Candy Crowley, CNN's chief political correspondent, is the first woman to moderate a presidential debate since Carole Simpson in 1992.
However, it doesn't seem to matter what her credentials are these days--if the Twitter hecklers berating her for her figure last night during the debate are any indicator.
As one of millions of women who have struggled with, or continue to struggle with, body image, I couldn't help but notice and be disappointed by the misogynistic and disrespectful comments directed at Candy's weight and body. Women are making strides towards equality in both the workforce and academia, but the longstanding tradition of bashing a woman's intelligence by focusing solely on her appearance continues to set us back.
Whether or not you stand behind Candy's performance last night, it's disheartening that a woman's figure was used as the measure of credibility.
I am personally excited to see a successful woman in a powerful position. When I see Candy, I don't see her size; I see someone strong and aspirational. Looks fade, but your inner beauty and your accomplishments will be the thing you have when you're older.
Why don't we all focus more on that?
