Fashioning the vote?

The recent upsurge in risqué election-inspired fashion has caused a bit of controversy among women.
Is it possible for us to have fun with our activism, or does cleverly-worded underwear just strengthen the perception of women—especially young women—as politically immature?
Womensenews reported recently on this recent fad of political clothing, and how it galvanizes—or offends—women.
Some of the more in-your-face fashion statements are a turn off to some women–especially those of the older and more modest variety.
“I think they’re young and naive and probably very dedicated to what they believe in,” said one delegate at last week’s Republican convention.
But some of these makers of political street wear are not concerned with social acceptability. Their mission is subversion, turning women’s sex appeal–much exploited by conventional retailers and advertisers–in an anti-establishment and defiant direction.
Companies like Axis of Eve (pictured above), use their product to make a statement in a very nontraditional way. At the RNC in New York, they planned “Operation Depose and Expose,” a mass flashing (where a group of women flashed their politically motivated undies) that garnered a ton of media attention.
But what does this say about women’s political participation? Are we really only able to vote if a pair of cleverly-worded underwear tells us to? Or is this just a smart, strategic way to get more women excited about politics?
In a July Alternet article, author Bella DePaulo bridled at the trend, noting that it came in tandem with young women becoming a desirable demographic:
The combination of startling statistics and the usual need to anoint a new election year demographic has proved irresistible. The media instantly came up with catchy monikers: Sex and the City demographic, lipstick liberals etc. Pollsters like Kellyanne Conway offered advice on how to get us to the polls: “Pretend it’s a hair appointment we would not miss.” A rash of new organizations with names like Axis of Eve and Running in Heels sprang up across the nation, offering colorful thongs emblazoned with slogans like “Lick Bush” and “Bush Free Zone.”
…Yet as a progressive single woman, I am troubled by this kind of hype. The lipstick and panty pitch trivializes and caricatures the very people liberal-leaning activists are out to recruit.
Ok, I agree that women’s issues need to be taken more seriously, but I’m sorry; I really like a lot of these products! I think they’re funny and smart, and frankly I’m down with anything that will get young women to the polls in November.