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JOURNAL
June 2008
SEXISM OR RACISM?
We have just lived through one of the most exciting (or, depending on your point of view, exasperating) presidential primary campaigns our country has ever seen. Who would have guessed that all fifty states would vote before it was decided, and that it would come down to a black man and a white woman splitting the popular vote with a record-setting turnout?
Despite the thrill of it all, though, Americans are slow to change and what should have been a campaign high often turned snappish, with comments--often by the candidates’ teamworkers themeselves--that insinuated race and gender played a part in our thoughts.
Back in February, at the height of the competition, I asked my college
I then asked how many had been subjected to overt racist comments or behavior. A handful raised their hands. Now, I’m well aware that many people harbor racist thoughts that aren’t often voiced. However, my survey told me that racist language out in the open is no longer acceptable communication, and is quite rare--and that can only be a good thing. As the racists are shamed into the closet, perhaps tolerance and better behavior will follow.
After that, I asked the women how many of them had been subjected to derogatory comments from men or had endured catcalls at a construction site. Every one of them raised their hands!
I asked them why that was so, and a young woman answered, “But that’s just how men are.”
In other words, boorish behavior and speech that insults women is acceptable--even to women--because, well, men are pigs anyway.
Completely absurd! As long as men are allowed to continue to publicly treat women as sex objects or “bitches” if they are strong, the overt sexism isn’t going to change.
But that’s the kind of world we live in: sexism is epidemic and unchallenged.
Recently, a number of reviewers (male and female) commented on how much Sarah Jessica Parker had aged and how bad she looked in the “Sex and the City” movie. When was the last time you heard a reviewer talk about what a fat, ugly slob Philip Seymour Hoffman is? And in a recent movie, we’re supposed to believe he landed Marisa Tomei as a wife.
And this summer, there’s a new program on Showtime called “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” Wonderful! There would be an understandable outcry if someone came up with “Secret Diary of Pimp” starring Taye Diggs.
Showtime is also distributing a print ad for its show “Weeds” with the award-winning but rather plain-looking Mary Louise Parker lying on her stomach and wearing short shorts with her butt ever so uplifted. Apparently, her considerable talent isn’t enough to sell the show.
This year’s primary campaign started with a woman at a McCain rally asking “How do we defeat the bitch?” People actually laughed and McCain didn’t chastise the woman. Substitute your favorite racial epithet and see how far that would have flown!
That low moment was followed by the Hillary Nutcracker novelty item, Chris Wallace’s remark that the Monica mess got her elected to the Senate (forget about her fierce intelligence and political skill), and Tucker Carlson saying, “There’s just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing and scary.”
And never mind that every politician and media pundit tried to push her off the stage from the moment she lost Iowa--no male candidate, with far less votes, was ever treated so badly for winning states! To her credit, she stayed on and showed a tenacity and toughness that no other candidate has ever shown.
In the end, her own husband--who, let’s face it, hasn’t treated the women in his life very well--deserves a good part of the blame for derailing her candidacy . . . with his insensitive racial comments.
Now that she has heartily endorsed Obama, the debate seems to have faded back into the background.
But make no mistake: if we keep silent about how our sisters, daughters, mothers and wives are treated--and thinking that the pole-dancers aren’t among them--we will continue to disrespect our women in the public arena. And change will be slow to come.
What's Your Opinion?
KevScoHall@Verizon.net