Kate, Furtado, Baerbock: Why the shitstorms are sexism

Princess Catherine of Wales dyes her hair blonde—and the comment section immediately goes wild: everything from "wig" to "street mutt blonde" to speculation about gray hair. The fact that Kate survived cancer just a year ago is almost forgotten.

Annalena Baerbock isn't spared either: The former German Foreign Minister, who took office as President of the UN General Assembly this week, hails a taxi in New York , wearing jeans, a jacket, and high heels—a short Instagram video. Comments immediately pour in, calling her a "Carrie Bradshaw copy" (the main character in the series " Sex and the City ," ed.) or "influencer-lite."

And pop singer Nelly Furtado? She's gained weight, yet still stands confidently on stage in a tight dress. But the comments under her recent concert videos aren't about the songs, but about her body .

These three cases show: Whether in politics, pop, or royalty, women in the public eye are still mercilessly judged based on their appearance.

"We call this sexism"

Margreth Lünenborg, professor of media studies at the Free University of Berlin, clearly states in an interview with DW: "We call this sexism! Women experience far more aggressive hostility, body-focusedness, and shaming on social media than men."

She sees this as an interplay between the intense public attention paid to women's bodies and the resulting self-optimization—even surgical interventions. "Being constantly observed under digital conditions leads to massive visual optimization, to ever more intense alterations and modifications of bodies."

Power structures that take effect early

Dr. Maya Götz, director of the International Central Institute for Youth and Educational Television, emphasized in an interview with DW: "No matter what position women hold, they are always first referred to their appearance, always with the subtext: 'A strong woman looks great.' Girls learn this as early as kindergarten when they are praised for a pretty dress, while boys aren't asked about their clothing." Behind this fixation lies a power structure: "This causes major problems for young girls and women—and opens up the opportunity for others to exercise power over them."

Media as amplifiers

The role of media and platforms is also viewed critically. Lünenborg explains: "Algorithms elevate certain body images to the top, while others disappear into the periphery. Media intensify what is considered attractive—and label others as freaks or ugly, so that beauty, in contrast, shines all the more brightly."

Cultural journalist and author Rabea Weihser also points to historical patterns in her interview with DW: "Women in Western societies have been judged based on their appearance for centuries. During the Enlightenment, for example, women were defined as creatures of nature and men as creatures of the mind. These clichés persist to this day."

Look 25 until the end of your life

Attractiveness is still partly defined in an archaic way, says Weihser, who in her current book "How We Became So Beautiful" addresses the topic of beauty from a cultural-historical, scientific, and media perspective: "Especially for women, it is important that they make a young and fertile impression, regardless of whether they are still of childbearing age or already over 45. It is a great paradox that women are expected to look 25 until the end of their lives."

To achieve this, many women, whether celebrities or not, perform enormous amounts of "beauty work." They invest money and time in creating a socially acceptable appearance. And they measure themselves against socially influential role models that exist worldwide and across all cultures: groups or individuals whose lives are considered desirable.

"In earlier eras, it was primarily the nobility," says Weihser, "but today it's people like Kim Kardashian, who regularly set trends with their self-fashion and market the corresponding products, suggesting: 'If you buy all this, you'll be as beautiful as me and have the chance of a similarly successful life.' Attractiveness is very often a false promise of happiness."

Nelly Furtado as Signal

Pop singer Nelly Furtado provides a counter-image to the supposed beauty dictates and perfectionism: Despite body shaming, she parries all the toxic comments and stands confidently on stage in tight outfits.

Rabea Weihser sees Furtado's attitude as an important signal : "To assert herself like this is, first of all, very healthy. She may not be able to get past the pathological haters. But we need more public figures who represent glamour and yet show that they are real people. This impression is sometimes lost in the face of all the artificially optimized and polished body surfaces."

"It's extremely difficult for young women to stand up against online devaluation. They see themselves as the problem. That's why role models are important—women who clearly show: It's not you who are the problem, but those who attack you," says Maya Götz.

Influencers like Tara-Louise Wittwer (@wastarasagt) and Louisa Dellert tirelessly engage with their online audiences on their Instagram accounts, confronting haters with irony and poise. Every day, they encourage thousands of girls and women to embrace their own potential.

Whether it's high heels in Manhattan, a hair color, or a changing body: women are judged on things that would hardly be an issue for men. Research agrees: it's not just about gossip, but about power, structures, and images that shape the lives of girls and women around the world.