To be annoyed at tbe casual, jokey sexism on radio 5 live?

[Blaablaablaa]

Just listened to a wonderful piece on radio 5 live on female staff working at NASA.... Followed by them reading out sexists texts from listeners. Think ' no problem with women on the moon just don't let her drive the moon buggy' and ' she'll be heading for mars but end up on saturn'

It really irritated me!!

I've heard jokey texts about men from women being read out on 5 Live. As long as it's equal opportunities sexism and they both get equally treated that way over the average week....

Turn it off then.

I will admit I have no sense of direction and I can get lost in a paper bag, so no, I wasn't offended.

I did turn it off. Low level, casual sexism is a real bug bear of mine. It's almost always passed off as a 'joke' and people are told they are ridiculous for being offended and that they need to develop a sense of humour. I felt it really undermined what was a wonderful , inspiration piece.

It is very difficult to change people’s mindsets. We are constantly bombarded with sexism, movies validate sexism, tv programmes, media, social media. I watched the Bachelorette last night and as a female targeted movie it contained rape innuendo, belittling of women, notions that women raison d’être was to get married to a doctor and that is what passes for entertainment for women. It is so insidious that I am not sure that the PP are not right about just turning it off and not giving it oxygen being the right answer, what else can you do as a single person trying to act against a landslide.

I think they read it out to mock it though didn’t they? It was very tongue in cheek. Rachel and the other female presenters (and Nicky to be fair) are very good at pulling people up on casual sexism. The whole thing was in response to ‘what would Neil Armstrong say now’ I.e not a great step for man. Obviously anything like that is going to get right wing DM readers frothing and sending in outraged texts. The tone in which Nicky read it also demonstrated that.

@pinkbicycles That's exactly how i feel...I think i was equally frustrated that the texts were given airtime as it seemed to validate their opinions.

A big part of my job is trying to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage more girls and women to study and work in what have been traditionally male dominated sectors and it really feels like an up hill struggle sometimes.

Blaa I am an engineer I feel your pain

I turned off similar yesterday because I can't be bothered with the propaganda.

Beyond Tereshkova and Helen Sharman I just don't care enough.

@buster They did read it put in slightly tongue in cheek manner but I would have just not bothered reading them out. In my experience people who write/say that sort of comment tend to ignore subtle admonishment and think people are laughing along with them

@pinkbicycles one step at time eh? In fairness I also work to try and get more boys/men into traditionally female roles and that is actually harder.

I also work to try and get more boys/men into traditionally female roles and that is actually harder.

Yes I imagine that is difficult.

Very. Some people seem to think there is a ulterior motive when a man wants to work in a childcare setting for example ( as seen on a thread on here last week) but women choosing to to enter male dominated sectors are often applauded

Try watching Money For Nothing on the BBC. The female designers are told that sanding is good for their bingo wings while the men are gushed over and told they're wonderful

Seriously? Women driver jokes? Massive eye roll at 5 live. Their jokes sound about 50 years out of date. Yanbu.

Love radio 5 live but space bores me rigid so didn’t hear but yes why bother reading it out.

The wouldn't give Racism the same airtime, so Sexism should be treated in the same way.

The wouldn't give Racism the same airtime, so Sexism should be treated in the same way.

This!

@felix ...this makes me so frustrated. It’s like when newspapers refer to what female politicians are wearing.

@birds yes!! I once had an arguement with someone on Facebook because they posted something sexist and was told to lighten up and ‘it’s not like im being racist’ suffice to say he got deleted pretty sharpish