In case you thought that women have sexual equality...

[Connonym]

From today's Reuters RE Valerie Plame "The much-anticipated testimony by the striking blonde, the subject of a photo spread in Vanity Fair magazine, drew dozens of reporters and photographers and was shown live on cable TV news channels."

Is it germaine to this story that Plame be identified as a "strike blonde"? Do they describe Rove as an overweight piggy man? No, of course they don't. They never bring up physical descriptions like this unless it's a woman or a person of color. Women are still judged by their appearance and men by their accomplishments. It's such bullshit. Don't even get me started on the way they describe race -- which is to say that race isn't mentioned if it's a white man but if it's a person of color it automatically becomes part of the story. Makes me furious. I used to think that in my lifetime I'd see an end to racism and sexual inequality but it's just sliding backwards.


Full text here http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-03-16T195954Z_01_N16441231_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-CRIME-PLAME.xml&src=rss

[SteppingRazor]

1. You mean John Edwards is never referred to as "handsome"?

I actually, agree with you that such descriptors are used far more often for women, but you can't say it "never" happens for guys.

[Zuiderelle]

2. I think you're right. I think the issue is that attractive people get descriptors like that,

whereas unattractive people don't. Thus, Rove is not described as ugly, yet Edwards is described as handsome. If Plame were not as attractive as she is, I don't think they would use "ugly" instead of "striking." It does, however, seem to happen more often in describing women.

[SteppingRazor]

3. I agree. Which means it could be decorum more than anything else

I mean, no one wants to be referred to as ugly or porcine in print.

But, yeah, I think it's much more common when referring to women. And that can't just be because there's more pretty women than there are handsome men (although that may very well be the case. We tend to be kinda ugly :P )

[Bunny]

4. Of course he is sometimes described as handsome.

But I doubt very much that the first sentence of a news story would be this: The stunningly handsome former Senator John Edwards testified in front of Congress today. But info like that is routinely inserted into stories revolving around women.

[Zuiderelle]

5. Very true. Good point.

[SteppingRazor]

9. Touche

:thumbsup:

[tigereye]

10. exactly!

:rofl:

I would love to see that! (if only for parity's sake.)

hey Bunny!

[Bunny]

12. Hey girl! Did you survive the "snow event" today?

Hasn't really been that bad, so far. :hi:

[tigereye]

14. I don't usually work on Friday, so

it wasn't too bad taking the kid to school this morning. I just want it to be spring!

My husband sat around for a while before he went to work, since it was starting to get slick. How was your commute? It looks like it was nasty out your way....

[Bunny]

16. I didn't have any problems, really. I was glad about that.

It's pretty soon gonna be wine-thirty, though, and I am ready to relax! :D

[crispini]

13. Exactly.

Very well put. Although I can't wait for the movie. :bounce:

[Redbear]

6. Excellent point, Connonym

I do believe things are better, but that is pretty bad.

[skygazer]

7. That irritates me, too

As well as the racial aspect.

[idgiehkt]

8. Vanity Fair rocks

They have the greatest articles and they have done this story a lot of justice from the beginning. You cracked me up with this:
"Do they describe Rove as an overweight piggy man? No, of course they don't."
:rofl:
It almost seems like if you looked up Rove in the dictionary it would say 'overweight, piggy man.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. It happens with handsome or rugged or chiseled men as well

Don't pretend it's only women. Probably happens more to women than men, but that could be because there are far more attractive women than attractive men. :7

And it really seems to happen almost solely to attractive people - never to the unattractive.

[Shakespeare]

15. Well, it wouldn't be fun (and accurate) to occasionally say that about the unattractve types?

"....butt-ugly, pig-eyed, mouth-breathing senior white house advisor Karl Rove was subpoenaed today..."

Oh, how I wish they would, though....

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. It would be funny!

"The stunningly attractive Valerie Plame, sensuous in her lithe form and perfect posture, was cross-examined by pudgy, chapped-hands Amanda Swift, her arm fat swinging wildly like a too-full cow udder."

[Shakespeare]

"...her arm fat swinging wildly..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[dembotoz]

18. but wouldn't it be better...

"butt ugly, pig eyed, mouth-breathing senior white house advisor Karl Rove was convicted today along with his moronic, stupid, worm eating, lying, cheating bastard like boss georgey porgey god I hate that man Bush"

[edbermac]

19. I'd describe Rove as an overweight piggy man. Limbaugh too.

Unfortunately I don't work for CNN.

[texas1928]

20. On Countdown last night.

Keith had a pic of Rove up and the descriptor below it was TURDBLOSSOM..

I nearly choked on my dinner.