Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics The Media "We scream, We Swoon, How Dumb Can We Get?"

I'm guessing there are some of us who think maybe our Julia is a bit over-sensitive when it comes to sexism, particularly sexism in the media.

For that reason, I'm offering this link. My only comments are these:
1) This is a real article.\
2) It was published as a serious article in the Washington Post
3) The author is apparently not a satirist
4) It has garnered over 700 comments, most from very angry women.

If an article like this was written about any racial group, it would never have been published.

"We scream, we swoon, how dumb can we get?" (Sorry, I originally linked to the comments rather than the article. It's fixed.)

Not at all. Sexism is pervasive. Americans live, breathe, eat, sleep and bathe in it. It's a major reason many assert and are determined that we will have an African American President before we have a woman President.

Had the individuals who heckled Hillary demanding she iron their shirts, instead heckled Obama, demanding he shine their shoes, there would have been a huge media outcry. As others have noted before me, there was instead a collective media chuckle.

I tried reading above linked piece yesterday, but it's so foolish and slanted, I just couldn't get beyond the first few paragraphs. The fact that appears to have been published in by the MSM without a raised eyebrow certainly makes one wonder what they were thinking. Or lends support to my assertion that sexism is so ingrained that it's often not recognized as such.

It also brings up another point--women can be as sexist as men.

I think we just need to call off this election and start all over. Having a woman and a half white, half black man who are running for president is just too complicated for America.

America's sexism and racism are far to challenging to go on with these primaries.

We Americans apparently just can't see through the prejudices to allow ourselves to select the next president on personal merits, ideas, vision.

We all are wearing glasses that can only see race or sex or some kind of difference that dilutes and diverts the issues.

Is not wanting to train with and/or serve in a combat unit with women sexist?

Well, to be fair, at this point in time you can only declaratively state that it is just too complicated for Democrats and the Democratic Party. Kinda ironic, huh?;-))
Yours,
Issodhos

In grad school I worked as a graduate assistant. Next to the office where I worked was the Center for Women's Studies. One day the director came and asked me if I could come to their office and move a file cabinet across the room. She said the file cabinet was too heavy for her or her staff (all women) to move. I suggested that if she removed the contents of the file cabinet it would be easy for even the smallest female on her staff to move the file cabinet across the room. Dr. ___________, the center director huffed out of the room.

The following week, Dr. __________ came in and asked me to join her for a cup of coffee. I remember walking to the coffee shop with her while we made small talk wondering what she wanted to talk about. I knew it was related to her request the previous week. After we sat for a minute she said, "I want to thank you for not asking me to make you a sandwich."

I had no idea what the hell she was talking about but it sounded like I was being led to slaughter so I just said, "That is something that has never even crossed my mind. I don't pretend to know what you are saying."

She said she knew I was not married and if I had asked her to make a sandwich for my lunch one day she'd have told me that I was perfectly capable of doing it myself and, she said, she would have called me sexist and lectured me on my cheeky and boorish behavior.

"When I asked you to move the file cabinet, I was being sexist. You were perfectly correct in your response. We removed the contents and easily moved the file cabinet, while we turned the air blue discussing what you had said. Later, I realized wrong and that you had taught me a lesson concerning sexism."

Truth be told I still hold doors open for women, I stand up when they come in my office, when they come to the table at a restaurant. I walk on the street side of the sidewalk when I am with a woman. I'm comfortable doing those kinds of things. I wouldn't hesitate to move a file cabinet or carry heavy boxes for women. Some would consider that sexist, some have. Most women appreciate it.

I'm a fool for feminine ladies with brains.

If they don't appreicate it their fools. It takes a lot for me to ask for help with anything but if a man opens a door for me I say "Thank You" and am not at all offended nor do I think his reasoning was anything other than being a gentleman. Sometimes I may knock them in the head with the door but that is only because I don't want to take for granted they will open and door so I grab it, and swing it open...and will probably hold it for them.

I think as with any new shift in thinking; sometimes you go too far off to one side in order to eventually find a middle ground. I've lived long enough to see the sexism swings way off to both sides, hopefully we have finally managed to find the middle.

i was raised to hold doors open etc. many women thank me. some have asked me not to do it again. i will continue doing it. there are some things that are, i believe, respectful. i am not, btw, adverse to hold a door open for a man if he is on my tail. as far as the opinion piece goes, there are some that swoon and it does appear to be silly. and while i might entirely agree with what has been written, i would defend the right of anyone to state that opinion, as well as more hatefilled opinions. i am of the belief that the more we stifle opinions, especially those that offend, the more we perpetuate their life and allow them to circulate underground, building steam along wtih the resentment held by those who feel silenced. open society is the only way to end the attitudes. like anything worthwhile it takes time and tough skin but it would be worth it in the end.

I'm not a Democrat but I would say that for once the Democratic Party offered qualified people representing different experiences. Sadly Edwards and Kucinich couldn't get their messages to the public. Do I like them all? No, but they've made me vacillate. I feel as if my choice will matter. Actually, I jumped over and registered as a Democrat to vote for Edwards in the primary after Dennis bowed out. It's a good sign that Democrats and Independents and even some Republicans feel that the Democrats offer some real differences. It's healthy that no one in the Democratic field is a slam dunk. That's a very good sign.

On the other side Republicans offer(ed) nothing new, just more of it. Voting for any of Republican candidates would have given you a continuation of Bush's War, the continued rape of the middle class, more taxes and fewer services, more corporatism, more domestic spying, more evangelical religion in government. Now the Republicans have only John McCain who will be Bush, the Sequel.

Both parties suck. While Democratic Party leaders can't seem to make up their minds which direction to take the Republican Party leaders seem to have decided early on that they like fascism and given the choice they're going to give us more.

TOOO-SHAY, Mick...

I too try to exert those same efforts for a woman. Yes, it's all old school etiquette, but I don't think that I do those things because of some standard set whenever. I do them out of simple politeness, certainly without coerced or demanded respect, but out of basic human respect.

When leaving a restaurant and there's people behind me, and it could be a man or a few men, I'll hold a door open. If I see a man who is carrying something difficult and awkward, I'll offer help.

Do I think woman are special over men? Well, maybe because I'm a run of the mill heterosexual who happens to appreciate and repect women.

I try to extend human kindness and decency when ever possible. But I've certainly had women extend the same respect to me. Maybe in different ways, but certainly way more than I probably deserve.