Sexism Sells – But We’re Not Buying It May 31, 2008 Jill Jacki, can you see it yet? via Women’s Media Center
This really underscores why there should be more women on the cable news shows. It’s a male dominated culture, with blowhards like Chris Mathews and Pat Buchanon. I wish MSNBC would give Rachel Maddow a show. She’s awesome. C’mon, Tucker Carlson? A hack like that gets a show?
I agree, I love Rachel Maddow. Always insightful. Sharp. Anyway, I wanted to point to a study done by Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on media and the 2008 primary elections. It is here. Among other things it found. Clinton had just as much success as Obama in projecting one of her most important themes in the media, the idea that she is prepared to lead the country on “Day One.” She has also had substantial success in rebutting the idea that she is difficult to like or is cold or distant, and much of that rebuttal came directly from journalists offering the rebuttal. The most prominent negative theme about Clinton was the idea that she represents the politics of the past. and also Barack Obama has not enjoyed a better ride in the press than rival Hillary Clinton Just for the record, yes I did think there was sexism in the media coverage. Do I think it hurt female politicians as a whole? Yes. Do I think it hurt Clinton’s campaign? No (in fact I believe it has helped her).
I wish MSNBC would give Rachel Maddow a show. Thirded. I love Maddow. I think she’s the best talking head out there. Her show on air america is excellent.
Um, I think Jacki’s post – and the comments that follow – are just as depressing. Don’t want to read it? I’ll do you the favor of recapping: Jacki: There hasn’t been any sexism directed at Hillary Clinton, and if there was, show me. Commenter 1: If the bitch can’t handle a little sexism, she needs to grow some balls. Commenter 2: The only sexism was the “Iron My Shirt” thing. She should stop whining about it. Rinse, repeat.
I wish MSNBC would give Rachel Maddow a show. She’s awesome. And another voice filled with Rachel Maddow love. She’s amazing.
I was sort of courious to hear Eleanor Smeal’s response to Tucker Carlson’s question as to why Congress does not consist of 52% women since women make up 52% of the electorate? Why was her response edited out? Did she not have one? Was her respons so embarrassingly lame that to have aired it would have undermined the point sought to be made? What is the answer to Tucker’s question?
That was just NAUSEATING and appalling to watch. I had hoped we had progressed at least a LITTLE further than this. Too many men, particularly those in the media, have ridiculed women fighting for equal status for CENTURIES. The most favored tactic of male dominated media is painting such women as intimidating, emasculating shrews (the Hillary nutcracker being a classic example). More time honored male media tactics: Mocking womens’ physical appearance with terms such as “haggard”. Choice of clothing (Hillary’s “shocking” cleavage revealing blouse) Voice sounds shrill, nagging or like ex-wife, etc Having penis envy: “Mannish looking” (Susan B. Anthony’s looks derided in the press on regular basis; same scorning of the women at Seneca Falls convention in the 1840’s; suffragettes fighting for voting rights; nowadays it’s Rosie O’ Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, and of course, Hillary.) Innate Gender Incompetence: PMS, crying, too emotional, and so on. It just floors me that these methods of undermining womens’ credibility have worked for so long.