Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The Imus imbroglio

You know what's gone largely unnoticed in the commentary I've seen (mind you, I haven't sought out much) about Don Imus's "jokingly" calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos"? The fact that he has no problem calling women "hos." Everyone seems to be focusing on the racist overtones, which are undeniable. But hello! Imus's remarks were also sexist. Woman = ho is unacceptable to me.

I'd like more of the media coverage to mention that sexism. NOW recognizes Imus came off as both racist and sexist. I wonder if Al Sharpton has pointed out the sexism, and it's just that the articles I've seen have omitted that?

Edited to add this link (free!) to an NYT column that calls out Imus's sexism. Maureen Dowd has a much bigger soapbox than sportswriter Serena Roberts, but she was busy writing about Republican women and their turn-ons today.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

If anyone cares to read it, One of our writers on Highbrid Nation actually worked wit Imus over the last few years at WFAN and had some really interesting things to say about the whole situation with Imus and he also has some inside info that the media hasn't mentioned about the whole story.

Itchy said...

I've only seen two people mention it. You and another blogger. And me to my husband last night. To immediately call them hos? It's outrageous. Sexist AND racist! It was both and I'd love to see at least one media outlet address that.

DoctorMama said...

I was proud of my husband for being outraged about the sexist part, and that no one seemed to be mentioning it. In fact he had to point it out to me.

Delia Christina said...

our media can only handle one big thought at one time. they're already been trained to focus on race pretty quickly.

the idea that sometimes racism and sexism intersect?? their heads would explode.

but, yeah, it would be great if *someone* called him out for being a misogynist a-hole.