Double Standards Alive and Well in Australia

double standards, Australia, inside cover
@JudyEv (339382)
Rockingham, Australia
November 25, 2015 7:09am CST
It seems double standards are alive and well in Australia. The Inside Cover column in our daily newspaper ran an article regarding the dress of the presenters of the 'Today' TV show. The female presenter, according to the column, was criticised quite often for her dress sense, or probably lack of it. I don't watch the show so can't comment but I'm sure she would have been appropriately dressed at the very least. At some point, her male co-presenter decided to wear the same blue suit for a year. No-one made a comment or even noticed. I presume he had it dry-cleaned occasionally over the weekend. When Australia had its first female Prime Minister it seemed to me that journalists were far more concerned with her hair-style, dress sense, colour coordination than they ever were with her policies or performance. It really is unfair.
29 people like this
27 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
25 Nov 15
I hope Hillary wins the election in the US for the right reasons but if she does, I'm sure we will hear a lot about what she wears and how her hair looks. Totally unfair!
8 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Hillary is already know for her pants suits. I'm sure if she's elected there will be plenty of comments that will be made. Women seem to be criticized more often than men for what they wear
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate @Marilynda1225 It is unfair. People rarely notice what a guy wears although one of our independent politicians gets a bit of flack for wearing his Queenslander's cowboy hat.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 You're so right! Guys just wear a dark suit and tie and it's so boring, there's nothing to talk about. I'm all for bringing back the renaissance velvet jackets and codpiece, or perhaps powdered wigs for men. :) Then we'd all have plenty to discuss about men's attire!
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Nov 15
It doesn't seem that our society ever gets away from the subject of appearance when it comes to women, but it's not men being critical - it's the women. Men don't' buy the tabloids that show us who got fat and who has cellulite and who has a fantastic post-baby body. Women do. Women criticize other women more than most men - except maybe Donald Trump.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
You're right. And I guess I'd forgotten that point. And nowadays even men journalists wouldn't be game to say too much about a woman's appearance or they'd be accused of sexism.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
25 Nov 15
It really is silly, but I'm not sure who to blame.The media and fashion industries are only giving the public what it wants, so they're not the cause of this unreasonable and biased fascination with appearances. Maybe they are catalysts though.
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
26 Nov 15
It's gotten to be all about "me, me, me" @troyburns . To heck with national news of importance; it's all about fashion, make-up, etc. Oh brother!!!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
You're right but it's still a shame that appearances count for so much. And of course some of the beautiful people are very intelligent as well - more unfairness!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
@troyburns @nanette64 The ideal is a strong sense of self-worth so you're not dependent on others to verify/gratify/sanction/whatever, Easily said...
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Nov 15
Well people will always talk if you ask me
4 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Nov 15
@JudyEv People are too much into what a lay wears than what a man has on
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
Then they should also talk about some of the overweight male politicians and not just pick on the women.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
@Missmwngi This is certainly true.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Nov 15
I agree! When we lived in Dallas, TX and had a female mayor, I heard another woman say that our mayor was terrible because her hair looked windblown so often. I thought that was a ridiculous statement to make!
5 people like this
@TheHorse (218450)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv I've heard this statement and always liked it. Of course, it was probably thought up by someone who liked to discuss ideas.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
@TheHorse Hadn't thought of that. Maybe the gossipers need to come up with one, something like - really happy people talk about people, okay people talk about careers and the environment, and really boring people talk about ideas.
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
They are say the really great people talk about ideas, the next group talk about situations and the rest talk about people. Not sure about the middle group but it's something like that.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Unfair, absurd and likely to continue. We females should refuse to participate in discussions of such nonsense. Then, it might actually occur to the men in the media that they are fools.
4 people like this
@jstory07 (139483)
• Roseburg, Oregon
25 Nov 15
So very true. I wear what I want and do not cvare if someone likes it or not.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv Yes, I think they believe it will give them a leg up on the competition, but they are wrong. It just pulls us all down.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
The women journalists can be just as vindictive, if not more so. Women are really unkind sometimes.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
same with prince william and kate. and now that they have a family, how kate dresses their kids as well as the stuff she buys for them.
2 people like this
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv before that it was the blue dress, the wedge shoes and the engagement ring. the only thing people seem to notice about william was his hairline.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
@hereandthere Yes, and he can't do anything about that either.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
Yes, whatever label she buys for the children will be an instant 'must have' for lots of mums. It's a bit sad really.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139483)
• Roseburg, Oregon
25 Nov 15
People will always be there to make fun of what you wear no matter what.
