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A culture saturated in sexism

JOHANNA SCHNELLER

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:18 PM EST 19/12/07

Humour is getting ugly about women's bodies ...Read the full article

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  1. MJ Patchouli from Regina, Canada writes: Good article, Joanna. And I would add, that as well as making women's bodies -- even slim, trim, almost perfect women's bodies -- the butt of sexist jokes, TV, film and other mass media also like to do violence to the perfect and sexy women. How many shows on North American network TV open with sequences of women, maybe lying in their own blood, or being stalked, but dressed for sex -- underwear, negligee, or hookery clothing?

    We don't see crime dramas opening with sexy men being stalked and killed, just women as prey to men. Generally, their sexuality has been their downfall -- yes, they're just asking for it. And the violence is often tinged with perverse sexuality.

    There does seem to be a pervasive desire to push women down in mass media. Imperfection makes you funny, an object of derision; obesity makes you downright inhuman (like Mimi, the heavily made-up and ridiculously dressed clown on Drew Carey's stupid show -- and of course she's a horny one too); and beauty and perfection -- well, you're asking for it then, rape and/or murder, coming right up.
  2. Gizella Oehm from Toronto, Canada writes: Men interestingly enough never need to meet the physical perfection standards expected of women. I can't think of the number of commercials where downright homely guys who seem to be poverty stricken and none-too- bright - in short have little to recommend them - shown as the object of attraction for a bevy of beautiful women. The message seems to be - as long as you are a man - no matter how stupid, unaccomplished or homely - you will attract beautiful women, if you buy the right product. Or think even of the ever-popular Seinfeld, and George Costanza. George is the quintessential loser, yet has an endless stream of more or less lovely bed mates.

    This pervasive media message - 'men, you don't have to be much in this world for any woman to love you '- may account for the increasing number of socially disenfranchised, irresponsible, infantilized men in North America.
  3. Aretha Franklin from Halton, Canada writes: And you know what's really bad about a lot of this sexism? It's coming from other women. Women just have to be down on other women in order to feel better about themselves i suppose. The comment I have heard most often when women are confronted with their culpability is that, like the poster pointed out before me, is that it's the women's own fault for being famous. Jealousy, jealousy.

    I have 3 sons and I hope that I am teaching them to be kinder to all of mankind, not just women, than popular culture shows they should be. I think mothers are hugely responsible in shaping their children's ideas about acceptability, let's not blame it all on the media. My own mother used to tell me that beauty was on the inside, but then she'd constantly nag about my hair, my blackheads, my spots, putting on weight. That kind of conflict teaches girls that no-one really believes that your personality is more important than your appearance.

    And I see boys succumbing to this as well. What the heck is with all this depilation for men? It's bad enough that our culture has decreed that women go hairless (even ridiculing pubic hair on women these days) but aren't men expected to be hairy? (Yes, I know, not in all ethnicities) Well, I have a glut of very hairy men in my household, and I'm here to tell them - hair or no hair, you look great to me.
  4. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: 'Men are visual creatures who fear female power. Women are self-loathing.' . . . YIKES ! This author has an ADVANCED case of Victimitis. . . . Oh, wait, this column is a satirical piece from www.theonion.com, right ? NO ? . . . In any case, all of this is the fault of men; everything is getting worse, not better; men compel women to buy makeup and get Botox treatments and plastic surgery and be obsessed with clothes, jewels, and looks; women have no control over their own actions and beliefs; YUP, pretty sad state of the world, if ya ask me.
  5. Amanda Sanders from Thompson, Canada writes: Very good article, i see it all the time at school... even at times my boyfriend slips a few sexist comments without even realizing. Yet men don't seem to realize that no matter how powerful men feel, woman still have the most important job, having children.

    i also want to add that no woman is sexy unless she feels sexy, someone who is a size zero who hates there body is no better off than someone a size 14 (which isnt even fat by the way) who feels the same way of hers.

    i am naturally a tiny person, its not my fault, but everyone tells me that this fact alone makes me beautiful. but i dont see how.. if i move the right way you can count my ribs, and its not that i don't eat. i hate getting looked at and people assuming im annorexic..
  6. divadab Newton from Rain Coast, Canada writes: The Problem is Corporatist Control of an unhealthy society, IMHO. And it affects both sexes - look at the (under-reported and not well known) steroid use among young men trying to achieve an artificial ideal of masculinity. A youth society which aims for a hairless plastic android ideal body (Paris Hilton, eg.) The neurotic pursuit of obliteration of body smell, hair, breath smell, etc. is actively hammered into receptive minds by TV advertising, seeking nothing more than profit at all cost.

