I MUSt point this out
I am fascinated by the Don Imus controversy in which he called female basketball players at Rutgers “nappy headed hos.” What is most interesting to me though is not that Imus is being called a racist, nor his lame apology, nor the ass whooping that Al Sharpton gave to him on the Reverend’s radio show.
What is most interesting to me is that while there is great recognition of the egregious racism that Imus professed during his comment on his radio show last week, no one is discussing the misogynist content of the statement.
Because while it is not ok, nor should it be ok, to be racist, it is acceptable to be sexist, hateful and exploitive of women.
In fact, during Reverend Sharpton’s interview with Imus, he focused solely on the on the race issue and not on the sexism issue.
I guess that’s understandable considering that Black and White rappers regularly disparage women in their lyrics. I guess that’s understandable that no one has mentioned the objectification of women when Howard Stern and Mancow earn their salaries by vilifying women.
I was going to include some lyrics by Snoop Dog, or Eminem, or transcripts of Stern, Cow, and Imus, but as I read through them I found them too disgusting for me to print.
Sexism, like racism, is not a new issue. However, unfortunately its ramifications are not comprehended by the listeners of these shock jocks and rappers. Ask anyone who works with young women, and you will be told society’s message to them is not to be smart, not to be successful, but to be sexy and sexual beginning in their tweens – to act like “hos.”
What is the answer? It would be great if listeners stopped subscribing to sexist content. But if they don’t, then we at least have to acknowledge the damage media inflict on women and our toleration of it for whatever, in my opinion, inexcusable reason.
Imus ridiculed the Rutgers basketball players for being black. But he also derided them for being women. And while he should be chided for the crime of racism, he should also be rebuked for sexism.
But he won’t be.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Television arguably became a valuable commodity because of its ability to inform and entertain the public. For this reason, every second spent on television is priceless. Too long we’ve given airtime to idiots like Imus and Rush and countless others. Throw in reality shows and we’ve effectively downgraded appearing on television to an opportunity to make an ass of yourself.
Remember when you were an indignant teenager and you thought, “If I appeared on television, what would I say?” The responsibility seemed staggering. I’d like to turn on the television and see more people who appreciate the fact that they have this national forum to make the world a better place, raise the level of intelligent discourse, and, yes, it’s possible, maybe entertain a little bit with their wit and wisdom.
If I was running a large television station, and one of my employees used this large of a stage to call a group of basketball players “nappy-headed hoes,” I’d say to myself, “I’ll bet I can find someone that can do better.” And then I would.
And you know what, I’d be really surprised if that made people stop watching television. Somehow I doubt it. I also doubt that advertisers are lining up to get their product on Imus right now, either.
It’s a shame that the people with their eyes on the bottom line don’t realize what real power their medium has. Or that their employees don’t realize the opportunity they’ve been given.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Television arguably became a valuable commodity because of its ability to inform and entertain the public. For this reason, every second spent on television is priceless. Too long we’ve given airtime to idiots like Imus and Rush and countless others. Throw in reality shows and we’ve effectively downgraded appearing on television to an opportunity to make an ass of yourself.
Remember when you were an indignant teenager and you thought, “If I appeared on television, what would I say?” The responsibility seemed staggering. I’d like to turn on the television and see more people who appreciate the fact that they have this national forum to make the world a better place, raise the level of intelligent discourse, and, yes, it’s possible, maybe entertain a little bit with their wit and wisdom.
If I were running a large television station, and one of my employees used this large of a stage to call a group of basketball players “nappy-headed hoes,” I’d say to myself, “I’ll bet I can find someone that can do better.” And then I would.
And you know what, I’d be really surprised if that made people stop watching television. Somehow I doubt it. I also doubt that advertisers are lining up to get their product on Imus right now, either.
It’s a shame that the people with their eyes on the bottom line don’t realize what real power their medium has. Or that their employees don’t realize the opportunity they’ve been given.
April 10th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Sharna,
Great post. You’re dead-on with this commentary, but I must take exception to your statement that the misogynistic character of Don whathisname’s comment went unnoticed. I just read this AP News story and I applaud this retort by one of the players: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_en_ot/imus_protests
“Unless they’ve given `ho’ a whole new definition, that’s not what I am,” said Kia Vaughn, the team’s sophomore center.
But you’re right, race trumps sex in mainstream media coverage.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Jeff, thanks for your comment. You’re right. Remember when it was a big deal to be on t.v. T.V. has somehow devolved, and it wasn’t that great to begin with.
Jon, congrats on the triath. You are huge in that pic! Yeah, what you wrote is right. But when I published this last night I swear no one was saying anything about the sexism part. Today I’ve heard people, especially the basketball players themselves, talk about it. Thanks for your comment!