THE LEORA LETTER
September 14, 2022
Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland attended a party last month with friends. She danced and had a good time.
This became a huge news story.
Critics said her behavior was “inappropriate” and “unprofessional.” Some called for her resignation. Others demanded that the 36-year-old world leader take a drug test, even though there was no evidence that she had taken drugs or that drugs were available at the party. (She took the test. She passed.) As to accusations that she was “drunk,” Marin said that she had had only a small amount of alcohol and “could have left to take care of government tasks” if necessary.
I have shown previously that women believed to drink alcohol are perceived as not credible, even in the face of sexual assault. The disapproval of women believed to have been drinking is linked with sexualized stereotypes and slut-shaming.
According to Eeva Luhtakallio, professor of sociology at the University of Helsinki, those who criticize Marin dislike the fact that “she dresses sexy and moves sexy.”
This was not the first time that Prime Minister Marin was denigrated for being sexy.
In 2020, Marin posed for a magazine wearing a blazer with no top underneath. She looked like the young, fashionable world leader she is—but the photo prompted critics to question her competence and describe her with sexualized slurs.
Marin has been widely praised for her handling of the Covid pandemic as well as her ability to win support for NATO membership in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
No matter. Women in leadership positions are held to a stricter standard than men are in the same roles. They often are sexualized and belittled because they are women, and women too often are reduced to their sexuality.
“Even normal things,” Marin noted, “are made to look bad.”
