CCSU professor shows shallowness and ignorance

I am offended by the piece written by Serafin Mendez-Mendez regarding the Lieutenant Governor’s race that appeared on the New Haven Register’s webpage. It is amazing to me that Mendez-Mendez, a professor of communications at CCSU, criticizes the endorsed Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate, Susan Bysiewicz, by remarking on the shoes she wears.

I would hope that we are in an age where all people, including women, can be respected for what they have done with their lives rather than the shoes and clothes they wear. That a male professor paid by the state of Connecticut and responsible for keeping classrooms a place of open discourse would criticize an extremely accomplished woman for her choice of shoes demonstrates the continued misogyny that accomplished women continue to face.

Susan Bysiewicz, who was raised on a farm in Middletown and attended Middletown public schools, at a young age showed that she was tenacious and extremely smart by being admitted to and earning a degree from Yale University. She went on to earn a law degree from Duke University. She served as state legislator for six years before being elected as Secretary of State, where for 12 years she proudly served the state. She spent the last seven years helping more than 80 Connecticut small business create well-paying jobs in their communities.

In addition to her government experience, Susan brings experience in business law, demonstrating that with Ned Lamont she has the skills to take on the state’s thorniest fiscal problems, of which there are many.

I would advise Mendez-Mendez to consider the chilling effect that criticizing a woman for fashion choices will have on his female students. He is not a professor of fashion. He is a professor of communications paid by the state. One of his responsibilities is to judge all based on accomplishments, ideas, and proven abilities to succeed, not clothing or shoes.

To judge someone based on the shoes that they wear shows shallowness and ignorance of the shoes that accomplished women walk in every day.

Beth Osborne DaPonte, Ph.D.

Stratford