    The solution? Throw away your TV. To hell with being brainwashed. And women? Please take this small bit of advice from a man who loves women - you need to love yourself to be lovely. All the corporatist sellers of perfumed crap do is encourage self-hatred in order to sell more perfumed crap. If you eat right and exercise you smell great and look great and don't need chemical stink to obscure your loveliness. Hail Gaia!
  7. MJ Patchouli from Regina, Canada writes: Aretha, it comes from other women because we are socialized to be competitive -- for men.

    And these lessons are taught from a very young age -- think about the old (fifties) Disney film of Peter Pan -- When I saw it as an adult, I realized that it was all about girls needing to 'mother' boys -- who never grow up (peter and the lost boys).

    And Tinkerbell was jealous of Wendy -- she was in competition for Peter -- and so was Princess Tiger Lily.

    I'm not saying this Disney movie is the ultimate sexist film, I'm just saying it's a good example of how girls and women are socialized to put each other down and feel jealous of each other.

    For the likes of ... George Costanza??
  8. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: More stone-age feminist garbage.

    Sadly, those who write this crap get published on the globe site and often get jobs in the federal gov't.

    Look at the magazine rack: it's men being told to shape up or die lonely.

    Don't watch tv. Don't read magazines.

    Watch good dvds...read books...escape rotten North American culture of meaness and high taxes.
  9. jan bakker from Vernon, Canada writes: Sorry, but by enlarge women have brought this scrutiny on themselves, by the feminist movement followed by hollywood. The much wanted recognition they wanted and got, has resulted in a magnified observation under the publics eye. Sometimes things are not all they seem to be,and hollywoods version of the model and or perfect woman is a far cry from reality.
  10. THX 1138 from Victoria, BC, Canada writes: Spare me the man-bashing nonsense. Women can have mouths & minds like sewers. They just do a far better job of keeping it more discreet. Some gals should drop the 'What would Oprah do?' brainwashing and think for themselves. My wife is a terrific, independent-minded, beautiful person who avoids the tabloids full of idiotic, pop-culture psycho-babble.
  11. Broad Vacant from St. Catharines, ON, Canada writes: Feminism caused this?!?!?!?!?!?

    Yeesh.
  12. Rollo Tomasi from Belgium writes: Same old, same old. Women are exploited to exploit men.
  13. Behind Space from Canada writes: Plastic surgery? I would never want my girl getting plastic. Then we wouldn't be able to go to the beach anymore...she'd melt in the sun XD
  14. D. Clearwater from Lethbridge, AB, Canada writes: You know, I see some of the comments here as symptomatic of the issues raised in the article. I realize it is probably very difficult to step back and really look at our own (N. American) culture. As a male, and as I get older, I can see how there is a dominant streak in our culture that still very much treats women as objects (and, as can be seen by some comments here, objects of ridicule) while masculinity is primarily defined through some kind of hypermasculinity (expectations of intimidation, even violence, and also militarism, etc.). I think one very extreme example is the Pickton trial and what that represents. In the West, there is the 'Highway of Death' where another large number of women have gone missing... and, still, very little is being done about it. I teach at a university in Lethbridge and I am struck by how many female students (even some male students) come to me and say something like: 'I am not a feminist but...' and then go on to talk about gender equality and how they believe in it. This is in a province that leads other provinces in domestic violence (mostly directed at women). And we have to remember that the vast majority of violence is conducted my males and that it was even under a century ago that women were not even legally considered as persons. I am sure I will get flamed for saying all this but... whatever.
  15. J. D. from St. Catharines, ON, Canada writes: I agree with most of this article. But I don't understand why it tries to defend women like Katharine Heigl. She *is* a hypocrite. She read a script, decided to make a movie she thought would benefit her career, received a good paycheque...and then, when she was called complicit in a movie containing a few seriously sexist themes, she recanted. This is exactly my problem with the post-feminists. Feminists have spent the better part of the last century ensuring that women have the freedom to choose. And yet, if a woman chooses to trade her self-worth for a paycheque, she is called a victim of male power. I despise feminists who defend women who make terrible choices, or who excuse their behaviour by transferring responsibility to men.
  16. Jeff Pritchard from Canada writes: What a load of hyperbole. If anything, it is men who are being assaulted in the media, especially in television and movies. The pairing of an intelligent, level-headed, sexy woman with a dim-witted, imperceptive oaf of a man has long been the standard template of the vast majority of sitcoms and dramas - not to mention commercials. The bar is set so incredibly low for men that they are expected to take an interest in sports, cars, beer, food - and little else. If anything goes wrong they are usually forced to turn to the women to fix the problem, which infantilizes the entire spousal relationship. These unsubtle and cliched digs at masculine competence form the basis for most modern 'humor.'

