Sexist language in the mainstream media

[tabouleh]

I thought it might be interesting to compile a thread with examples of sexist language from the mainstream media.

This has been "inspired" by this article in the DM about Brian Cox which says:

"Today his plate is very full. As well as the TV work (a second series starts filming in June), there?s his day job at Manchester University, where he?s in the middle of writing a paper about ?measuring Higgs couplings?, as well as ongoing work at CERN, publicising his book ?Why Does E=mc2?? and babysitting his 10 month old son George.

Uh, hello he is not "babysitting" he is a father who is bringing up his child. This would so not have been said about a woman!

Men "babysitting" their children brings on the red mist almost as quickly as proclamations that some bit of housework has been done "for you" - GAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Good idea for a thread tabouleh

Oh, do not get me started! Was watching that BBC show Something for the Weekend with Tim someone I think. (Not 100% sure of the name.) Think its on on Sunday morning? Bloody appalled!

No sooner had I settled to watch than he inquired of Louise Redknapp (his bloody co-host btw) whether her husband would be there at her party as there was only so long he could talk to her about shoes!!

Ok, bad enough. I stifled my rage and continued to watch. Foolish I know. Next bloody scene, seriously, the very next item he does it again!

He has a woman on talking about the latest gadgets. She's got a small camcorder and is demonstrating its features or whatever and the camera angle changes and he says....."what a shame, we had a nice shot of your cleavage there!"

Obviously I stopped watching at that point.

I did e-mail them though to complain. I've always felt that show was a bit sexist, but I've never really watched it until then. Won't be bloody watching again!

I think its all around us though. Its that vague feeling that something's not right but you're not sure what. I think its often very insidious and hard to spot a lot of the time, as well as the blatant stuff. Which of course is everywhere all the bloody time!

Someone on a link, on another thread on here, also pointed out that the BBC referred to a 'rape' in inverted commas. Apparently when they were queried about it they said they couldn't be sure whether it was the man or the woman who was lying!!!

I haven't noticed this myself as don't watch/read BBC news very much (I much prefer Channel 4 - a better analysis imo). Come to think of it, it would have been their local BBC news of course, as it was reporting a rape. So maybe (hopefully) different in other parts of UK? Nevertheless, its appalling to have occurred at all.

Here, I've cut and pasted from the f-word:

"Claire said:
I complained to the BBC recently about why they wrote "raped" in inverted commas in a story - you know the "usual" woman "raped" after night out at night club story. I asked them why it was in inverted commas. The answer was terrible. They said until it came to trial no one would know whether it was the woman or the man who was lying so "rape" had to be in inverted commas.

The very next day there was a case of rape of a schoolgirl in Bolton and the day after that another rape and murder report. Neither of these were in inverted commas. So I wrote back again and asked them why they were inconsistent.

If someone is murdered and there is evidence of rape, no one puts the word rape in inverted commas. But if it's question of "woman got drunk, had a shag and then thought better of it" implication story then they put the word "rape" in inverted commas.

So to the 95% of women who report rape, and whose rapes don't lead to conviction, in the eyes of this BBC reporter, we were all clearly lying. If you are knocked down by a car and no one can find the person who drove the car, then you haven't really been knocked down. If you are burgled, but no one can find the burglar, then you haven't really been burgled. What nonsense from the BBC."

Its here almost half way down the page, but also contains the story of the woman who was raped but is serving 3 years for 'false' allegations, so be warned. There's another thread about that here if anyone's interested.

"That's why 'mum's' gone to Iceland" nuff said.

Some face cream advert that says "until you want a permanent solution, this expensive crud will do". That one really annoys me.

Also we're told to purchase expensive crud 'because we're worth it'.

I had always quietly believed I was worth it UNTIL I saw these adverts which tell me my skin isn't smooth enough, I don't look young enough or glossier enough of hair without the help of their product.

Oh dear!

"The BBC has pledged to put more female news presenters on television. But they are unlikely to find their way onto BBC Radio 4's Today after its editor said most female journalists did not have a thick enough skin to deal with the programme's "incredibly difficult" environment."

Absolutely ridiculous sexism.

How do we organise ourselves as feminists to actually complain about these sorts of things?

Perhaps a feminist group will start a petition? Or maybe it is stronger if individuals take time to complain?

I am going to quickly register my disdain for these attitudes and comments here at the BBC Radio 4 Feedback page.

Done, tabouleh.

Dear me, the BBC's not doing too well out of this is it?

at some of these.

at BBC.

Nice to see a thread about the Radio 4 comments over at In The News Topic with most posters in agreement at the shocking sexist attitudes/remarks.

DM today referred to a 32 year old charity worker as a 'girl'.

My fault I read the Daily Mail.