Sexism in media.

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

"What Does An Important Person Look Like?" That's the question Jennifer Dalton poses in her new "Cool Guys Like You" exhibition, opening Friday at New York's Winkleman Gallery. And in case you hadn't guessed, the answer is: a dude.
As Dalton explains in her statement about the installation, an open letter to talk show hosts "Bill/Brian/Charlie/Jon/Leonard/Rachel/Stephen/Terry": "When I looked closely at whom you interview -- the people you collectively decide are the most important of the moment -- I was very surprised…. In 2010, the most lopsided show among you featured only 17.5% female guests. The most balanced among you still only featured 34% female guest s…. If I may be so bold, WTF?"

From Salon.com : Does "The Daily Show" still have a woman problem?
BY MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Posted on FRIDAY, SEP 9, 2011 14:10 ET 

Whenever anyone tries to talk about sexism the one frequently seen reflexive response is to say something along the lines of "there is a very good reason why there are more men than women" then reasons are given that range from the blatantly sexist (women are not funny) to the systemic (not enough women who can fit these roles, women don't want to do these things in large enough numbers) These responses can be found in the comments of the salon.com article --the trouble is all of these responses are cop-outs and they are rarely supported by data.

A quick internet search will tell you that women outnumber men in journalism schools, and women outnumber men in drama schools. This is a hard indication that women WANT these kinds of jobs and they WANT to be in the industry and they are studying and working toward that goal in large enough numbers that it should not be hard at all to find one good woman suited to a given job. Of coure, a degree doesn't make one qualified or good, but the idea that there isn't a sufficient pool of women seeking these positions is nothing more than a comforting myth that helps us ignore the 10,000 gorilla in the room:

That even funny, awesome, compassionate liberals can be sexist.

My challenge to you: Don't try to explain this away. Instead think of something, however large or small it might be, that you can do to change it. Do you need an incentive beyond simple justice and fairness? Well, think of this: When we tap in to all of those silent female voices we will have better media and funnier comedy, that's just what happens when you select from a bigger pool without sexist blinders on.

Comments

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'I've gotten burned too many times by going to listen to a comedian on Youtube or something and finding that they were unapologetically, disgustingly misogynistic.'

To be fair, you think chunky peanut butter is misogynistic.

'Except that a lot of women don't try to "make it their career" because they know they won't get anywhere -- because of sexism.'

Yea, and I was going to become a nurse but alas... sexism.

[curseangel.livejournal.com]

To be fair, you think chunky peanut butter is misogynistic.

Yes, yes, continue on being ridiculously facetious because I dare to acknowledge and speak out against sexism in society. How awful of me, etc. etc.

Yea, and I was going to become a nurse but alas... sexism.

Actually, yeah. Sexism in society dictates that lower-wage "carer" professions such as nursing are the domain of women, and men who enter fields like that are bound to be treated badly for taking a "woman's job," going into a "women's field," and so on. But if you're trying to say it's sexism against men that causes this, you're way off - it's sexism against women, which says doing things a woman is "supposed to do" (thus "being like a woman") is inherently bad and has no value, because (dun dun dun) it's done by women.

Not that I think you're not just being facetious again, but hey. Serious answer to silly remark, why not? I'm tired enough and I ran out of Avengers fanart.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

You ever realize you frame all sexism as being against women and not gender stereotypes that aren't particular to sex?

[curseangel.livejournal.com]

Um. Because sexism is prejudice against women. That's... actually what the word means.

I don't even know what you mean by "gender stereotypes that aren't particular to sex." I don't know any gender or sex related stereotypes that aren't based in sexism.

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

"Um. Because sexism is prejudice against women. That's... actually what the word means."

That one was so bad I had to check to see if you were one of those 0 entry journals.

[curseangel.livejournal.com]

Are you going to go cry about "sexism against men" or some such bullshit now? Just wondering so I can get out my earplugs.

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

Wasn't planning on it. Besides, crying is for girls.

Victim blaming

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

Men who enter the nursing profession and are treated badly are the victims of prejudice, not the perpetrators.

Re: Victim blaming

[curseangel.livejournal.com]

I don't believe I said they weren't (though it certainly doesn't preclude them from being perpetrators as well). However, the treatment of men in nursing isn't because of some mythical "sexism against men" -- it's because of misogyny / sexism against women, period.

And are you seriously going to co-opt language used to refer to disgusting, hateful remarks towards rape victims to bawww "what about the men" at me? Nice.

Re: Victim blaming

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'And are you seriously going to co-opt language used to refer to disgusting, hateful remarks towards rape victims to bawww "what about the men" at me? Nice.'

The term "victim blaming" is older than you conceive.

In a discussion about equality the parties that flout any sense of equality don't get to be indignant.

Re: Victim blaming

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

DQ'ed.