N.Y. Sen. Marty Golden cancels feminine etiquette class after outrage

The "Polished Professional" summer series, hosted by NY Sen. Marty Golden (R), aimed to teach Brooklyn women the "feminine presence" in order to land and keep a job. / New York State Senate

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - A New York state lawmaker has canceled a feminine etiquette class after it incited outcry from his colleagues and constituents.

Republican Sen. Marty Golden's website advertised a July 24 class that would teach women from his Brooklyn district to "sit, stand and walk like a model" and how to "walk up and down a stair elegantly," according to CBS Station WCBS.

Other goals of the "Polished Professional" summer series were to teach women "posture, deportment and the feminine presence," as well as how to "correctly introduce self and others to: religious leaders, politicians, military and other socially prominent officials."

Online news site City & State first reported about the planned event Tuesday after an offended reader got a mailing from Golden's office and passed it along.

A spokesman for Golden told City & State the goal of the event was to help young women land a job.

But after critics (including a Senate colleague and the city's chapter of the National Organization for Women) questioned the event and complained, Golden canceled it without explanation.

"Our upcoming event, which we have chosen not to hold, is similar to ones being organized by other elected officials, as well as classes conducted in local high schools," said Golden spokesman John Quaglione.

State Sen. Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, criticized the class for aiming to teach aspiring women professionals the wrong skills. Earlier Tuesday she said she sometimes feels as though she drives "three hours north and 50 years back in history" when she goes to the state capital, Albany.

"Making sure that we walk correctly?" Krueger said. "If you're a woman in the workforce, do you really think that this is an issue for 2012?"

NOW-NYC President Sonia Ossorio joined the chorus of critics about the event's traditional approach to career services. "Telling women to walk like a model particularly stings when women haven't been able to count on the legislature to pass fair pay laws, or the city to pass paid sick days and end the cuts to subsidized day care," she said.

Golden, a retired police officer and former city councilman, was elected to represent Brooklyn's 22nd Senate District in 2002.

Quaglione said Golden's "support of legislation and programs to help create jobs for all New Yorkers is a matter of public record, and we will be holding future events to assist them in finding and keeping a job."

[JeffB42]

A good joke for the Senator....

Ever hear the one about the St. Johns and Cornell grads? Both men in the bathroom standing at the urenals. Cornell grad finishes and immediately walks to the door. St. John's grad is horrified. Turns around and says "Hey, don't they teach you anything at Cornell. At St. John's they taught us to wash our hands after going to the bathroom. The Cornell grad rebutes "yeah, but at Cornell, they taught us not to pee on our hands!"

May Senator Golden should schedule a how to pee course for men, instead of worrying about how women behave so much. If this was someone on his staff scheduling this event, they should be gone quickly. If he wants to help students get employed, his office should focus on job creation, helping sutdents under the process and importance of getting work experience, resume writing, etc. Lots of other topics. It is ok for politicians to tell their own family how to sit and walk but let's keep behavioural lessons in the hands of families versus politicians.

It is truly amazing how evasive the Republican Party can be in our personal lives - wanting to embed their personal beliefs - especially on women, and at the same time trying to pitch for smaller government!

Republican Party = we want to be rich, keep all our money, have no government services, but reserve the right to tell everyone else how to live. Nice.

[LoveRevolution]

omg, it is just to learn how walk with some class and not like a slug. Have you seen the kids walking these days? Let me tell you, they look like a bunch of gimps. I am always after my girls to stand up strait, walk like a panther and speak clearly, etc. They do NOT teach this stuff in school (and they should ). It is like charm school. What is the big deal? I don't understand what the problem is? If I interview two people and one walks like a human, sits up straight, looks me in the eye, I will hire them over someone who shleps up all gangly and can't communicate properly. This political correctness is out of flipping control. ANYBODY could benefit from "charm" school. ANYBODY.

[BalzakSchlemp]

What a shame offended people of the world set the standards these days. I bet there were more than a few people who would have liked to the the course.

[wdrussell1]

So Marty wanted to teach women how to be more feminine.

[marychgo]

Ya kinda have to feel sorry for the GOP: every time they try to convince us they AREN'T waging a "war on women," a GOP goober comes up with something like this! Are there social skills that people (particularly younger people) might benefit from learning before they go to that first interview? Sure. Is the need for those skills limited to women? Of course not. Are there many jobs for which women need to know how to walk like a model? Other than modeling jobs, no. Sorry, GOP, your sexism is showing....

[savagenation]

How dare that Senator teach women how to act Civilized and not act and look like Dumb Hollywood ***** or Shemale Womynists!

[gnimelf1968]

I don't agree with the outrage, but why would it be necessary to walk like a model. Sounds to me like a guy that wants to check everyone out and be turned on at work, and wouldn't teaching someone to walk like a model, etc. make them act and look like a dumb hollywood whatever?

[foo8259]

Both men and women could again benefit from a "finishing school" these days IMO. Even if they just learn to talk a bit slower?

[gnimelf1968]

Really? Maybe you should learn how to listen faster.

[imright12]

Republicans must be recruiting their candidates from KKK rallies and insane asylums.

[kiwileex32]

FOR SHAME. One political party using this as an opportunity for politics AGAIN. You think knowing proper posture isn't important? Take one look at my 60 year old mother with her hump back. Why do you people care if someone signs up for a manners class! We need MORE of them. For men too. Stop acting like complete baffoons and spreading hate towards an entire group of people and learn some manners yourself.

[Lifesablast]

Republican
Brooklyn
Former cop
Moddy Golmen
...does he have dual Israeli citizenship too ?

[jemsuh]

seems like just a plan for him to meet young, insecure women...

[Aine57]

Kind of reminds me of the old-time "charm schools" that used to exist.