BlogHer - sexism in the media - Comments

On sexist language and journalism

WVFC — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:44:15 -0500

It's not just the language, but the details featured in stories about her. One of our contributors, Diane Vacca, wrote an excellent essay about the portrayal of Sonia Sotomayor in the media.

It has been noted that Sotomayor’s history and that of Justice Alito
are occasionally tangential. Both went to Princeton, but only Sotomayor
graduated with (highest) honors. She also won the Pyne Prize,
Princeton’s highest undergraduate honor. Both went to Yale Law, and
both were editors of the Law Journal. Yet Alito’s intellectual prowess
was never called into question before his confirmation hearing.

Read the full essay here.

Women's Voicea for Change: http://womensvoicesforchange.org

Non-partisan news and commentary from women over 40

Great post

KWest — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:52:35 -0500

One of my personal favorites is being called "Missy."

Do I seriously look like a "Missy?" I didn't think so.

And you're absolutely right, not only are the sexist vocab words crawling out of the woodwork like earwigs & mealybugs, but the Latin Factor is definitely a visible component to the "isms" being applied by the media.

Thank you so much for putting voice to what you're seeing here - too many have succumbed to the numbing power of the mental backwash of the last eight years "government."

--Kate

The Feminine Paradigm

tjsmith — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:18:07 -0500

It is the greatest challenge for women taking leadership roles in our culture! The perceptions based on tradition and a media fed image of women are the slowest things to change. A woman who is intelligent, blunt and quick witted will so often be viewed on the public stage as pushy or strident when a man would be seen as frank, with a dry sense of humor. And the saddest part is the number of women who share this bias.

TJ Smith

www.working-with-women.com

I Miss The Politics

MsMiller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:23:34 -0500

Right on. I don't know how this became such a "women's issue". This needs to be about the politics and the proposed policies of the candidates, and "values" are clouding the issues. Anyone's "values" can be challenged under the right spin (but you are right to call McCain out on his). Do I have much respect for Sarah Palin as a politician? No. Nor would I if she were Samuel Palin. I'm not going to protect or rah-rah a candidate just because we share reproductive anatomy. Is McCain a strong candidate? In my opinion, no. He's not the same man he was 8 years ago. And I don't see that change as "improvement". He gets to use the POW shield just like many want Palin to use the "I'm a Woman" shield. With all due respect to both of their histories, they each leave a lot to be desired as far as I'm concerned. And what did Lieberman call Obama? Untested? Well, what do you call Palin? Or McCain for that matter? Or even Lieberman himself? Pots are calling kettles out all over the place. I'm tired of it already and it's only Tuesday. We have a long way to go to November. I'm satisfied with the ticket I've chosen. I'm not looking for perfection, just a chance to turn this around and hope for something better for all of us. It's time to look beyond party and gender lines and seek out what we would want for our nation's future. Because our present has a lot to be desired.

Cheers,

Sandra

Read more at http://ruawake.com/ or follow me at http://twitter.com/msmiller

Family Values?

Mom to Gio — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:04:16 -0500

Well, ok how about McCain's family values? Isn't he divorced? Is he fair game because he's running for president?

He divorced his 1st wife, Carol, after she remained loyal here in the US, raising their 3 kids while he was POW. During that time, she was in a devastating car accident, required 23 surgeries and became disfigured. Needless to say, they were both different after the war, and yet, she planned to spend the rest of her life with him. Yet, McCain had other plans, he divorced Carol and after 1 month married Cindy. What does that say about him?

His first wife Carol said, "He didn't want to be 40 anymore, he wanted to be 25."

Pretty loyal guy, huh?

Whoa...

nelle2nelle — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:39:32 -0500

Ellen Goodman, probably my all time favourite columnist, has lamented on more than one occasion we tend to spend so much time questioning each other's choices, we forget to move onward towards real change (or something to that effect.)

There is surely diverse political outlook on BlogHer, and that's a good thing. There are Palin/McCain supporters, there are Palin/McCain detractors. Flip that to Obama/Biden... same thing.

What will leave me dismayed quicker than a dirty look from Denise is us turning on each other over how we parent, and whether we are sahp, wooh parents, or some combination that works for us.

