Grow A Pair, Ladies -- Or Don't Play In The Big Media Leagues
Because men evolved to prioritize beauty in a woman (features which are indicators of health and fertility), any woman in the public eye is going to get comments about her looks.
Even women not in the public eye get evaluated by how they look.
For example, a tiny loser of a man who owes me money (but prefers to focus on other subjects) called me "wrinkled" the other day. This is pretty hilarious, because if there's one thing I'm not, it's wrinkled. I've been wearing the best French sunblock for decades, and I've barely left the house for a year and a half anyway, because of this book I'm writing. Still, it was sort of amazing to witness his best attempt at a low blow. (Which, by the way, didn't distract me a bit from the fact that the deadbeat owes me money.)
Anyway, the subject of this post is the BBC News deputy director, Fran Unsworth, telling female reporters they need to "harden up" and ignore web trolls.
Bravo. Finally, a woman telling other women that they should do something besides curl up in a little ball and sniffle about "male privilege." Or sue somebody.
Patrick Foster writes at the Telegraph/UK:
Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC's political editor, was the target of sexist abuse last week, in an online petition that called for her to be sacked from the corporation...Ms Unsworth said she had not spoken to Kuenssberg, but added that women needed to become hardened to criticism about their appearance.
She said: "There's an element of how we possibly have to harden people up to it a bit, give them techniques about how they might deal with it. You need to disassociate yourself from it to some extent if you're the victim of it, so how can we help people do that?"
It's my feeling -- from witnessing women's reactions online -- that many women have gotten used to being infantilized and treated like victims, and don't expect to need to steel themselves or defend themselves.
Me? I've been on the web and been a public figure for quite some time and I've been attacked a lot. Sometimes by a mob. You want to play in the public leagues, you'll get some shit.
It's not fun; it can be upsetting; but I want to be here, so I deal...like by not looking at my Wikipedia page or GoodReads reviews (from all the women who think it's just horrifying that I would suggest women treat a man who asks them out with dignity, even if they aren't interested in him). I know...the horror!
via @CathyYoung63
Well I'm glad they did not pick on Trump's hair style, word choices, or for the violence initiated by Sander supporters in the parking lots outside his rallies. That would not be fair. (Snicker)
Guess that's why NBC paid Chelsea $600,000. (How many women reporters did that job displace?)
If Ms Unsworth was seriously concerned I think a professional consultant would give them some clues about why women do not want to work in those professions but that's women for you. (Sarcasm)
Bob in Texas at May 20, 2016 5:21 AM
@CathyYoung63 just tweeted: " it's not as if men didn't get demeaning comments about their physical attributes all the time. Penis size being a favorite."
My tweetback:
@amyalkon
Exactly. Kingsley Browne in "Biology at Work" notes that men do this to each other as part of competing. Equality,not harassment
Amy Alkon at May 20, 2016 5:59 AM
http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-02-24
I R A Darth Aggie at May 20, 2016 6:10 AM
Those types of troll people seem to have a sixth sense for finding something that the intended victim is sensitive about. A lot of women (even a lot of very beautiful women) are insecure about their looks, so that's a common avenue of attack. Men tend to be insecure about things like what kind of job they do, how much money they make, where they live, and how attractive their spouse is. And penis size, although that isn't as good an avenue of attack since the evidence is not usually visible to the public. What is visible is how tall they are, and a man's height is important to women, so that serves as a line of attack too.
Cousin Dave at May 20, 2016 6:35 AM
Hand size serves as a substitute.
Conan the Grammarian at May 20, 2016 7:30 AM
"Those types of troll people seem to have a sixth sense for finding something that the intended victim is sensitive about."
This is it exactly. Most men will laugh off being called ugly. Everyone knows it's much more devastating to a woman. Ugly, slutty, and/or past her prime are where trolls go when they want to "scorch the earth."
(And these things ARE more painful to women because of evolutionary adaptation. It's saying we don't have a specific type of status that we are aware makes us valuable.)
With a man they focus on penis size, physical fitness, lack of career success, or questionable masculinity. Interestingly, people say it's a sign of sexism that men are offended if you call them effeminate, but I don't know many women who want to be told they resemble men.
Insufficient Poison at May 20, 2016 8:36 AM
Those types of troll people seem to have a sixth sense for finding something that the intended victim is sensitive about.
Not really, they play the odds, and unless its fairly interesting or unique most people dont remember FAILED attempts at insulting them
lujlp at May 20, 2016 11:17 AM
For men it's this sad sad sad sad sad fact:
http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2011/07/24
Bob in Texas at May 20, 2016 12:07 PM
Aren't we ALL headed there?
Insufficient Poison at May 20, 2016 12:31 PM
@Bob,
Well.. There's a reason the PR team at Disney markets Belle as the smartest of the Disney Princesses.
http://cdn.iwastesomuchtime.com/762012010455iwsmt.jpeg
Sixclaws at May 20, 2016 1:39 PM
Princesses, for your consideration!
Radwaste at May 20, 2016 4:08 PM
I may have posted this previously but it bears revisiting.
Hand-made princess yarn wigs for little cancer patients.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 21, 2016 9:48 AM
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