My morning ritual consists of a cup of coffee (or two depending on how the night before treats me) and rifling through the news of the day. Between each sip, I scroll through notifications, tik-toks and tweets posing as stories, and headlines—all competing for fifteen seconds of my attention and promising a quick read. Lately, politics claims the space above the fold. Snippets like “A Woman, Just Not that Woman” or “Can a Woman Win the Presidency” or “Judging Women Candidates by Their ‘Likability’.” More women than ever before are running for office and succeeding. But then, why are women plagued with questions of likeability, electability, relatability, or just plain old ability on a daily basis?
sexism, then and now
To answer this question, I turned to Google to investigate past news stories featuring women. A photo from a 1930s Detroit news article profiling Frida Kahlo caught my eye. The bold italicized headline read, “Wife of the Master Mural Painter Gleefully Dabbles in Works of Art.” No mention of her given name or career as a successful artist and painter or incredible body of work. Merely Señora Rivera, wife of Diego. One could argue that Frida Kahlo’s body of work eclipses that of her husband, a name synonymous with her own artistic brand, style and prominence. But, that was 1933. She was written off by the prevailing attitudes and gender stereotypes of the day. Nearly a century later, women still experience bias and sexism in all walks of life. What’s worse, is that sexism can be hidden in plain sight, its subtleties overlooked or normalized. One need not look farther than the daily headlines to prove this point.
Clipping of 1933 article from the Detroit News Archive.
the archetype of the “difficult” woman
Very often, women’s successes come hand-in-hand with overt criticisms that are not respectively applied to men. Labels like “diva” or “bitch” are words that diminish the accomplishments of women and illustrate the hostility of sexist attitudes. An example that comes to mind is that of the “difficult” woman. In recent weeks, several tabloid newspapers have dubbed Meghan Markle as “Duchess Difficult.” A CNN news story draws in viewers with the flashy headline, “Meghan Markle's close friend tears up as he denies rumors she's difficult.” The bulk of the article goes on to describe her perspectives (as seen through the eyes of her friend and makeup artist) on motherhood and family. However the tagline “difficult woman” stands out to further the sexist narrative, eclipsing any positive intentions by the writer.
In contrast, successful men are rarely subject to the same harshness bestowed upon their female counterparts. Taking a look at an article in Rolling Stone about James Cameron, a director who is well known for his challenging behavior, is lauded for his toughness which produced some of the highest grossing films of all time. Not once does the word “difficult” or any other reductive adjective surface in the content describing him. However, one could argue that the behaviors described in the article would characterize him as difficult to work with. So, why are men driven and women difficult? This is just one case of many in an industry rife with sexism, but these examples are not unique to Hollywood.
Sexism pops up in both subtle and slippery ways in our everyday life. We may not even take note of the damage being done, but the effect is cumulative and harmful. The use of nicknames in professional settings, the laser focus on a woman’s appearance, and the expectation of gender norms are ways that subtle sexism creeps into our subliminal mind, as I will share below.
the sexism of nicknames
A nickname is defined as an informal name added to, or substituted for, the proper name of a person, to express affection, ridicule, or familiarity. In that context, a nickname can communicate a level of familiarity or a tone of disrespect. And, in the headlines featured here, the use of a nickname is intended to disparage, belittle, and scorn women in a professional context. In one of his many tweets, Donald Trump referred to Elizabeth Warren as “Liz” and conservative media outlets snatched up the moniker immediately. Given that Senator Warren presents herself professionally as “Elizabeth” it would be safe to assume that is her preference and a show of respect to refer to her by the name she chooses. Canada’s Environment Minister, Catherine McKenna was dubbed “Climate Barbie” in a tweet by a fellow lawmaker in response to her perspectives regarding climate change. The defamatory nickname was adopted by the media and headlined numerous articles. Breitbart News still runs stories referring to the nickname as recently as February of this year, furthering the sexist narrative.
Headlines using the nickname “Liz” after Donald Trump tweet in February 2019
Breitbart articles referring to Canada’s Environment Minister as “Climate Barbie”
the sexism of physical appearance
Supermarket tabloids are rife with unflattering headlines and cover stories featuring celebrities without makeup, diet disasters, and wardrobe faux pas. The sensational critique of a woman’s appearance is a sexist tactic that is alive and well in reputable news outlets and social media. The wardrobe choices of Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were derided by media outlets and on social media. For Governor Whitmer, her blue dress and body shape became the focus of her gubernatorial address, rather than her speech or specific policies. In the case of Ocasio-Cortez, her black suit and coat were perceived as too stylish and expensive, casting doubt on her working class roots and the validity of her arguments for reducing income inequality.
(L) Fox News 2 coverage of Gov. Gretchen Whitmor / (R) Eddie Scarry tweet criticizing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s wardobe
the sexism of gender norms
History (or herstory as I like to refer to it) is ripe with inspirational stories about women challenging the status quo and breaking free of gender norms. Recognizing women’s accomplishments is a crucial foundation for a more equitable society. providing a model and example for younger generations to follow and envision for themselves. However, by citing gender or, more specifically, highlighting gender norms, women’s capabilities are marginalized on the basis of sex. Browsing YouTube, I found a video entitled, “Female Magician Fools Penn & Teller.” At first glance, this title seems innocuous, but there is a deeper implication here. Other videos within the same channel do not identify male magicians by gender, rather they are simply “Magicians.” Was this magician's identity as female important to the fact that she was able to fool Penn & Teller? In another recent example, an AP news story headlined, “Stephen King, Wife Give $1.25M to Genealogical Society.” Immediately, the author slammed back on social media for the misstep. Tabitha King is also an accomplished novelist. Her role as the wife of Stephen King does not fully encapsulate her personal autonomy and evident career as a successful author. Assigning singular gender roles and assuming gender norms marginalizes women and normalizes this inequality.
Video title identifying “female magician” while men are referred to as “magicians”
Tabitha King’s name was absent from recent AP news release
the legacy of sexism
With just a little research, I found numerous and shocking examples of sexism hiding in plain sight behind some of the most prominent headlines. These subtleties influence our perceptions of ourselves as women as well as how others see and regard us. But don’t take my word for it. Tomorrow morning when you are having a cuppa joe and scrolling through the headlines, what will you uncover?
