Wednesday, September 25, 2013

News About Sexism


On Hillary Clinton:

Discussing speculation that Clinton might run for president in 2016, Washington Times' editor emeritus Wesley Pruden, began his September 24 column by noting that Clinton's interview with New York magazine had revived speculation on her political plans, adding, "the lady knows how to keep everyone guessing. Only her roots are showing." Pruden concluded by saying that Clinton's age is "not particularly old for a man" but "a woman in public life is getting past her sell-by date":
Will she or won't she? Not even her hairdresser, who is only called in occasionally, knows for sure. But the lady knows how to keep everyone guessing. Only her roots are showing.
[...]
But what do they actually know? Hillary would be 69 on Inauguration Day 2017, not particularly old for a man not out of sight of his prime, but a woman in public life is getting past her sell-by date at 69. John F. Kennedy, who never had to grow old, got it right when he famously remarked that "life is unfair." A second failed race for president would not be much of a capstone for a distinguished career in politics, and life at the hearth with Bubba and the dogs would be more rewarding than indulging the parasites of another campaign.

Bolds are mine.  What is funny about that quote is the way it is sorta the reverse of reality.  As women live longer, on average, than men, a 69-year old man is, statistically speaking, closer to his sell-by date than a 69-year old woman.  But Pruden is not talking about that.  He's talking about whether a woman's looks appeal to him or not.

What John Lydon said:

John Lydon is no stranger to shocking television appearances, but the former Sex Pistol provoked fury today by ordering a female host to “shut up when a man is talking”.
The 57-year-old was branded a “sexist, misogynist pig” after his appearance on the Australian talk show The Project on Channel Ten.
With apologies to all pigs who are charming and smart creatures.

Finally, and slightly late, the discussion about racism in the Miss America contest gives an interesting example of one of those cases where different social justice concepts clash.  Is it an advance if something sexist becomes less racist?  Or something racist becomes less sexist?  You work that one out.