Is Denying Sexism Worse Than Committing Sexism?
The reason we’re called “Name It. Change It.” is because we believe that only by calling out sexism, making people recognize their sexism and others, can we identify the problem and actually change the culture.
But as many social activists know, sometimes when you call out sexism the source merely amps up their rage, implying that since they clearly aren’t sexist ipso facto nothing they say, write or do can be sexist. It’s not just that they disagree that that their words, deeds or actions could be construed as sexist, they are outraged – OUTRAGED – that someone could call them sexist. It’s an effective way of turning the offense back on those who wish to call out sexism.
Such was the case involving a California radio host who jumped—you could say charged—to the defense of a writer who wrote something that some might say was sexist.
The incident started when a local news blog, The Lost Coast Outpost, which covers parts of northern California, endorsed Norman Solomon for Congress for California’s 2nd Congressional district.
But in the course of writing his reasoning for picking Solomon over another potential candidate Stacey Lawson, Sims wrote that she was a “vanity candidate.” Apparently a vanity candidate is what you call women who run for office for the first time in a competitive race. It’s a mark of how media commentators tend to discount women who run for office.
Sims didn’t help his case when he closed out his piece by writing that in a Democratic primary race, the fight between Stacey Lawson and another candidate Jared Huffman would be, “A half-year beauty pageant, Ken vying with Barbie for top honors.”
Lawson’s Humboldt Field Coordinator, Sofia Pereira, responded in the comments section of the article, to tell Sims she was somewhat disturbed by some of the language in his endorsement of Norman Solomon.
She wrote in part:
I’m disappointed in some of the sexist language used to describe Lawson’s candidacy and feel it is important to speak out against sexism, in politics especially.
The term “vanity candidate” is typically used to describe a candidate.
Running that doesn’t seem to have a shot of winning (e.g. Herman Cain or Rick Santorum). While we may disagree on whom we support and, there’s no argument that Lawson has shown her strength as a candidate. “Vanity candidate” is a poor choice of words in this context because it reduces her candidacy to a beauty pageant—not only implicitly, but also explicitly by the end of your article….
Pereira also encouraged Lost Coast Outpost as well as other local media to sign the Name It. Change It. Media Pledge of Gender Neutrality.
So Hank Sims wrote something mildly sexist, Sofia Pereira called him on it. The incident might have ended there until a radio host felt the need to defend Sims’ honor of being called out for sexist language.
On radio station KSLG during the program “Things You Should Know with John Matthews”, the host Matthews brought up Pereira. You can read the transcript below the but audio really captures Matthews sputtering outrage that Pereira said that Sims wrote something sexist. (The conversation starts at about the 2 minute mark).
John Matthews: When I said you were taking heat I didn’t mean that in a very serious way, but just to peer into the comments section for a second I see someone here calling themselves Stacey Lawson’s Humboldt Field Coordinator.
Hank Sims: Oh sure that’s Sofia Pereira.
John Matthews: Sofia.
Hank Sims: Oh sure I know her. She’s a great person.
John Matthews: A great person no less.
Hank Sims: Yeah she is.
John Matthews: And she’s also a fan of LoCo But she seems to suggest you’re, uh, sexist? Come on, that’s just lame.
Hank Sims: I think it’s lame.
John Matthews: Honestly for someone to say that about you is just absurd. That’s literally absurd.
Hank Sims: Well thank you John.
John Matthews: No that’s true. I think that’s just unfortunate.
Hank Sims: It would mean more if you were a woman saying this but I’ll take it anyway.
John Matthews: So what is her argument? She’s upset that you are using some sexist language in the article. That’s not true. That not…that’s false. I read it. What’s she’s trying to do, she’s trying to make you look bad. I know that. And you’re saying she’s a wonderful person.
Hank Sims: She is.
John Matthews: I’m not so sure.
Hank Sims: When you meet Sofia, and I’m sure you will, she’s a gad about town, you will agree she’s a wonderful person.
John Matthews: Perhaps I’ve already met her?
Hank Sims: Could be.
John Matthews: But this is low. I think so. You don’t have to agree with me that’s fine. I know what is happening here. She’s trying to attack you.
Hank Sims: Yeah, well, yeah. I think she would like to change the message.
John Matthews: That’s like someone calling me up and saying I’m a misogynist or something. And I would say “explain that.” Because that’s false. I don’t mean to turn it on me, but I’m saying that kind of attack is truly unfortunate. Especially if you are trying to have a serious conversation.
Hank Sims: I think so. It’s not like was, uh, she was, I mean she was very respectful about the way she went about it. But uh. But uh.
John Matthews: You’re way too nice.
Hank Sims: Uh Sofia is very nice. Sofia is very nice.
It’s highly ironic that John Matthews says that calling Hank Sims sexist is like calling him (Matthews) a “misogynist or something.”
Cause that’s pretty much what we think was going on here. Matthews’ utter overreaction (and it’s completely to Sims’ credit that he does not join Matthews demonizing of Pereira) is all too often the media’s reaction to even the gentlest suggestion that something they produced was sexist. Sorry Matthews we do think your reaction to Pereira betrays some misogyny. Why don’t you examine your reaction instead of assuming nothing you could ever say or do is sexist?
And signing our Media Pledge that says you “will try to treat all subjects with respect, regardless of gender, and to create an overall media culture in which sexism has no place” is a good start.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 05/18/2012