"We were talking about this at dinner the other night, about how some interns show up in some of the skimpiest clothing," a female press secretary said. "One of the boys called them skinterns, which I thought was hilarious."
After being quoted in a Virginia newspaper’s piece on D.C. “skinterns” and “Hill Hotties,” New York dating columnist and blogger Julia Allison posted a transcript of her interview with the reporter.
2006 August 12, RayGordon, “GMA Segment: "Skinterns" Skimp On Clothing To Advance”, in alt.satellite.tv.europe[1] (Usenet), message-ID <58mdnZD-daTFtkPZnZ2dnUVZ_oudnZ2d@pghconnect.com>:
2009, Grant Ginder, This Is How It Starts, Simon & Schuster (2009), →ISBN, page 133:
“God, I love this town,” he says. “Can't fucking get enough of it.” Then, “You ready to meet some skinterns tonight?”
I tell him yeah, sure, why not, should be a blast, and it's been awhile since I've slept with someone (though I leave this last part out in fear of judgment and retribution).
Though “skinterns” do provide ample entertainment and a welcome distraction for many young staffers, the situation actually points to a disturbing reality lurking behind the heavy gilded doors of the Capitol: by appearing scantily-clad in their attire, women self-designate themselves into inferior roles and open themselves up to objectification.
Meanwhile, the barely there selection of a skintern might actually cause potential donors on the street to take a second look, and, possibly even open their wallets -- just hopefully not in expectation of sexual favors.
For that reason, I am about to surround myself with an eager and competent group of youngsters with a high drive to succeed (minus the skinterns) even being the dreaded out-of-towner.
It's that time of year, folks. Winter coats are being stored away, blossoms are dappling the trees, and before long, the annual summer parade of skinterns will begin.
