person actually BELIEVES that President Obama supplied her and others telephones, thus wins their vote.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio

      It is in the best interest of the Democratic Party to keep demographic groups voting for them and the main message from them is to emphasize: poverty, dependency, have them else take money from others to give to perspective voters. During the past 4 years, poverty has risen - and those in poverty are most likely to vote for Democrats (to use the power of the government gun to transfer money to them when they are in the time of need.)

      http://colorlines.com/archival_images/youth_unemployment_2007_2010.gif

      It is in the best interest of the Republican Party to keep demographic groups voting for them and the main message for them to increase their base through lifting poor into middle class and middle class into upper class through wealth. Unfortunately for the Republicans, they lost this battle in 2008, with the election of a Democratic House of Representatives, Democratic Senate, and Democratic President. No representation of this demographic means the nation becomes poorer, the economy is depressed, and Republicans voting base loses more wealth (and more voters to replace those who die off.)

      Neither party want the poor or elderly to be in need - they both understand that instability comes with idle hands joined to hungry stomachs and instability threatens their political power. At the same time, Demcrats have figured out they can manipulate demographics by making them dependent upon government (health care reform took over student loans from the banking sector to give Democrats another demographic to control) and the Republicans have been inept in keeping their opposing party from manipulating ethnic and other demographic groups to vote for them wholesale.

      (Ironically, regarding the Obama Phone, that program was a private program which came into existence under the Republican G.W. Bush Administration, made possible through cooperative efforts dating back decades through Presidents of BOTH PARTIES... yet Democrats have capitalized on this political capital.)

      http://www.factcheck.org/2009/10/the-obama-phone/

      The Democratic Party is more about government coersion (government taxation & income redistribution) while the Republican Party is more about personal freedom (growing wealth for everyone.) As long as the Democratic Party can keep more people poor and THINKING they are voting for their lives to be sustained, the Republicans don't have a chance. Candidate Romney alluded to this with his 47% remark, but has been ineffective in countering the rhetoric.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: More about ethnicity? (no, more about money)

        What a load of BS! Watch that Kool-aid, it'll get you in the end.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: More about ethnicity? (no, more about money)

          > What a load of BS!

          A truther. Care to suggest which facts do you reject?

  15. Graham Marsden
    WTF?

    "Attention all women...

    "... if you want to be elected, it doesn't matter what your education or background or political views are: If you aren't good looking, you have less chance of being elected!"

    WTF???

    1. Corinne
      Unhappy

      Re: "Attention all women...

      Graham you sound surprised - this shows a touch of naievity which I wouldn't have expected from you. Women have always been judged on appearance as well as ability; you rarely get comments in political discussions on what a male politician wore, whether they'd recently had their hair "done" etc.

      Lots of studies have shown that whether male or female you still have a better chance when you're attractive for things like landing a job as well as getting laid - personal experiences of being a not very attractive woman who has been overlooked in a job environment in favour of prettier & less able women bear this out

    2. Gaius
      Devil

      Re: "Attention all women...

      Oh please, call it "telegenic" for example and it applies to both sexes. Tony Bliar being a classic example, people voted for him "because he has a nice smile" and completely ignored any of his policies (if they were voting for his policies, they'd have voted Tory).

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Dimwits

    My oh my, there are some dimwits on this thread. Gays / lesbians / trans-sexuals are more likely to be left-wingers because conservatives have different values. Therefore, you get people like Rosa DeLauro in the democrats and with who I wouldn't pick a fight.

    Yeh, I know, you sensitive girls and lady-boys in IT land will be all upset now, but you are so far in virtual reality that you have lost sense of reality.

  17. Charles E

    Dog Whistle Politics

    Please be aware that the accepted usage is "Democratic Congresswomen," not "Democrat Congresswomen." The usage of Democrat Party and similar constructions is a Republican idiocy, they refuse to refer to the Democratic Party by its properly accepted name. They would howl with anger if anyone used a similar construction like the "Republic Party."

    You have succumbed to "Dog Whistle Politics." While you may not have understood anything was wrong with that particular usage, Conservative Republicans hear "Democrat Congresswomen" and hear the inaudible dog whistle, indicating the author is also a Conservative who is intent on disparaging Democrats.

    Of course there is always the possibility that Mr. Page deliberately intended to disparage Democratic Congresswomen.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Dog Whistle Politics

      Bloody hell, isn't headline long enough already?

      No offence intended, already changed.

      1. Charles E

        Re: Dog Whistle Politics

        Thanks, but I notice the article still retains the usage. Oh well, the story is water under the bridge by now.

