Comments on: Sexism and the BBC http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc Plaid Assembly Member for South Wales West including Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot and Swansea Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:03:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Marcus Warner http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc/comment-page-1#comment-3454 Marcus Warner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:44:18 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc#comment-3454 There is nothing in the post I necessarily disagree with, particularly if there is proof of discrimination. The difficulty comes with how and what we measure. Of course it seems almost silly to say that the only way we will tell if things are improving are if we see more women in top jobs, but I am not sure it always is as simple as that. In yesterday’s The Observer, they charted the rise of a new breed of female tories, looking closely at some of the moves by Cameron to increase diversity. It is odd though, for years the tories have been lambasted about women in the party, but they were the party who brought us a Woman Prime Minister. Now, I know people often say Thatcher had to act ‘like a man’ to get the job, but that to me seems a limited view on the matter. I just think if we begin being transfixed by blunt numbers, we begin to wedge that into all our thinking. Personally, I am for an element of positive discrimination, but if that becomes too blunt or too ‘positive’, I think the view becomes one of it not being about ‘the best candidate for the job’, however misguided. I don’t know, I just want more equality, I just worry that well meaning things can often cause a more adverse reaction. There are all manner of ‘minorities’ that suffer from this, and I am not sure how I would solve this. There is nothing in the post I necessarily disagree with, particularly if there is proof of discrimination. The difficulty comes with how and what we measure.

Of course it seems almost silly to say that the only way we will tell if things are improving are if we see more women in top jobs, but I am not sure it always is as simple as that. In yesterday’s The Observer, they charted the rise of a new breed of female tories, looking closely at some of the moves by Cameron to increase diversity. It is odd though, for years the tories have been lambasted about women in the party, but they were the party who brought us a Woman Prime Minister. Now, I know people often say Thatcher had to act ‘like a man’ to get the job, but that to me seems a limited view on the matter.

I just think if we begin being transfixed by blunt numbers, we begin to wedge that into all our thinking. Personally, I am for an element of positive discrimination, but if that becomes too blunt or too ‘positive’, I think the view becomes one of it not being about ‘the best candidate for the job’, however misguided.

I don’t know, I just want more equality, I just worry that well meaning things can often cause a more adverse reaction. There are all manner of ‘minorities’ that suffer from this, and I am not sure how I would solve this.

]]> By: Bethan http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc/comment-page-1#comment-3453 Bethan Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:23:37 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc#comment-3453 I don't think I'm fighting 'our age' as you put it, but I am asking that if the BBC makes changes to its programmes, with many people suspecting that this is to do with age and sex, then work needs to be carried out to either rid of this stigma, or to put mechanisms in place to ensure that questions such as this need not arise in the future. I don’t think I’m fighting ‘our age’ as you put it, but I am asking that if the BBC makes changes to its programmes, with many people suspecting that this is to do with age and sex, then work needs to be carried out to either rid of this stigma, or to put mechanisms in place to ensure that questions such as this need not arise in the future.

]]> By: Al http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc/comment-page-1#comment-3451 Al Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:03:27 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/sexism-and-the-bbc#comment-3451 You're fighting our age though. We expect intelligent, ambitious, driven women in politics, for example. or in science. Or academia. But TV, music and such isn't about your brain, and never has been. Its the polar opposite to politics and academia: it doesn't matter what talent or intelligence you have, as long as you look "good". (and of course, the definition of "good" varies from week to week) To be fair, that goes for men on TV/media too. Not excusing it, or saying its right, but the Assembly is an easier nut to crack than "entertainment", which would take a sweeping social switch in expectation and presentation. How you achieve that: wait for fashion to change? public pressure? education? legislation? No idea You’re fighting our age though. We expect intelligent, ambitious, driven women in politics, for example. or in science. Or academia.

But TV, music and such isn’t about your brain, and never has been. Its the polar opposite to politics and academia: it doesn’t matter what talent or intelligence you have, as long as you look “good”. (and of course, the definition of “good” varies from week to week) To be fair, that goes for men on TV/media too.

Not excusing it, or saying its right, but the Assembly is an easier nut to crack than “entertainment”, which would take a sweeping social switch in expectation and presentation. How you achieve that: wait for fashion to change? public pressure? education? legislation? No idea

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