Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has highlighted sexism against women in public office during the live interview at Twitter’s headquarters, where she faced questions posted by users of the social media platform.
She refused to comment on any potential candidacy for the presidential election and instead used the interview to warn women wanting to go into politics to expect criticism and prepare by growing “skin as thick as the hide of a rhinoceros”.
“There’s an extra added dimension to it when you’re a women,” she said.
“The criticism will often reinforce, exemplify the double standard. You may not be criticised for your ideas or your efforts, but you’ll be criticised for how you look or how you do your hair.”
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Her comments follow her well-publicised claims of “outrageous sexism” against former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
In the book, Hard Choices, she wrote on the "unfair double standard" women in public life face.
"Even leaders like former Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia have faced outrageous sexism which shouldn’t be tolerated in any country," she wrote.
Ms Clinton told the online forum that more female leaders "would make a difference in the world".
