For years and years, the question so many female celebrities on the red carpet at various award shows were asked the question that seems to always cause controversy. Who are you wearing? Or some adaptation of that same question. While I understand why this question infuriates so many women I also see the practicality of it.
Let's take the Oscars for example. It's a night when hundreds of celebrities dress up and sit in a room with each other for almost five hours. They all dress up in their own ways and all typically wear high-end fashion. Many celebrities are paid to wear the outfits they have on or are given their outfits by the designers themselves. Award shows such as the Oscars have been a way for designers to promote themselves using big name celebrities.
To me the Oscars is like a prom of sorts. Everyone is dressed up and looking nicer than they usually do. At prom you want to be complimented on your appearance and you want to show off your dress or tux. So why at an awards show is it so wrong to ask celebrities who they are wearing or to compliment them on their appearance?
Now, I understand that this shouldn't be the only question asked, but why do we make it out to be a dirty question? Why do we make reporters feel bad for asking? My personal philosophy, if I were to become a red carpet reporter, would be this:
1. Ask a semi-personal question.
Example: Who have you brought with you tonight?
2. If the person is nominated for an award ask how it feels to be nominated and if they aren't nominated ask them about the nominees and their favorites.
3. Ask who or what they are wearing (this one goes for both men and women).
Along with these three steps I would follow, I would also make it clear to each celebrity that I ask everyone the same questions or close to the same ones.
In a world where women are paid less for the same work and treated differently as a whole, I understand that always being asked who you are wearing can be infuriating. That is why we need to start asking women the "tough" questions we ask the men and start asking the men the not so "tough" question of "Who/What are you wearing?"
