2016 is definitely a year for the books, as it took quite a few Ls (okay, a lot). While everyone is hoping that the new year of 2017 will bring promise and hope for a better future ahead, I'm not quite done with reflecting on what 2016 has done. Specifically, I wanted to focus on a few moments highlighting when the media failed women in 2016. Maybe we can take a look at these moments and remember that we need to focus on taking steps forward, not backward, when presenting and discussing women in the media. In no particular order, here are 8 times the media failed women in 2016.
1. When a BBC presenter forgot about Serena and Venus Williams's multiple Olympic gold medals in tennis
BBC's John Inverdale mistakenly praised Andy Murray as the first person ever to win two Olympic gold medals in tennis. Luckily, Murray's memory was working during that interview and reminded Inverdale that the Williams sisters "have won about 4 each".
2. When media sources claimed that Kim Kardashian staged her robbery for publicity
Kim Kardashian has been called a liar by multiple media sources who suspect that she staged her robbery at gunpoint for publicity. And let's not forget that the horrifying situation was turned into a Halloween costume. No matter what actually occurred, being robbed at gunpoint is not a joke, even when it involves a celebrity - she was reported begging for her life, and that she has children.
3. When NBC Olympics chief marketing officer had a sexist response to why the opening ceremonies wouldn't be live-streamed
When asked about why the opening ceremonies of the Olympics wouldn't be live-streamed, NBC Olympics chief marketing officer began his explanation with statistics about prime-time viewing and location. However, he ended his response with a pretty eyebrow-raising "fact":
The people who watch the Olympics are not particularly sports fans. More women watch the Games than men, and for the women, they're less interested in the result and more interested in the journey. It's sort of like the ultimate reality show and mini-series wrapped into one. And to tell the truth, it has been the complaint of a few sports writers. It has not been the complaint of the vast viewing public.
Because everyone knows that women don't care about sports?
4. When TMZ essentially slut-shamed Derrick Rose's rape accuser
The headline of one article reads "DERRICK ROSE TO RAPE ACCUSER You're No Prude YOU HOOKED UP WITH NICK YOUNG". And the sexist coverage of the Derrick Rose rape case doesn't stop there.
Sure, TMZ is a gossip website, but slut-shaming is never okay.
5. When Katie Ledecky's Olympic word-record achievement was overwhelmingly underplayed in one newspaper headline
This headline is a metaphor for basically the entire world. pic.twitter.com/5WpQa04N0o
— Nancy Leong (@nancyleong) August 14, 2016
6. When the media attacked Hillary Clinton - again and again
It's no question that the media has made countless sexist remarks about Hillary Clinton - just take a look at this video:
In one instance in particular this year, Clinton was labeled weak for coughing during a rally.
7. When FOX News questioned whether female Olympians should wear makeup
You get a gold medal if you can make it through the first 30 seconds of the full video. Here are some of the highlights:
“I think when you see an athlete, why should I have to look at some chick’s zits? Why not a little blush on her lips and cover those zits?”
8. When former Tory MP Edwina Currie said that size 14 women are 'obese and heading for diabetes'
View the video and the article here
These are only a few of the many instances where women were failed by the media in 2016. 2017, let's do better.