It would be laughable for me to question her judgement, for all the reasons that make up my life. I'm pretty sure the reasons shift from person to person, but I've a hunch none of us is truly of a place where we can claim to be parenting goddesses by proclamation. Absent such exhalted status, I doubt we can start dissing her for rtw within a few days.

Hell, I had a case maybe 3 weeks ago now where someone had a child on Thursday and declared herself ready to work on Monday. Yeah, I get to judge her - on whether she is available for work or not, but not on her life choices. I paid her by the way.

nelle

llhaesa

Obama responds to reporters about the Bristol Palin story

Giggle On — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:36:24 -0500

Reposted from a blog entry by Mitegirl on another thread.

I feel the need to post this statement in this thread.

Kudos to Obama for being a stand-up guy on this issue.

In his media avail, Obama just responded to reporters' questions about the Bristol Palin story. Noting that his mother had him when she was 18 years old, Obama said families are "off limits" in campaigns. He was very impassioned.

"I've heard some of the news. I've said before
I think families are off limits, children limits. It has no relevance,"Obama said. "I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. My mom had me when she was 18. And how families deal with issues of children shouldn't be part of our politics.

Regarding to the accusation from the McCain camp that rumors of Bristol Palin were being spread by liberal
bloggers, some with connections to the Obama campaign, the Illinois senator replied: "I am offended by that statement. There is no evidence at all that any of this involved us. I hope I'm as clear as we can be.
We don't go after people's families. Our people were not involved in any way. And if I thought anyone in my campaign was, they'd be fired."

Palin needs to fix her own house, not the White House.

Diane MacEachern — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:26:58 -0500

Diane MacEachern www.biggreenpurse.com Diane@biggreenpurse.com

I am appalled at the way the McCain campaign is manipulating women to advance Sarah Palin. We're talking about picking a president and vice president of the U.S. The best PEOPLE should be running for that office, not the best MEN or the best WOMEN. As much as I would love to see a woman, it turns out that gender is not the most important factor when it comes to passing laws that make a difference in our lives. Party is. So look at Palin: she's not a leader. She's an anti-environmental, pro-oil company advocate who has shown questionnable judgement in her office. And honestly, I question her judgement as a mother as well. I don't understand how a mother of a Down's Syndrome baby goes back to work three days after delivery. And I'm even more put off by a mother who willingly subjects her unmarried, unemployed pregnant teenage child to the international spotlight to further her own career. Palin needs to fix her own house, not the White House.

Sincerity Vote and Compassion Vote

rebellious thinker — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:47:53 -0500

I don't have a numerical calculator to determine how much time a parent needs to be with the kids to determine whether or not s/he is a good parent. I do know that my ex-husband was home just about every night and he was a lousy parent and rarely said I love you to his daughters, and certainly not in public. And I haven't seen anything touching on compassion, or even a look of concern, from McCain--real or pretend. And that, for me, is important. Yes, touching a woman--this woman's-- compassion is important.

www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com

Parenting and Politics

MsMiller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:45:40 -0500

Palin's parenting isn't being brought into question because she is a woman, it's because she is viewed as a right-wing Christian poster child who now has to address a less than perfect portrait. And Palin had to know that when she accepted the nomination. A man and his family would be under the same scrutiny. Imagine if Obama's daughers were older and this happened to one of them.

This is a new time where the masses can respond immediately to news, and they don't always think before they type. or edit before posting. Anyone going into politics has to understand that now. They and their families better have thick skin, and clean records. The internet lets us clearly see the lack of compassion out there. However, as I mentioned earlier, it's the way we are finding out about the pregnancy that is causing so much of the flack. It should have been addressed in her nomination speech. Bet it would have come and gone. Now, this is going to stick to her like gum in her hair.

Does anyone think that Obama has had an easier go of it as a man of color with a funny name in this election? Do we recall the buttons asking if we can still call it the White House if he won? This hasn't been a pretty election on any side. And it's bound to get uglier. I hope we can stop making it so personal and start looking at the politics. The press is going to spin this a million different ways. I want to know why she announced the pregnancy today. She may not be a bad parent, but she sure is a politician. And I don't mean that in a good way.