        But seriously, El Reg's headline writers can do better than that. It might have been preferable to use a headline like "Dem Chicks Lack Fizz" or something like that, rather than the GOP disparagement.

        1. Brewster's Angle Grinder Silver badge
          Coat

          @Charles E

          Surely that should be "Dem Chicks buck fizz"

          Mines the one with the rip off skirt.

  18. This post has been deleted by its author

  19. Herby

    Maybe they Democrats need more Botox

    The best example is "pass it to see what is in it" Ms. Nancy Pelosi. The bummer is that I have to put up with my wonderful congress critter Atherton Anna Eshoo.

    One will note that Ms. Pelosi is pretty well off, even to having a country estate in the Napa County Wine Country of California.

    This might be filed under the "Why Bother" folder.

    1. LateNightLarry
      Paris Hilton

      Re: Maybe they Democrats need more Botox

      Not just a "wine country estate"... Ms. Pelosi and her husband own an operating winery as well... Don't think it's open for public tours though.

      Paris, for something nicer to look at until El Reg lets me have a glass of wine... Cabernet Sauvignon preferred...

  20. maccy
    FAIL

    age a factor here too

    the pictures look more like hip grandma vs. scary bitch, rather than more or less feminine, but what do I know?

  21. RonWheeler
    Trollface

    Alice Cooper

    has moved into politics I see.

  22. lardheppus
    Holmes

    GOP femininity

    Why am I not surprised that GOP men are more feminine. Look at Mitt, he wears mom jeans. Then there's Lindsey Graham, if he were to marry the representative from PA-14, and take his surname, he'd be Lindsey Doyle. Say it three times quickly

  23. 0_Flybert_0
    Devil

    Mia Love is hot !

    fact is that better looking / taller people tend to do better in life and are more likely to be self-sufficient because ... well .. they are more likely to have better income .. they tend to have a more positive attitude towards life

    anyway .. if Mia Love gets elected in Utah .. she'll be the most attractive lady in Congress by far

    and how can one not mention the the great looking Sarah Palin in an article like this?

  24. Tom 7

    Republican women have to be pretty

    So republican men can recognise them as sex objects.

    1. 0_Flybert_0
      Stop

      Re: Republican women have to be pretty

      sure .. there's the infamous Kennedy family exploits with their sex objects

      then there's Bill Clinton and Monica .. Paula Jones .. oh ... wait ..

      are you saying Democrat men don't need a woman to be pretty to recognize them as sex objects ?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Republican women have to be pretty

        Cinton apparently didn't...

    2. LateNightLarry
      Mushroom

      Re: Republican women have to be pretty

      Not only so republiCLOWN men can recognize them as sex objects... so they can treat them as sex objects, but only until they get them preggers, then they drop them like a hot potato.

      1. LPF

        Re: Republican women have to be pretty

        "republiCLOWN" wow ha ha I see what you did there, its a play on words.....moron!

  25. FreeTard

    Go USA milf

    Bachmann for president, and Palin for vice. I'd even listen to their theocratic preachings.

    I Like!

    1. No, I will not fix your computer
      Trollface

      Re: Go USA milf

      Surely Sarah Palin for President and Christine O'Donnell for running mate?

      Maybe O'Donnell isn't quite in the same milf age bracket as Bachmann, but (theoracy wise) she more than makes up for it with her evolution comments.

      Wouldn't that just be the dream team?

  26. Equitas

    Feminine American women ....

    would seem to be something of an oxymoron

  27. Stuart21

    That'll teach 'em to have a brain!

  28. Stevie

    Bah!

    I don't care whether the female representatives of a given political philosophy are Helen of Troy beautiful or hobnail boot ugly so long as what is going on between their (possibly cauliflower) ears has some sort of reasoned sense and isn't simply "our side is American Democracy Made Manifest, theirs is Gay Marriage Socialism run by Muslims". The country, indeed the world as a whole has serious problems and we have to sit through the diatribes of these clowns when we need real leadership and workable ideas.

    On a related subject: What a shame the moderators of Presidential debates cannot order a Boot To The Head* for evasive prevarication. Imagine how many people would tune in and pay attention just to see the candidates get a size ten in the left ear every so often. That'd get the electorate informed and active, I'll bet.

    Ooh! You could offer the candidates the option of a wet fish instead of the boot as a test of character too!

    *Tei Kwon Leap style.

  29. MajorTom
    Happy

    Where the women look masculine, and the men look even more masculine.

    Sounds kinda like Prairie Home Companion to me.

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