When Sexism Rears its Ugly Head
Sexism can find its way into political discourse at every level. On Friday, I wrote an article that was somewhat timely but politically leaning on a local matter. I don't want to go into what it was because I'd rather not detract from the subject as it's mildly controversial. However, I made it clear that it was my own opinion based on my own experience and I put up the article. Because it was timely, I thought it would get some good traction and I moved on with my busy weekend. Until the trolls attacked.
Trolls (people who purposely write negative, personally insulting comments on blogs) can suck up time and drain people emotionally. I didn't enjoy reading the comments that were put up on my article by people who clearly did have too much time on their hands. They used every possible angle to go after me - calling me names that were ever so subtly those that would only be used against women - like "dingbat" or "groupie."
There were probably worse comments caught in the spam filter; I'm glad I didn't see those. Later that night, I decided to close the comments because I just didn't have the bandwidth to deal with that kind of response. I made some suggestions to the publication for what to do about the trolls, but the lesson was learned - that system was way too open to personal attacks, many that included sexist remarks. Someone even went as far as emailing me - probably because his comment wasn't posted. Please... like I don't have better things to do?
A year ago, I would not have realized these comments were sexist. I would've just considered them rude and put them all in one category. But after having worked with WomenCount and watched what Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and others endured last year, I have since adjusted my thinking. If I had written that same exact post about another woman candidate, I never would have received those kinds of comments. If I had been a man, I would never have received those comments. I would have received other rude troll-like remarks designed to tug at my psyche, but sexism would've been out of the mix.
What is it going to take to remove this kind of behavior from the media? First, publications need to forbid those kinds of comments. Second, the media pundits themselves need some serious training to learn what's not right to say - and why. It's not just enough to clam them up. They need to be educated somehow. I was impressed by what David Gregory said on "Meet the Press" about his own awareness of his wife's career while discussing The Shriver Report. Perhaps that seems small, but it's an example of a man who has actually stopped to think about how to view the woman's side on at least one issue and that's good.
As women, the unfortunate truth is we need to stay aware that this kind of thing exists. Not every publication allows such behavior, but some still do. And the media is only one part of the problem. What people say in other places can be much worse. The stories I've heard from women candidates about things people will say to their faces are appalling. But as women, instead of letting it slide all the time, we can educate other women to teach the men in their lives not to be sexist. And as women, we also have a responsibility not to turn it around and be rude towards men. The problem isn't any one man in particular - it's that rude behavior attracts attention and often the community-at-large does nothing to stop it.
Trolls (people who purposely write negative, personally insulting comments on blogs) can suck up time and drain people emotionally. I didn't enjoy reading the comments that were put up on my article by people who clearly did have too much time on their hands. They used every possible angle to go after me - calling me names that were ever so subtly those that would only be used against women - like "dingbat" or "groupie."
There were probably worse comments caught in the spam filter; I'm glad I didn't see those. Later that night, I decided to close the comments because I just didn't have the bandwidth to deal with that kind of response. I made some suggestions to the publication for what to do about the trolls, but the lesson was learned - that system was way too open to personal attacks, many that included sexist remarks. Someone even went as far as emailing me - probably because his comment wasn't posted. Please... like I don't have better things to do?
A year ago, I would not have realized these comments were sexist. I would've just considered them rude and put them all in one category. But after having worked with WomenCount and watched what Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and others endured last year, I have since adjusted my thinking. If I had written that same exact post about another woman candidate, I never would have received those kinds of comments. If I had been a man, I would never have received those comments. I would have received other rude troll-like remarks designed to tug at my psyche, but sexism would've been out of the mix.
What is it going to take to remove this kind of behavior from the media? First, publications need to forbid those kinds of comments. Second, the media pundits themselves need some serious training to learn what's not right to say - and why. It's not just enough to clam them up. They need to be educated somehow. I was impressed by what David Gregory said on "Meet the Press" about his own awareness of his wife's career while discussing The Shriver Report. Perhaps that seems small, but it's an example of a man who has actually stopped to think about how to view the woman's side on at least one issue and that's good.
As women, the unfortunate truth is we need to stay aware that this kind of thing exists. Not every publication allows such behavior, but some still do. And the media is only one part of the problem. What people say in other places can be much worse. The stories I've heard from women candidates about things people will say to their faces are appalling. But as women, instead of letting it slide all the time, we can educate other women to teach the men in their lives not to be sexist. And as women, we also have a responsibility not to turn it around and be rude towards men. The problem isn't any one man in particular - it's that rude behavior attracts attention and often the community-at-large does nothing to stop it.
Posted by: Jen @ 01:44PM on November 19 2009
Comment:
Systematic sexism is well protected by many media outlets. They used it during the last presidential primary and general election and will continue to use it against women candidates. They like nothing more than to turn women against women.
