Stereotypical views of women are alive and very much shaping the agenda: The male list mostly celebrates achievement. In contrast, Sweetie, the panda, is in the company of two women who alleged rape and sexual assault; one woman released after being arrested on suspicion of murder; two nominated because they became wives and a US marine who had a date with Justin Timberlake. From Guardian –
The inclusion of Sweetie the panda on the BBC’s female Faces of the Year 2011 list has ricocheted around the world, trending on Twitter and given birth to #realwomenoftheyearlist. Globally, so far, nominations have been dominated by “my mum”, “my mom” and “mi madre”. Girls know who loves them best.
The male list mostly celebrates achievement. In contrast, Sweetie is in the company of two women who alleged rape and sexual assault; one woman released after being arrested on suspicion of murder; two nominated because they became wives and a US marine who had a date with Justin Timberlake.
For fear that Sweetie’s inclusion might have done us all a good turn by lifting the bamboo curtain to reveal – surprise! surprise! – that in some institutions in the land stereotypical views of women are alive and very much shaping the agenda, the girls were swiftly instructed not to lose their sense of humour: a familiar ruse. The remark that really hit the international funny bone on Twitter, for instance, was by “campaigner”. He or she tweeted: “#I’m rather torn on pandagate. These things are never just black and white.” Well, maybe we can settle for a very dark shade of charcoal grey then?
One “lighthearted list” is only a drop in the bucket. However, the bucket easily overflows, as the drops relentlessly rain down, intent on establishing the essentialist view that “men are from Mars and women are from Venus”. Boys will be boys and girls will be… well, neurotic, self-hating, domineering, scheming, frivolous, insecure, vain and given excessive privileges over men, who are sinking into crisis. And that’s just what (some) women say.