    I'm not saying, of course, that women are not also unfairly portrayed in the media. Certainly they are, but these portrayals are two sides of the same thoroughly-debased coin.
  17. Michael Leblanc from Toronto, Canada writes: I point my finger at an image-based entertainment industry where style spinners who seem to be from a different planet, set an agenda which is (to me) aesthetically grim. Fake boobs to me are ridiculous and unattractive, as are stick women in ridiculously high heels. Similarly - what I suppose could be called the David Beckham ideal for males. It is clear, as the article states, that the bar is set much higher for females - the troubling thing is that it is often women who are doing the setting and adhering to it. One of the most commonly vicious insults I have heard females hurl at each other is to call their enemy a 'cow' or 'pig'. I rarely if ever hear a male call his rival fat etc. Nobody is putting a gun to anybody's head. The women I have been attracted to generally held the gussied up male or female in a certain amount of contempt. The guys I see with a gallon of hair gel, wife-beater shirts two sizes too small, cheap gaudy chains and and clouds of cologne etc. seem, how shall we say, amusing and generic - as do the emaciated women who make it very clear they have breasts, legs, rear-end and eyelashes. I'm not a puritan, quite the opposite, I just find this artificial 'ideal' unimaginative on both sides. I'm in good shape and if I chose to I suppose I could compete with my fellow primates in this respect - I choose not to, not least because I am not attracted to the celluloid female type I would attract. Perhaps it's easier for me as I am male, but I know A LOT of women who walk their own stylistic path, away from the supposed 'ideal'. You just don't read about them in silly print/tv tabloids.
  18. Quinn Barreth from Calgary, Canada writes: I think the majority of posters are right here. I really believe the subjugation of women starts with the dumbing down of men - telling them to think only with their groin or stomache - and then telling women that to be 'liberated' includes being as sexual and provacative as possible. Just look at Leelee Sobieski's comments on her latest role as a dominatrix. She sees this as a role that is a powerful female expression but 50% of the movie-goers will just see her as another *itc* taking her clothes off to do some guy. (Plus she expressed surprise at how this Vancouver filmed movie might be perceived in light of the Pickton trial!) Women have bought the lie of the magazines and movies hook line and sinker, even worse than the 'evil' 50's stereotype. The problem is that this time they are front and centre for the kind of degradation that men are told is acceptable. I know this probably will not be a popular suggestion, but I think if we all bought into a standard type of morality - something along the line of respect for each other, value of committed relationships, denial of the importance of greed/consumerism - we might actually see some improvement in this type of thing. Go ahead, kill me for suggesting something so regressive.
  19. D B from Toronto, Canada writes: This is a great article and it's good to know that someone else is making these observations in a media saturated by nonsense.

    Growing up in the 60s and 70s, we regularly debated these issues and observations. These days, sexism and objectifying women seems to be taken as a given. Sadly, a lot of young women and girls seem hellbent on seeing themselves and their peers as nothing else but beauty contestants.

