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Feminism: chat

Feminism: sex and gender

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Original poster

Male interviewers in 80s and 90s

16 replies

LittleMissDarkness · 31/07/2023 18:50

I've just watched the Sinead O Connor documentary and one of the things that struck me was the misogynistic attitude of the men that interviewed her. Criticising her appearance. Mocking her hair style. Talking down to her as though she were an idiot. I remember something similar with Brittany Spears. Adult men questioning her about her virginity. I guess I'm just shocked at this being acceptable practice during this time period.

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StressyMcStressFace · 31/07/2023 18:58

I watched the Tina Turner documentary recently and was horrified at the interview clips! TT was on the Wogan show in the 80s and after belting out a hit Terry Wogan walked over to her, 'helped' her down one step and walked her over to the interview chair. He then spent the entire interview talking about her sexy look and her skimpy outfits! Not once did he mention her incredible talent or career.
I mean RIP Terry and all that but there's no way he'd get away with that now!

Original poster

LittleMissDarkness · 31/07/2023 19:12

I remember this too in the Tina Turner documentary! It's just shocking that the men involved feel entitled enough to make these patronising, derogatory comments. Are encouraged by those around them. The audience laughs along. And these intelligent, talented, remarkable women appear forced into polite compliance.

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AuntieJune · 31/07/2023 19:17

You're not entirely wrong but I think a flirtatious approach was generally more accepted then - see Paula Yates etc on big breakfast interviewing on a big bed.

You were supposed to be a bit rock n roll and sexy. Plus I think now everything is more heavily pr-managed, which restricts what people can talk about.

Being condescending is bad but a performer's image is part of how they relate to people, don't really see why clothes, hair etc shouldn't be mentioned in an interview.

Original poster

LittleMissDarkness · 31/07/2023 19:25

Fair point. But their image wasn't just being commented on in a manner that was fair or balanced. These women were being judged and ridiculed in ways that men were not.

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TeiTetua · 31/07/2023 19:55

I think there has been some progress on this issue, even if it's not enough. In the current era, I can imagine if a female performer got interviewed in this style, she'd be able to say "Well, I could comment on your clothes too. But shall we talk about my music instead?" And if that happened, plenty of people would feel that the interviewer had made a fool of himself.

Original poster

LittleMissDarkness · 31/07/2023 20:00

I think I actually recall this happening recently in an interview with Ariana Grande. The interviewer asked her an inane question about choosing her phone or lip gloss. And she shut him down by replying 'is this all you think women have to think about?'

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Outwiththenorm · 03/08/2023 15:00

I’ve been home sick recently and rewatching lots of British 90s tv shows (such as Silent Witness) and similarly I can’t believe how often the male characters aggressively shout at and talk down to the female characters. And how rarely the female characters shout back.

1dayatatime · 03/08/2023 15:13

I saw this series a while ago and I'm still shocked:

Original poster

LittleMissDarkness · 03/08/2023 21:20

1dayatatime bloody hell. If that was the culture at the time it gives some context to the god awful sexist attitudes that persisted.

Mumsnet makes parents' lives easier by pooling knowledge, advice and support on everything from conception to childbirth, from babies to teenagers.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/4861652-male-interviewers-in-80s-and-90s/128135357/create-report

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Original poster

LittleMissDarkness · 03/08/2023 21:23

Not sure why that box is under my last msg...
Totally useless at technology!

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BlackForestCake · 10/08/2023 22:04

There's a notorious interview by Michael Parkinson with Helen Mirren which is on YouTube.

stickygotstuck · 10/08/2023 22:09

I remember watching a music program in the 80s. Interviewing The Bangles. The interviewer said to their faces that it couldn't possibly be them playing in the album, because it sounded too good for it to be girls!!

My teen brain could not process this and I don't think I took in their reply.

Deathraystare · 28/08/2023 13:00

@BlackForestCake

Yes I cringed at that!

Redshoeblueshoe · 29/08/2023 16:45

Well it's only a month ago that a BBC reporter asked Gizlane Chebbak if there were any lesbians in the Moroccan team, so I don't think things have improved

Screamingabdabz · 01/09/2023 18:05

BlackForestCake · 10/08/2023 22:04

There's a notorious interview by Michael Parkinson with Helen Mirren which is on YouTube.

Parkinson was always very sexist and often condescending to female guests while he idolised male celebrities.

Melvyn Bragg is another in that same mould. Once I noticed how much he interrupted and snapped at female academics on Radio 4’s ‘in our time’ I couldn’t bear to listen to it. The male academics of course, were left to talk at length uninterrupted and fully respected. Ugh. 😠

Springduckling · 01/09/2023 18:26

Indeed, Parkinson had rather lost his national treasure status in recent years.

Marianne Faithfull was treated appallingly on Never Mind the Buzzcocks - this was when Mark Lamarr was the host.

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