Comments on: Is Sexism the Overlooked -Ism?

By: BeautifulM

BeautifulM — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:56:58 +0000

For me, I can't really separate Racism & Sexism in this issue. I watch Grey's Anatomy and even though I like Katherine's character, the other women on the show Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh are far more deserving of an Emmy than Katherine
(and a lot of people agree with me,then again Chandra and Sandra are not skinny Blonde women). So I do agree with Katherine about her role,there are more deserving women. It's like should I choose my race over my sex or vice versa? When issues of sexism comes up it's mostly about White women ( as far as what I've seen: Katherine, Sex & The City)and certain aspects of urban culture degrades women. So what should I do? Should I side with the Women who ignore me or the Men who degrade me ( R.Kelly)? In terms of the sign, if Hilary was a Black woman, people would probably make it out to be a racist gesture instead of a sexist one. I just think people see race before anything else.

I don't see what the big deal is about her comments. Some people have far too much time on their hands.

By: SaraMichelle

SaraMichelle — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:06:42 +0000

Great article, Brad. It ticks me off that so many are getting this angry and indignant about Heigl and her statements. Seriously, did anyone bother to watch "Grey's Anatomy"last season? What she is saying isn't remotely wrong, and who in their right mind wants to be honored for only okay work in a once-proud show that is currently floundering?

The reality is, most stars don't care if the work is good, bad or somplace smack dab right in the middle. All they care about is whether or not they get paid, and if an award comes knocking on the door for a subpar effort that's all good, too. (And, it isn't like it would be a shock if she would have gotten an Emmy nod for the show. The Emmy's frequently nominate people, not based on if the work was great or not, but rather if they're popular and they have won in the past.)

The reality is that if Charlie Sheen had come out and said, "Two and Half Men isn't very good right and I don't think I should be nominated for it," commenators would have applauded him for lighting a fire under the pants of his writing staff and stepping up to the plate to admit things aren't as grand as they were in the first few seasons (that's an example, by the way, I don't actually watch "Two and a Half Men"). Heigl does it and she's suddenly labled a b***h and difficult to work with and the statements are made that her career is going to flounder because she's made them. If that doesn't sound like sexism to me than I don't know what would be.

Again, great column, Brad. Very nicely done.

By: womenandhollywo

womenandhollywo — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:52:43 +0000

Brad-

Great piece. Yes, sexism is the overlooked ism and now with Sex and the city combined with Hillary Clinton's treatment in the media we seem to now be hitting a tipping point that will hopefully open a much wider dialogue. Movies both reflect and affect our culture. In the last decade movies have not been reflecting anything except a rising desire on the part of the studios to make more and more money on opening weekend. While I know that another women's film probably won't open as big a Sex and the City, at least we are having a conversation about the potential of the women's market in a way we weren't several weeks ago.

Regarding Heigl- they've been calling for her head for months know since she had the guts to out Knocked Up as a sexist movie which many women had been saying since it opened. Because women in Hollywood have so little power its hard for any of them to say anything without fear of retribution.

But we all know the truth- Hollywood is sexist.

Thanks for including my blog in your post.

Melissa Silverstein
Women & Hollywood