    It's been said many times before but I'll say it again: a lot of the media is at fault here. It's now movie awards seasons. At the various awards events, the commentators won't speak so much on the films, the performances and other achievements. Instead, it's 'Look what she's wearing and how she looks' Entertainment Weekly is the worst for actaully ranking the appearances - nearly always women only. Shame!
  20. Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada writes: My sexuality is boundless and my personal life ideologically blameless. I'm now convinced that the cable network news should not be read by it's ubiquitous pretty women lying back on King-sized Tempur-Pedic mattresses, as I had previously imagined I'd like it to be. Call me: 416-555-1234
  21. P R from ns, Canada writes: Why can't we admit that, in most cases, women dress for women. This starts way back in elementary school. Granted there are some males who can be quite critical the attire or the opposite sex, but I'm convinced that they are the minority. The hair, clothing, make-up and perfume is cooridinated so as not to offend the sniping sisterhood. It reminds me of the finale of a bodybuilding competition, when the competitors attempt to upstage each other in front of the judges. I'm sure some psychological study has looked into this phenomenon.
  22. Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: So, if this is about women doing this to women, or about men being subjugated, why is there so much violence toward women in muslim and third world countries? If this issue were truly about women dissing women why do the men in those countries treat the women as though they were less than second class? And, again, why is there so much violence against women in those countries? This is not a one dimensional issue. Society, politicians and religion have been trying to control women for ever. It is a very, very deep issue and glossing it over in terms of hollywood or how badly men are treated is to relegate it to less than second class also. Feminism has nothing to do with the way women are treated by all societies, the society does.
  23. Harbinger from Out West from Prince George, Canada writes: Designer burkhas for every unperfect babe.
  24. NR Connor from TO, Canada writes: Every week Johanna Shneller writes the same kind of column, 'examining' the same tired issues, through the same vapid and uninformative anecdotal method, about the same boring low-brow end of the cultural spectrum.

    A bunch of egg-head case-pleaders are trotted out to pseudo-analyze the worthless irrelevancies of teen-age movies.

    Waste of time and bandwidth.
  25. Geoff Wilson from Revelstoke, Canada writes: Ah good 'ol Schneller. You should see what the culture is like in Italy!
  26. Bob McDonald from Canada writes: This kind of article leans toward sexism, hyperbole and imaginary motivations. Woman don't go to plastic surgeons or pornographic film makers or model school to 'feel' better about themselves. They do it because they want power. They don't just want power over men - they want power over men and other women and they want it the easy way - with a sexy figure. That not only demotes women but it hurts the value of education, business ambition and cultural leadership - very important things when compared with 'nudie pics'. These things should still be discussed but they should be examined from a much taller footstool with two voices - one female and other male.
  27. Red Fox from Canada writes: This material is more suited for the Oprah show, to be fed to 37 something housewives who want to blame their 'problem' on society, culture or anything except themselves.

    Tell these women about Personal Responsibility.

    Secondly, what self-respecting individual watches movies anymore ?
    Or maybe I am talking to the wrong crowd ? I hate movies, if its free or if the genre is fantasy (LoTR) I might watch it.

    In fact, the last movie i watched in a movie hall was in 2005, Dukes of Hazzard with some friends... what rubbish. The most recent movie I watched was 'The Simpson's movie' that I got from the internet.

    I hate movies, the plot is F---ing boring, regurgitated vomit that I have watched a million times. I would rather watch Simpson's reruns and that is saying something.

    I boycott movies. You should too.
    Read a book instead, imagining a story beats watching someone's version of it on screen.
  28. Aaron Andrews from Van City, Canada writes: Superbad has done more to liberate women then Johanna Shneller ever will. This article was as disingenuous about the real issues underlying sexism in Canada as it was insulting to anyone who has seen the quality (and progressive) movies Seth Rogan is involved with.