Read more at http://ruawake.com/ or follow me at http://twitter.com/msmiller

Is parenting a sign of good leadership?

elanas — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:41 -0500

See, now this is interesting. Do we want to say that how a person is as a parent is something of a credential in choosing leadership?

I could definitely go for that, and I think that would be a great feminist contribution to politics. Making our leaders live up to values they espouse, character, caring, relationships, honesty, kinship, interpersonal responsibility.... I would actually like to live in a country where leaders are measured not only by how they go to war but by how they treat the people around them.

However, at the moment, such a criteria is not being used, except for on women. So Obama makes his gesture and every goes "awwww", but Palin is hacked to death as a bad parent because her daughter is pregnant. The disparity is alarming.

If such a criteria were gender-neutral, and sincere, it would have value. I'm not sure Obama's is either. He was on the road how many nights last year? Are we really asking how good of a father he has been?

elana

What's a good value?

rebellious thinker — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:45:17 -0500

I haven't read too much of the vitriol; in fact, Matt Lauer was thinking how this could possibly be a thing for the Republicans. I don't know, if this is necessarily anti-woman. I'm thinking of all those good values homosexuals and philanderers who eventually need to leave office from hypocrisy overload.

And regarding parenting, I was moved that Obama called out to his daughters that he loves them and they called out to him that they love him, and you could see that. I wish someone would have mentioned that. I have no idea about McCain and his relationship with his kids, and I would really like to know that. As it is, I see his wife usually a few paces behind him. Maybe if us woman voters were paid attention to some more, we would get those glimpses into the people.

Laura,. www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com

Questionable Timing

MsMiller — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:45:10 -0500

Palin was going to bring controversy, so we shouldn't be surprised (nor should she), that she's getting so much media attention. And, some of this, she has brought on herself. She could've gotten in front of this and not waited to "hide" it under Gustav, that's all I'm saying. It comes off as shady. Five months pregnant? Could've mentioned that last week, no?

Personally, I don't see her nomination as any sort of female victory. It was political pandering, not following in Hillary's footsteps. I wish it were that. I hope she can rise to the occasion but, so far, not so good. I'm not even sure she'll to make it to November. There's already TrooperGate and BabyGate and now GrammyGate. I sense a withdrawal for "family reasons" in the near future.

I'm not so bothered about her daughter being pregnant. It's sad that it has to happen on the world's stage. I'm more bothered that her daughter wasn't practicing safer sex. Where is that in the conversation? Oh, I forgot. We don't teach that in schools anymore. Silly me. I still thought HIV and STDs were issues. I don't want a 17 year-old being dragged through the mud or thrust into the spotlight and used in an election. She needs to be left alone. I just hope that if there are any more skeletons in the Palin pantry, they will be a little more forthcoming. Like maybe tonight. Otherwise, she is going to make it harder, not easier, for a female to make it through another election.

Read more at http://ruawake.com/ or follow me at http://twitter.com/msmiller

Sticking to the issues

elanas — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:31:15 -0500

Dear Laura

I agree with you that the conservative agenda is bad for women. I also agree that there is a certain irony, perhaps, to the conservative candidate having an unwed pregnant mother. That is all true. But none of that accounts for the vitriolic assault on her person, on her womanhood, on her motherhood, on everything. Also, the lack of proportion is just classic backlash, the way Susan Faludi described it over a decade ago. If the conversation would stick to the issues, that would be fine. But just as with Hillary, the attacks were about her pantsuits, her cleavage, and whether she "whines like my first wife", here too there is an underlying misogyny which is very, very troubling.

Elana

Valuing Diverse Family Values

rebellious thinker — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:15:02 -0500

The voices that question her are because she represents, at least for me, a group of people who are trying to push their family values on the rest of us. I don't know if you realize this, but this is the group that is cutting funding for safe sex education, and refuse to even discuss condoms, and only want to educate all of our teens by saying "say no to sex." Well, we saw how that went with drugs. It's the high mountain on which she and her supporters stand on that rankles. It is not her devotion to her family and her daughter, to whom I only wish happiness.

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com