Comments on: Minimizing sexism IS sexism, so knock it off

By: Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Elizabeth Ellen Carter — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 11:00:32 +0000

Sexism should be called out, absolutely true.

And a point does need to be made that women are quite capable of being equally sexist and make equally sexually predatory comments.

A quick scroll through Facebook posts is proof of that – the bottom-flashing kilt shots, the ‘lets stare at David Beckham’s ass’ meme, the shirtless firefighters to name a few and that’s not to mention the comments those posts generate.

That an equal (but hopefully diminishing) number of men and women behave like boors should come as no surprise to anyone.

By: Brian Pember

Brian Pember — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:20:29 +0000

As a fiftynine year old white male, married and father of two adult children I’d like to throw in my two bob’s worth.
I have been brought up in a sex-drenched, mysoginistic society. Naturally, this has had some impact on my life. In contrast to both my father’s and step-father’s example and encouragement I developed a level of respect for others. Perhaps I am odd. Perhaps I am average. I don’t know.
I regard to women, I hold them in respect as persons. At just about every level, my culture has encouraged me to objectify women. I am not immune. My head often goes to places that I am ashamed off. However, I can say that I have never (in my somewhat faultering memmory) participated in a conversation that has objectivied a woman or a girl. My sons have never heard me speak disrespectfully about a woman. This is not to say or suggest that I am a doyen of morality. Far from it according to my thought life!
But for me there is something about speaking those thoughts into the air; about sharing them with someone else and, thereby, possibly encouraging them or inticing them to also think those thoughs. To possibly translate those thoughts into actions.
Our words are important. Once spoken, once committed to the air, they do things.
My words are important.
Donald Trump’s words are important.
Every man’s words are important.
Locker-room talk is important.
Words that normalise sexual objectivity are important.
We have to be wise, deliberate and controlled with what we commit to the air.

By: Robert Griffith

Robert Griffith — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 07:23:09 +0000

I can honestly say there are no comments I have made over the past 58 years about women which I would not want played back now. I totally reject the “all men do it” garbage which is coming out after Trump’s comments were made public. All men do not objectify and treat women so appallingly. And I reject the notion that all men in leadership are like Trump. John Howard? Paul Keating? Gough Whitlam? Malcolm Fraser? I seriously doubt you would find any “Trumpisms” in these men’s closets! Mike is 100% correct. In fact I would say that minimising sexism is the WORST kind of sexism because it reveals an arrogance which only multiplies the impact of sexism.

By: Mike Frost

Mike Frost — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 11:58:39 +0000

In reply to Dave Berlach. He honestly couldn't see the malevolence in his question,

By: Dave Berlach

Dave Berlach — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 10:44:34 +0000

“Gentlemen, which of you has never said something to your friends about a woman that you wouldn’t want played back years later”

Wow. How do these guys think about their sisters, wife’s and daughters?