    Sexism is real. It's serious. It deserves better treatment than this.
  29. d griff from Canada writes: All media needs a major overhaul. I used to watch CNN, but I stopped, because a lot of the anchorwoman are anorexic models instead of journalists. I can't help but think that probably these anchorwoman/models porbably went to college with some men and women who really understood and cared about the issues they were reporting on but, these particular students wouldn't get a job at CNN because they didn't go to modelling school or would agree to lose X amount of weight. CNN is just Candy- no substance!
  30. Patricia F. from Berlin, Germany writes: An excellent article. Thank-you.

    And now for an interesting story:

    I once went on a blind (internet) date with a man with whom I had corresponded with and whose picture I had seen beforehand. A professor at one of Berlin's Universities, not particularly attractive but intelligent...So, here we were sitting in a restaurant when he asks me 'Are you a feminist?'. I say 'Well, yes, how did you know?' He says 'You're wearing a dark purple blouse and this colour is a feminist statement in Germany' (something, being a foreigner, I wasn't aware of). He then continues 'Feminists are unattractive, have no sense of humour and wear the wrong underwear!' to which I reply 'Well, as you can see, I'm quite attractive, I have been known to be fpretty unny and I wear the right underwear, sometimes...though I doubt that you'll ever find out'.

    So here's to speaking up for oneself, healthy bodies and the freedom to choose - here's to feminism!
  31. Rollo Tomasi from Belgium writes: d griff from Canada writes: All media needs a major overhaul. I used to watch CNN, but I stopped, because a lot of the anchorwoman are anorexic models instead of journalists.
    --------------------------------

    Tragically, all CNN anchorwomen were born with their eyebrows in the wrong place, so they had to be entirely plucked out and drawn on in the correct place. Yuk.
  32. Monika __ from Geneva, Switzerland writes: Having watched considerable tv from France in the past year, it is quite interesting to compare it with what is on offer in North America. I haven't been here long enough to make a study of this topic in France, or to draw any conclusions, but the superficial differences at least seem to be stark. Even when you are not familiar with the program, it is immediately obvious where it is from -- if it is from North America, the women are as artificial as possible -- too much make-up, tortured hair, obvious breast implants, buffed to such an unnatural degree that you know they spend too much of their life in the gym. In France, the women in tv and movies have messed-up hair, not as much make-up and are not as buff or thin. (the only exception to this is the letter turner on the French version of Wheel of Fortune, 'Victoria'). Actresses and entertainers work well through their 40s, 50s and 60s, and are still vital elements of the culture, and considered sexy -- not something you ever see in North America. Wrinkles are not as hidden. But what is really a revelation is the level of dialogue and discourse, on even something as banal as a game show. Wit, intellect and being well-spoken count for something here. There is no vulgarity (you never see people swear, on or off t.v.).

    I can't say if women in France are more emancipated, more equal than in North America, but it definitely seems as if French society is less misogynistic than in North America. It may be instructive to study this further.

    Good article Johanna; pointing out possible directions or solutions would be a good follow-up.
  33. Rob G from Calgary, Canada writes: A. Andrews, are you kidding! Did you actually watch either of the Seth Rogen movies that this article mentioned, or are you too young to get in. My guess is that you're a 13 year old boy. Rogen's movies are funny, but they are horrendously sexist. His movies may not be misogynistic, but they certainly are suspicious of women, only attracted to women for their looks and do not value women for anything beyond plot devices. In short, Rogen's attitude to women is immature, classless and profoundly sexist. Don't worry, once you grow up, fall in love and learn about sharing with a wife this will become clear to you.
  34. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: Here's a comment that will enrage, uh, 'certain' members of the population: 'EQUAL rights. EQUAL treatment.' . . . see ?
  35. Ed Anger from Canada writes: The problem is that you women need to get some sexe and a couple of beers to calm down. Your just like the french always wining about something. You wanna know why the average guy looks sloppy in movies is that we just dont care that much about how we look ... We are not the ones obsessed, so stop blaming men for your obvious womenly addictions. Last time I looked your free in our western culture or maybe you would all like to wear the hijab.
  36. Oslo Karmen from Canada writes: The tabloids just disgust me. Why does anyone buy that mindless drivel??? I recall cover pictures on one of those rags pointing out a certain politicians 'man-boobs' and his wife's lees-than-buff body. WHO CARES! It is IRRELEVANT!
  37. Ed Anger from Canada writes: vs a culture wearing the hijab. Why dont you girls get together and make some man hating movies and you can go en masse to watch them. Why cant you just admit that maybe your are doing this to yourselves.......
    Its not like men buy the clothes,breast implants,and make up (excepting transgenderd NDP candidates) for themselves. Are you all so mentally oppressed that you will do anything for your man's attention, or just maybe as a group your not quite the feminists that you want to be.
  38. Big Foot from Canada writes: What happened to the whole thinking identity business? Yeah, talk is cheap isn't it???
  39. Carrie Palmet from Pensacola, United States writes: After the sorority sued the DePauw University the university settled the lawsuit. (http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=20395)

