One thing that has always impressed me about Spain is how you can see attractive women doing jobs that they would rarely be doing in the U.S. I have turned my head many a time to check out female workers in jobs that I just wouldn’t expect them to be doing, like security guards, letter carriers, cops, and even street sweepers, etc. Now this could be because jobs are scarce so woman will take what they can get, or it could be because there are just more good looking woman in Spain. I’m not sure. But does it prove that Spain is not Machista?
Let's take a look at Zapatero’s new cabinet. But first, let me show you what we are used to in the U.S. in terms of females working for the president - just to put this in context:
Now compare to some of Zapatero’s picks:
Ok, maybe they are not ready for the Paris runway but I think the improvement is obvious. Check out this one. Her name is Bibiana. I guess not in Spain, but around these parts (LA) "Bibiana" is a porn-star name:
These are not bad-looking broads. They are feminine, know how to dress, and are kind of sexy, to tell you the truth. Of course there are some older gals on the cabinet also (conveniently not shown). But even some of those woman, although past their expiration date, used to be not bad - you can tell. I can’t see this level of looks on a US cabinet any time soon.
So is Spain Machista? Well, are they trying to fill a quota of women? I wouldn't like the sound of that. Also, are these gals good at their jobs? I hope looks are not playing a part in who gets hired. If so, Spain is just about as Machista as this post.
17 comments:
Pues si a esos cardos borriqueros los llamas hot chiks apaga y vamonos. ¡Estos yanquis se conforman con cualquier cosa!
Anonymous, I gave you a little context to compare what our cabinet members look like.
Don't blame my bad taste in women on all Yanquis.
Joer Carl, si que estás un poco desesperado...
They are good looking?????????
They look average, in my opinion, and no, they're not there because they are beautiful, that's in Italy.
Come on!, they just look elegant, probably because they have a good "fashion advisor", that's all.
I would love to know your opinion about this:
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/04/19/espana/1208563399.html
P.S: Carmén Chacón,our brand new Minister of Defense, is pregnant, Catalonian and a bit "independentista catalana". It's interesting, to say the least.
Sorry, this is the right link:
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/04/19/espana/1208563399.html?a=69cbcf79392039e2d664befd71acb032&t=1208610876
Carl,
Where does Espe Aguirre rank on your list of lovely ladies? :D
You guys are right. Estoy como una chota. I'm working too hard.
Just got back from Las Vegas. I got a little perspective in the women department. I still say they are better looking than Madeline Albright.
I'm going to look for pictures of Espe from a few decades ago to see what I think.
And Roberto, I'll check out that link.
I don't think Condoleezza Rice is that bad looking! Besides, the level of expectations to fill a government post might have an influence on the selection than the looks. I don't mean they select the officials by their looks in Spain, but a high level position in US government requires much education and world experience, and that might not just be of an interest to some our most attractive women in US (in addition to passing the ages of their beauty by the time they make it there!).
Uh oh Ayse, now they are going to call you desperate.
I do have a question for the Spain knowledgeable out there. I've heard that employers require a photo with resumes (CV's) in order to consider a person for a job - especially chicks.
A mí la Rice me pone mogollón, es muy mona la tía.
For the time I lived in Spain, they always asked for a photo with my CV. It goes for guys as well as girls. So much for protecting against discrimination.
OK, Carl, it's time for a L.A.-Madrid Files intervention for some of your readers, STAT!! Condi Rice, a pin-up? Geez Louise. What brand of rose-colored lenses are those dudes looking through? I wanna find me a pair so that every time I see Mariano Rajoy's bushy, sourpuss face, I will think, "madre mía, como me pone." :DDDD
And yeah, the whole photo requirement is standard in Spain with resumes, along with employers setting age ranges (35 and younger, only 18 to 25) or using thinly-veiled coded language that essentially means "hot chicks only need apply."
The photo and age requirements are very offensive anachronisms that are so out of sync with a country that prides itself on being progressive and egalitarian. The funny thing is that Spain has a rapidly aging population with the average Spaniard living well into his or her 80s, and yet being over 35 is considered "too old" in the job market. When I tell Spaniards about the retirees who work in Wal-Mart and Home Depot in the U.S. or continue to work part-time in their former jobs, many of them shake their heads and tsk, tsk, saying how terribly sad and tragic it is that retirees have to work. Talk about a cultural difference!!
Oh, and before the Meneame Brigade comes rushing in here with their pitchforks and torches to denounce me and say that this kind of sexual discrimination happens in the U.S., the key difference is that there are discrimination laws in the U.S. that are actually enforced and employers know that they can't get away with these type of shenanigans.
That's right Bilingual. Here you can't discuss a whole slew of topics with a potential employee, such as:
The candidate's age, religion, married or not, if they have children, maiden name, of course race, if they have ever been arrested, do they belong to any organizations, etc. I'm sure there are more.
And there is no way anyone could ask for a picture.
Ummm, I've never ever included a photo in my CV and I've never ever had any problems finding a job. Ok, I work in the IT industry and they usually don't care much about looks.
As I'm a extremely handsome man, I think I will include my photo in the future, perhaps that will open new doors for me.
Let's see, young man, Spanish, smart, speaks and writes English, in the IT field, knows what he's talking about ... Yeah, I can see how it would be real hard to get a job....
You could look like quasimodo and they'd hire you.
White native-born males, like you and me, don't have to think about this stuff too much.
According to my experience in the IT industry, it has more to do with qualifications and a right attitude rather than with sex and color, honestly.
There's a surprisingly high (compared to some northern European countries that I know) number of Spanish females working in IT.
Post a Comment