2 posts tagged “gender relations”

Believing I had stated my case briefly and clearly and not wanting to prolong the issue or be seen to whinge about it has prevented me from writing about it until now in The Age.

Clearly, though, the mannequin was just a catalyst for what came later, other far more influential players have moved in and out of the story and much misinformation has been allowed to be accepted as fact. This was by no means the first time I had been targeted by The Footy Show.

Further to my last post about this, the full story is over at Real Footy today.

The Footy Show is a celebration of the very worst that television, sport, Australia and human beings can cook up. It's offensive, toxic, corrosive, encouraging viewers to be stupid, shallow and sexist. Sit down, shut up and hang on. And ladies, bring a plate.

Catherine Deveny, The Age, June 16 2007

I've been thinking about this issue the past week after seeing an interesting panel discussion on ABC TV's Offsiders programme on Sunday morning, followed by wanting to throw a brick at the tv that same evening when Gary Lyons accepted a Logie and excused The Footy Show for what had been happening.  It's all entertainment, right?

So Michael Costello has a piece in today's Australian making a broader point about what it says about Australian society:

Using the same reasoning, why hasn't this been a much bigger cause of outrage in the media and community? It's because symbolic and actual violence and disrespect towards women is accepted like a silent, beige wallpaper backdrop to Australian life, public and private.

Interesting view.  I don't necessarily believe that there's an accepted culture of violence against women in Australian society, though I certainly acknowledge that a lot more needs to be done.  But The Footy Show isn't helping, and arguably encourages and promotes an unacceptable and outdated view of how women should be treated. 

Both Catherine Deveny and Caroline Wilson (who was the subject of Newman's original attack) have had good articles on AFL culture over the past couple of weeks.  We need more of this kind of analysis and comment.

As a lover of the game I honestly can't imagine women not being a part of it. An integral part, not just as mothers and wives of players, but as administrators and fellow fans.  When it comes to football I'm an equal opportunity arguer - I'll debate aspects of the game with anyone.  I'll never forget meeting K's grandmother for the first time and having an in-depth discussion about the form and prescient abilities of Essendon's James Hird, and I can think of several other women I've shared analysis with and whom I know enjoy it all as much as I do. 

So, hopefully, the more The Footy Show continues to cling to misogynistic bullshit the more that society will simply move on past them in time, and in the meantime it's perfectly legitimate for the rest of us to speak up and to make the statement that we just don't think it's on.  Interested in hearing other views on this.

[Update Saturday 10th May]:  Excellent - one of the directors of the Western Bulldogs, Susan Alberti, is proceeding with legal action against Channel 9:

I'm a person of character and reputation — good reputation — and I didn't spend the last 30 years of my life to be tarnished the way I was that night," Dr Alberti told The Age. "My reputation has been tarnished and I will not tolerate that.

"I have asked for an apology. They were given a period of time to respond, they did not respond and I had no other choice but to take this litigation. Let's just say I've got senior counsel, junior counsel and a legal team. I haven't taken it lightly."

Should be interesting seeing Sam Newman appear in the witness box...