    Hmm. Makes you wonder if the real story wasn't something entirely different than what played out in the media at the expense of a group of college women. Criticizing women sells, so that's the story the media created. The truth wasn't nearly so glamorous.
  40. Steve C from Canada writes: Who cares?! It's just movies/TV - enjoy, not enjoy, get on with your lives. Stop telling others what to do. Geez.
  41. a george from Canada writes: Other than the valid weight discussion, this article is hardly feminist. I mean to state that because the women in named films did not consider abortion makes the films 'sexist' is a preposterous suggestion.
  42. Aaron Andrews from Van City, Canada writes: Rob G, thank you for your interest and response.

    I am serious when I say that Seth Rogan's movies (especially Superbad) are progressive and have a place in the fight for better representations of women in film and television.

    Shneller's article suggested a correlation between a joke from a Seth Rogan movie about a young lad inadvertently getting menstrual blood on his shorts and a larger trend of sexist depictions of women in contemporary popular culture. The link between these two things is not clear to be (besides that Shneller evidentially does not think either is funny).

    It is quite obvious that Rogan's menstral blood joke is merely another physical gag that relies on anxiety over the abject. This is quite common in film, especially in a post-AIDS awareness day and age. How this joke has to do with negative depictions of women is beyond me.

    Seth Rogan's films, however, depict sexually active women who are not whores. Female characters in Superbad display agency and assertiveness. The motivations that drive their characters are the same as the male characters; they too want to get drunk and hook up, and they go about their mission in a rightfully unabashed and (re:feminist) and liberated manner.

    Finally teenage girls are seeing role models in films who are funny, assertive, and sexually active. Far from being "immature" (says the guy who implies that the disgustingly patriarchal institution of marriage is something to be proud of), Rogan's movies offer something Shneller chooses not to look for: a progressive and positive role model for young ladies.
  43. NR Connor from TO, Canada writes: While Schneller and her gaggle of coffee-house pundits expatiate on how terrible the peurile irrelevancies of hollywood comedies are, there remain women all over the world who are wrapped in burkas, beaten by men, discredited in 'legal' systems, and deprived of education and other basic rights.
  44. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: People are comparing Seinfeld (and George) to real life? Give me a break.

    Rather than using a comedy which is meant to be funny how about using any of the daytime dramas. In Orange Country, Falcon Beach, 90210 or whatever else what do you see? Short fat guys or tall/dark/handsome/built? Even in real life it's the same thing; if there is an attractive girl with an unattractive guy everybody immediately thinks that the guy has money because otherwise there would be no possible way they would be together.

    Basically the "sexism" works both ways, I'm sorry that so many women out there feel victimized even though everything is their choice. Yes, men put guns to womem all over North America to get implants, buy stiletto shoes, and star in movies and commercials that "exploit" women.

    It all comes back to basic nature; everyone wants to be accepted and find a mate. Just like how you can't call peacocks shaking their behinds for attention sexist, you can't make broad generalizations on what men and women go through to try to attract each other.
  45. A C from Canada writes: Umm... there's a reason the women in Superbad and Knocked Up were so one dimensional: The movies were made for a male audience. Fools.
  46. Likes Cleavage from Canada writes: How nmany people reading this article shop for their daughters at La Senza girl?
  47. chris jenkins from Free the West, Canada writes: If so many women weren't so insecure to start with, this article would never have seen the light of day.
  48. John S from Toronto, Canada writes: Just another article from a woman who cries victim, victim ...

