to be getting thoroughly sick of the sexism in The Apprentice?

[EminentlyImminent]

Is it just me or is it just totally unrestrained this year? AAAARGH. It's really ruining it for me. I know I am being UR for getting so wound up about a TV programme but FFS for it to be so unashamedly blatant.

A few examples:

2nd Episode: Design a product to be used on the beach. One woman (Stella) project managing an all male team - 3 men on the team ask Stella to model the beach towel telling her "Oh come on mate take one for the team." Ignore her saying categorically no, and proceed to purchase her a red tankini and then force her into doing "something she would prefer not to" in order to win so she has to model the towel. In the meeting where she is told she should wear the purchase clothes she explains she cannot wear a bra with the tankini sun-top (smirks all round) until she is told "Look the clothes aren't saucy you don't have anything to worry about." e.g. Do as you're told, you might be the PM but you're still just a woman and we have final say.

5th Episode: The Octoclean advert. 8 hands are better than 1. Only women do cleaning and then they get to service their men in the bedroom of an evening, following a hard day's cleaning. Need I say more.

Last episode: Liz gets fired. Chris and StuBags the Brand agree to hush hush over Stu offering Chris out for a fight over sales turf in Trafalgar Square in the boardrom and no more is said about it. When the women argue they are defined as 'bitching' 'being bitchy' - apparently they should be pushing for punch-ups.

I should really stop watching shouldn't I.

Please someone tell me they're finding it equally annoying. Unreasonableness loves company.

It's a bit 1970s this series, isn't it?

YANBU.

I can't watch it any more. I've always found it relentlessly sexist but this year seems even worse than usual.

You are right, but IMOthose examples demonstrate the stupidity of the contestants.

IMO it's outweighed by the positives- Margaret Mountford-the voice of reason in the past and now Karen-a good role model if there ever was one.

Nick Hewer has also pointed out the sexism on more than one occasion.

I was glad to see Liz go. She does nothing as a role model for businesswomen unless you think being two-faced and bitchy is something to aspire to.

The two female candidates left are stronger than the remaining men.

indeed - the boys behave like out and out twats, to each other and the general public and they aren't pulled up for 'bitchiness'

Braggs was the classic example of that.

Nick is great, and does point these things out - obviously disgusted!

I think it's crap..don't watch it..

I haven't watched this series because the sexism was so bad in the last series.

Liz was unprofessional in takig something out of the boardroom - but in the task her only crime was competence!

yet Surrallan let Baggs talk him out of it on two counts 1) I'm only 21 (so ageist) and 2) i've got so much 'drive' (read: testosterone...)

In "The Final 5" tonight, Nick said something about someone having to deal with a load of girl contestants "squawking and screeching" which I thought sounded quite sexist. I can't remember the exact words unfortunately. Did anyone else notice it?

Yes...I saw that too MangoTango...can't stop watching it. Am so rooting for Joanna or Stella to win.

Crackfox was it really as bad last year? Have a terrible memory but was wondering whether I had become more incensed/alert to it this year (due to sex discrimination claim - am having to take my employer to court atm) because of my circumstances and whether I had been blithely naive to it all last year. Obviously know you can't compare if you're not watching this one but any memory-joggers from last series would help me compare!

Wasn't he referring to the episode where Karren said that they were supposed to be role models and their behaviour was letting women down? Didn't agree with her saying that at all.

I didnt see it tonight but there was an episode early on where three or four of the women were screeching at each other on a street corner and Nick picked up on it. But he was right, it was appalling behaviour.

MollieO I remember Karen saying that and I thought would she say that to two black (insert race/religion as applicable) candidates squabbling in the boardroom? So every person in the boardroom is now representing their entire race/sex/religion in business? Except the white males apparently. Don't think much of Karren tbh. Margaret was so much more incisive.

RockinRobinBird They did have an undignified barney on the street in the first episode I think. And it was brought up in the boardroom and suddenly these women were now representing all women in business.

However, last episode Stewart offered Chris out for a fight over sales turf and when asked in the boardroom they both successfully brushed it off and no further questions were asked. It was treated as a 'Boys!' cue indulgent eyeroll moment. They were both wearing 'staff uniform' at the time (London Bus Tour Guides) so they were most definitely representing their company at the time, if not being held accountable for putting all white males in business as aggressive and fighty. You'd never know I'm taking this ever so seriously now would you

I miss Margaret but I think hers were difficult shoes to fill.

I think Margaret is one of the interviewers next week. Will be watching just to see her!
I didn't see the 'tankini' episode but if it was as described it sounds awful.
The women did have a bit of a barney on the street which wasn't acceptable. But agree that it is picked up much more because they are female. I think it is still the case that a woman needs to be 'better' than a man - whether that's more professional, more intelligent, harder working, etc - to achieve the same. Certainly in my experience.

My mum often talks about how she remembers the sex discrimination act coming into force (1970? 75?) and the high hopes of feminists at the time. I'm sure we have moved on a bit but it is sad how little times have changed in 35/40 years.

I haven't seen last night's yet, but look forward to Baggs chucking his dummy out :)

Gah! Sorry for the spoiler RockinRobinBird - you will not be disappointed though!

Margaret is one of the interviewers. I reckon she will be excellent at calling the candidates for what they are.

Oh please let it be Margaret interviewing Baggs The Brand. Please please please.

All the interviewers interview all five candidates and then give their verdict/opinions to L'Sugar.

Cant wait for the return of Margaret!

I have loved both Margaret and Nick in series gone by - generally they have been pretty spot on with their observations. And tbh I have been pleasantly suprised by Karen B this series(I am a life long Villa fan so I was all set to despise her)

I was really shocked at last nights epsiode - cant see Baggsy `the brand' getting past the interview process. Oh and did he mention he is 21????

But.. but ... but ... he has a whole field of ponys! pmsl

He's not a one trick pony. He's not even a ten trick pony. He's got a field of ponies waiting to be let out and run.

agree with the sexism thing. it's really quite poor tbh.