Casual Sexism in Action

June 7th, 2010

Saw this in my Facebook feed this morning.

After I saw it, I had to go look Cat Cora up, as I had no idea who she was. Some kind of beauty queen/fashion model/sex worker, I presumed? Someone whose living was made by being “hot?” Someone whose “hotness” was in some way germane to the discussion of their attendance at an event?

But no. She’s a chef. A female chef. This means that instead of talking in any sensible way about her actual accomplishments and the purpose of her appearing at this venue, we get a personal opinion on her “hotness.” Presumably, no one is coming to listen to her talk about food, there will just be a bunch of guys beating off in the audience?

This very casual assumption that it’s OK to talk about the perceived attractiveness of women in every circumstance is blatantly sexist. Women are (in actual fact!) about more than their physical appearance. They have talents and skills and brainz, and all kinds of stuff! Not just Teh Tits!

I would assume that most people would not give a status update like this a passing thought. It’s completely natural in our society to remark upon a woman’s perceived “hotness” as if it is her duty to be hot, and our right to judge that hotness and remark upon it freely. There is no mention here of her actual purpose in showing up, what she will be talking about, her title of “chef”or any link to websites where one can get more information or even frame who this person is. We get only the information that’s most important. This female will give you a boner!

How interesting it would be if women were instead judged on the merits of the tasks they’re actually performing, and this kind of casual, blatant sexist crap set off everyone’s bullshit meter.