    Let us review: birth control and breasts cancer rates have tracked each others, divorce has shot up since birth control, women date and sleep around like men, more women studying in university then men, lower birth rates due to birth control, commercials/sitcoms/television and media in general portray married men as incompetent buffoons who need their wives, the oprah culture of the liberated and spiritual women unbound to anything include a real sense of spirituality and a connection to a higher being (in this care the higher being is oprah), women file sexual harassment only if they don't find the man attractive and then sleep with him if they do, sex and the city (need i say more).

    Women have all the rights they wanted (except equal pay -- and god knows money if the most important thing on earth) and now still find the time to whine and complain about something as senseless and what is talked about in this article.

    Why don't we talk about people and women making the world a better place instead of this insecure drivel ?

    Now that would be real journalism.
  49. Peter Fulton from Vancouver, Canada writes: You always know something is up when someone nit-picks every detail, but only within their particular pre-determined field of (vested) interest. All the things in this article are true to some degree, but its lies by omission. Seth Rogen's films, Hollywood releases, they are generally terribly dumbed down ideas that make both men and women out to be idiots. Males too are constantly made out to be shallow and dumb, it's called comedic effect. To take Superbad (you brought it up, not me) the most grounded charcters are female, including the female lead who is too sensible to drink. The male cops are immature idiots, and the male leads behave idioticallly because of rampant hormones and 'innate' male stupidity, and the film's denouement is that 'Seth' treats people badly, including women, that he has failed in life if he doesn't treat people with more respect. Some tirade against women. And yet these programs and films are aimed at a youth audience, that is by definition 'immature'. Please stop using Hollywood and the US media as some yardstick for what any of us in another country and age-group is like, it's simply bad science. We are all individuals and expect to be treated as such, and not generalised by the very petty biases about which you so need to complain.
  50. Ikwonkano Bassey from Canada writes: While I agree with most of the comments posted, I have to express my frustration on two.

    Amanda Sanders from Thompson, Canada writes: Yet men don't seem to realize that no matter how powerful men feel, woman still have the most important job, having children.

    Are you kidding me? You may as well just say that you agree, women should be barefoot and pregnant. Since having children is the most important job, what do you think of women who choose not to, or who can not, have children? Are they no longer important, functioning and full members of society?

    Jennifer Rollison from Canada writes: If this issue were truly about women dissing women why do the men in those countries treat the women as though they were less than second class?

    Right, in THOSE countries.
    It's the men in THOSE countries that treat women as though they are less than second class, yet Alberta has the highest number of domestic abuse cases in Alberta. I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying but allow me to use a cliche: "you shouldn't throw stones in a glass house." Please, before you go accusing other nations of thier wrongdoings look a little closer to home.
  51. Jeff Lee from Toronto, Canada writes: As a teenager growing into a young adult (male), you tend to see women as sex toys, or objects of your late-night bedroom fantasy... As you get older, things start to change drastically... and you start to realize that, Hey, wait a second, women are just like men. Sure they may not have the same features and what not, but they too can share the same beliefs and opinions..

    So really, these movies (Superbad, Knocked Up, etc) are, as some of you had said... really geared towards the highschool - university/college market (Males), and anyone else would find this movie utterly insulting or degrading.

    So really... Unless you're 16, I don't think anyone should be making any sexist comments... .WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
  52. Luna Nova from Canada writes: I echo many of the comments here about the quality of the article. But what bothered me the absolute most is how Johanna seems to be praising Jennifer Love Hewitt. I didn't think JLH retort was all that great - her shrieking "I'm a size 2" rant. Why? - it once again all came down to "size" - see, I'm a size 2! Well, most women haven't been a size 2 since they were 11 years old, thankfully, but JLH still has to use this fact for "respect". A better response would've been nothing at all. Just a, "well, that's an opinion". Issues of females and weight will always be front and centre. And quite frankly, women play into it. All of those who praise the "Dove real beauty" campaign - don't you get it? At the end of the day, they got what they wanted - for you to buy more product. Skinny models or not, you got taken for a ride.

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