3 people like this
• Canada
25 Nov 15
Then we might as well be intentionally ridiculous so we get the first laugh.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
@Sheilamarie78 That's not a bad idea. If you continually looked terrible they might eventually shut up about it.
2 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@Sheilamarie78 Like the Red Hat Society. Wear purple dresses and red hats, the heck with what people think!
3 people like this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
25 Nov 15
I know what you mean. When Helen Clarke was our Prime Minister she was often criticised for what she looked like, as well as the fact that she was childless. Incidentally, the men presenters here are just as vigorously attacked for the same reasons.
2 people like this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv I saw a recent TV interview with her here in NZ and she certainly had to suffer horrific onslaughts.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
At least in NZ everyone cops it. Julia got slated for being childless too - by an MP no less, who should have known better.
2 people like this
@Ishani08 (563)
• India
27 Nov 15
First of all, the picture of the flower that you uploaded is really very beautiful.. And its good to hear that you took notice of this situation flourishing everywhere.. These discriminations can be seen very often.. A women is expected to be proper and perfect everywhere.. and she is judged by her looks and presentation rather than talent or work.. Its sad..!!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
Sometimes it seems women have to be twice as good as men to get anywhere in business or politics.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
26 Nov 15
I agree that the double standard between men and woman is unfair. It's the journalists who make a big deal out of it and draw the audiences attention to it when most people probably wouldn't notice.
3 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
Journalists are no longer in the news business. They are all entertainers now.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace And hell-bent on getting better readership numbers than the opposition.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
I think you are right. For me, the least important thing is what people might be wearing.
1 person likes this
• Canada
25 Nov 15
It's ridiculous to focus on such things when there are so many really important issues for leaders to address (pun not intended).
3 people like this
• Canada
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv Probably not. Sad.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
You're quite right but I doubt it will change any time soon.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
25 Nov 15
Sadly, when a woman is in the spotlight, everything she wears, her hairstyle, make up, accessories are looked at and judged. While most men can wear what they like. It really is not fair, but I am not certain it will ever change.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
I can't see it changing either. At least, not in our lifetime.
2 people like this
• Lucknow, India
26 Nov 15
Double standards are as much a part of the human society as the air we breathe!! Every country you go, every place you visit, there will be some issues where people happily live with double standards!! I really feel bad for that lady presenter!!
2 people like this
• Lucknow, India
27 Nov 15
@JudyEv Exactly it is!! ``
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
I'm sure you're right. It would be really annoying, wouldn't it, being continually picked on for your clothes or hair style.
1 person likes this
@glenniah (1197)
• Mandurah, Australia
25 Nov 15
Media quite often misinforms, to get ratings one supposes. When it comes to men and women then we know women are picked on mercilessly
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
It really annoys me. Doesn't matter how smart someone is, the judgement is made on their appearance. Smart as in intelligent I mean.
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
2 Dec 15
Oh, yes, I remember! And what about all those remarks about how all those jackets she bought from Target made her butt look too big? In hindsight, Julia had quite a good team behind her (mostly with long knives!), who really got some important reforms through fast. And do you recall the days of old Gough? How about that purple suit & ties of Al Grassby? And Bill Hayden in a bright blue suit & white shoes? Then there was Don Dunstan...!
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 15
Gosh, Don Dunstan was a while ago wasn't he? He was really into the fashion stakes.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
I think that's because females are more into having nice clothes , accessories and the like . So when a head of the country is a female , the sense of dressing is what is noticeable first by the countrymen .
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@JudyEv Yes, but somehow , people are mindful of these things when it comes to people they look up to .
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
I guess I just think that the clothes she wears won't make any difference to how well she will perform her role.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
@SIMPLYD That's very true and I don't think it will ever change much.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51045)
• Canada
25 Nov 15
The press has already begun to praise the fashion sense of Canada's new first lady, the wife of Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. I think that their comments are funny sometimes and very unnecessary.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
I hope she manages to stay in their good books then.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
I was more upset with her whiney voice than whatever she looked like or wore!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
They picked on that too - and even one MP, who should have known better (as in keeping his mouth shut and his personal opinions to himself) had a go at her for not having children.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
26 Nov 15
It happens everywhere. We just changed government here and 50% of the ministers are now women and they talk about all the advice they get having to do with their appearance and what they should do about it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339382)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
I'm sure looking smart makes a difference to their credibility but it's a shame that's how they are judged.