Sexist or Not Sexist?

source: news.com.au

It has been a confusing time recently if you are trying to define sexist behaviour

Sexist

Chris Gayle telling a female reporter she has beautiful eyes and asking her out for a drink is inappropriate and sexist. The behaviour was criticised immediately by the male Channel Ten commentators who also apologised on behalf of the network, During a recent Big Bash League game

Not Sexist

The exact same commentator who had only minutes before had made a lewd comment suggesting the Chris Gayle was running awkwardly because his groin must be sore from over use. No-one seems to have noticed the double standard, perhaps because it was hidden by the double entendre.

Sexist

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton sent a text message to political editor Samantha Maiden a “mad F*cking witch”. This was sexist. An apology was issued.

Not Sexist[1]

Mr Dutton apologised stating that the text was not meant for her but rather about her. He was meant to send the text to Mr Jamie Briggs, who stood down from his position as Minister for Cities and the Built Environment after an incident involving a female public servant in Hong Kong. An incident on which Ms Maiden reported. Prime Minister Turnball has admonished Mr Dutton about his text but dished out no real consequences. The Same PM who in September 2015 declared it “unAustralian to disrespect women”

Reverse Sexist

A junior female MMA official at a recent weigh-in ogled the male fighters as they stripped off to their obviously sponsored underwear. The female attendant who does not appear to have any real purpose during the process was standing right next to the athletes and copped a real eyeful. The video show she really appreciated the athleticism of the men and her eyes bulged out of her head, almost cartoon like.

Reverse Not Sexist

Nuala Hafner who was on location at Balmoral Beach to report the weather for Sunrise in December 2014. Hafner approached a fit male clad only in speedo as he completed his morning exercises, introduced herself and then asked if he was single. This was considered hilariously funny by the in studio hosts. It must be said that breakfast television hosts will laugh incessantly at even the slightest hint of humour – it might have something to do with them starting work at 3 in the morning.

Sexist

Women getting paid on average 24% less than men in Australia for performing the same job (catalyst.org).

Not Sexist

Women getting paid equal money as men in world tennis whilst performing 40% less work. Men’s tennis is best of 5 sets, women’s tennis is best of 3.

This is all too confusing for me  to work out what is and is not sexist. Perhaps when The Footy Show returns to television in a next couple of months they can clear up this whole cafuffle.

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[1] Not sure why female to male is called reverse sexist, surely the reverse of sexism is respectful interaction.

Being Un-Australian

Captain Australian

Newly self-appointed Australian Prime Minister today declared it un-Australian to be disrespectful to women. This may be the first time the saying has been used to help build up and strength community as opposed to breaking it down by belittling people who dare to have a difference of opinion.

Previously it has been used to besmirch people who question whether the Gallipoli campaign that forged the spirit of the Anzac was one of the nation’s greatest military defeats instead of being one of our greatest achievements (even though the Anzacs were un-successful in their attempt to take the peninsula.

Driving slowly in the right-hand lane is also considered by many to be un-Australian.

Adam Goodes was labelled un-Australian by Brisbane Roar (soccer/football) goalkeeper Griffin McMaster because Goodes dared to be proud of his Aboriginal heritage. McMaster also called for Goodes to be deported. Deportation is the act of returning people to their land of origin. In Goodes’ case this would be the traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha and Narungga people in South Australia. A heritage the pre-dates European settlement in Australia by thousands of years. McMaster clearly missed the irony his call for deportation, as his name suggests his own heritage would see he resettling in the peat rolling hills of Scotland.

It is un-Australian to serve light and mid-strength beer at a game of footy or cricket.

Former Prime Minister, John Howard declared it un-Australian for workers to strike for their rights, or to protest against war or globalisation or anything the government was doing or proposing.

The lamb industry regularly informs us that it is un-Australian to not eat lamb, particularly on Australia Day and at Christmas, Talking of Australia Day, according to some media outlets it now appears to be un-Australian to not be dressed head to toe in clothes fashioned out of the Australian flag whist drink what is clearly full strength beer.

It has been described as un-Australian for bosses to block internet access to footy tipping websites, just as much as it is un-Australian for men to like cats, or to simply drive past a pub without stopping for a drink.

For the record the term was first used by  W. Howitt in 1855 to describe a landscape as having “an appearance perfectly un-Australian”. It is difficult to deduce if he was using this as a positive or a derogatory manner.  Though it is hard to imagine the Australian landscape of sweeping plains, stunning beaches, rainforests, red dirt desserts and unique (and deadly) wildlife being describe in a manner other than of spectacular beauty.

Whilst I wholeheartedly support Mr Turnball’s use of the to encourage a safe and respectful life for all people living in and visiting Australia regardless of gender I am concerned that the term un-Australian is in itself un-Australian  as it is often used to diminish the very truths we all hold dear those of honest, friendship and a fair go for everyone.

Art Imitates Life

 The terms “art” and “life” are used advisedly in this sentence as they refer to The Bachelor and Australian politics respectively.

In life, after much public and media speculation and unfounded hyperbole the Liberal Party chose to send Tony Abbott home and kicked him out of the mansion. His journey came to a surprisingly quick end. The love affair is now officially over.

I just hope there was a lot of loooong pauses and longing looks as the cabinet members all stood alongside Osher waiting for producers to give the nod allowing the rose to finally be handed to Malcolm Turnbull.

Of course there were obligatory speeches delivered with false modesty and even greater false sincerity.

The real test of the relationship has only just begun. Now that the winner has been announced, the party can leave the house and start to be seen together in public. As we saw in the last season of the political dating show (and the last season of The bachelor) the chosen one did not turn out to be all they were cracked up to be and ultimately the party went back to their previous choice.

In art, after even more public and media speculation and even more unfounded hyperbole Sam chose Snezana (sounds like parmigiana) and her daughter, despite bookies odd on favourites Lana (sounds like parmigiana) who was first of all the losers and historically therefore the most likely to end up with Sam in the long run and Heather who will return to anonymity.

The decision has divided the nation and the talkback shock-jocks love it. The pro Snezana callers full of love and hop balance by the pro Lana callers who are full of vitriol and venom. There a growing call for the public to be able to have a greater involvement in the selection process to choose the winner.

In both circumstances the media is the only real winner with endless pages and minutes of airtime filled with endlessly repetitive descriptions of the events, gossip and conjecture masquerading as “expert” opinion.

The decisions have been made and ultimately - in art as in life - will have little if any bearing on the day to day lives of the vast majority of the Australian population.