May 23, 2008

New Video From The Women’s Media Center Sounds Off on
Sexist Media Coverage
“Sexism Sells, But We’re Not Buying It,” Says Media Advocacy Organization

May 20, 2008 (New York) – With a new video illustrating the pervasive nature of sexism in the media, The Women’s Media Center is speaking out against the notion that sexist coverage is the path to commercial success for today’s struggling media companies. As the sexist tone reaches a fever pitch with networks chase ratings in this historic presidential election, Carol Jenkins, president of The Women’s Media Center (a nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization), delivers this message to both consumers and media executives:

“We know that media companies today are under tremendous pressure to build audiences and drive ratings, but this type of vulgar, sexist commentary is not the way to do it. Women wield tremendous financial power in the United States. Our message to media companies: if you think that sexism sells, think again, because women in America are not buying it.

“As our new video shows, the media’s sexism is not specific to a candidate or campaign. But the presence of a woman, front and center at last on the national political stage, has sent shockwaves through a media grappling with ongoing problems of diversity. Hillary Clinton’s campaign has cast a spotlight on the institutionalized sexism that The Women’s Media Center was founded in 2005 to combat, providing us with a unique moment to examine ourselves and the media we consume. This is about the inherent and unnecessary obstacles that women face every day in speaking out and participating in the national dialogue.”

In the video released today, “Sexism Sells, But We’re Not Buying It,” The Women’s Media Center and its partners including Media Matters and the National Women’s Political Caucus document 30 examples of gendered, sexist coverage from the mainstream media (far from an exhaustive list). From jokes about a woman’s appearance to specific gendered insults, some media professionals this election season have fallen far short of their responsibility to report and educate.

Women are a driving force in the U.S. economy with a purchasing power of more than $7 trillion a year, and purchase fully 82 percent of all products and services in the U.S. Earlier this year, The Women’s Media Center joined NOW, the Feminist Majority, and the National Women’s Political Caucus to speak out against the particularly egregious remarks Chris Matthews made about Hillary Clinton’s campaign, when he said that “the reason she may be a front-runner is her husband messed around” (MSNBC's Morning Joe, January 9, 2008). Speaking for more than 15 million women across the United States, the coalition secured an on-air apology from Matthews, and assurances from NBC executives that steps were being taken to address the situation. Yet the situation persists, which is why The Women’s Media Center is taking this next step, releasing a video and launching an online petition campaign to allow women to speak out against this continuing sexism.

The Women’s Media Center is working to make sure that issues of gender and media do not slide to the backburner. For more information on The Women’s Media Center and to join our campaign to make women more visible and powerful in the media, please visit www.womensmediacenter.com/sexism_sells.html.

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About us:
The Women’s Media Center strives to make women visible and powerful in the media. From our founding in 2004 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem to our advocacy and media relations work today, we are part of a strong feminist tradition that seeks to hold the media accountable for presenting the world as we know it. Our mission is to assure that women and women’s experiences are reflected in the media just as women are present everywhere in the real world; that women are represented as local, national, and global sources for and subjects of the media; and that women media professionals have equal opportunities for employment and advancement. In addition to the WMC founders, current board members include Loreen Arbus, Cristina Azocar, Jodie Evans, Gloria Feldt, Pat Mitchell, Jessica Neuwirth, Rossana Rosado, and Helen Zia. For more information, please visit www.womensmediacenter.com.