[user104658]

Can't really say if it's sexist without knowing their attitudes towards male sports stars. Males are occasionally jokingly asked to flex their biceps / show off a six-pack in these sorts of interviews sooo... no, not really sexist. Is it slightly inappropriate for them to be trivialised into something purely aesthetic when they obviously put a lot of effort into being good at their sport, and not "looking good for the cameras"...? Yes, maybe slightly inappropriate, both for the flexing men and the twirling girls.

HOWEVER, the words "mountain", "mole" and "hill" spring to mind. And to play devil's advocate... there's clearly a reason that the female tennis stars wear tight dresses instead of the shorts / t-shirt combo that most of the male tennis stars rock up in, and it isn't because it improves their sporting ability. Otherwise the men would be wearing slinky little dresses, too.

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Can't really say if it's sexist without knowing their attitudes towards male sports stars. Males are occasionally jokingly asked to flex their biceps / show off a six-pack in these sorts of interviews sooo... no, not really sexist. Is it slightly inappropriate for them to be trivialised into something purely aesthetic when they obviously put a lot of effort into being good at their sport, and not "looking good for the cameras"...? Yes, maybe slightly inappropriate, both for the flexing men and the twirling girls.

HOWEVER, the words "mountain", "mole" and "hill" spring to mind. And to play devil's advocate... there's clearly a reason that the female tennis stars wear tight dresses instead of the shorts / t-shirt combo that most of the male tennis stars rock up in, and it isn't because it improves their sporting ability. Otherwise the men would be wearing slinky little dresses, too.

Name me a sport recently where a male was asked to flex his muscles by a female commentator?

[JoshBB]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Name me a sport recently where a male was asked to flex his muscles by a female commentator?

Precisely, it never happens. Let's not pretend he was interested in her outfit either. Honestly why do people have to sexualise women even when they are doing sport???

[user104658]

Originally Posted by JoshBB

Honestly why do people have to sexualise women even when they are doing sport???

I am 100% serious when I say it's not just women. I work in an environment where there is football on screen constantly, and my co-workers are mainly female. They bang on about "hot footballers" and their "amazing legs" constantly. Constantly.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by JoshBB

Precisely, it never happens. Let's not pretend he was interested in her outfit either. Honestly why do people have to sexualise women even when they are doing sport???

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Name me a sport recently where a male was asked to flex his muscles by a female commentator?

The gender of the commentator is irrelevant, stop being sexist!

However, Sue barker has quite frequently commented on Rafael nadal's arms during match commentary, and I believe once or twice has referred to them in post-match interviews. Which is technically worse than the "twirlgate" example. He asked her to show off her dress. A direct comparison to Sue Barker perving over Rafa's guns would be if he had said "Go on love, show us those creamy thighs! Phhhwoooaaarrrr..."

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The gender of the commentator is irrelevant, stop being sexist!

However, Sue barker has quite frequently commented on Rafael nadal's arms during match commentary, and I believe once or twice has referred to them in post-match interviews. Which is technically worse than the "twirlgate" example. He asked her to show off her dress. A direct comparison to Sue Barker perving over Rafa's guns would be if he had said "Go on love, show us those creamy thighs! Phhhwoooaaarrrr..."

Really At Wimbledon, are you sure ?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Really At Wimbledon, are you sure ?

Positive, she used to purr about him wiping the sweat off of his arms. To be fair, it was ****ing creepy, and she shouldn't have been doing it as it made me feel ill, but that's what I was saying above. Inappropriate: yes. Sexist: no!

Women are great big perves too! It's just a fact.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Positive, she used to purr about him wiping the sweat off of his arms. To be fair, it was ****ing creepy, and she shouldn't have been doing it as it made me feel ill, but that's what I was saying above. Inappropriate: yes. Sexist: no!

Women are great big perves too! It's just a fact.

Its not often that we agree, but you're 100% right on this.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Positive, she used to purr about him wiping the sweat off of his arms. To be fair, it was ****ing creepy, and she shouldn't have been doing it as it made me feel ill, but that's what I was saying above. Inappropriate: yes. Sexist: no!

Women are great big perves too! It's just a fact.

The difference is that men have not been systematically abused, raped, discriminated against, and murdered at grossly disproportional rates by women.

Please try to put things in perspective.

When women "perv" on men, it doesn't make men feel demeaned. In fact every str8 man i know would love to have women perving over them.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by lostalex

The difference is that men have not been systematically abused, raped, discriminated against, and murdered at grossly disproportional rates by women.

Please try to put things in perspective.

When women "perv" on men, it doesn't make men feel demeaned. In fact every str8 man i know would love to have women perving over them.

So women should get preferential treatment over men to right a historical wrong? Has Eugenie Bouchard been abused, raped, discriminated against and murdered by men? I don't think she has, and I can't understand why people feel the need to take on the burdens (or the guilt!) of people long dead and buried. For example, I refuse to feel guilty about historical sexism and racism just because I am a white male. Am I sexist? Am I racist? No, and no. Do I have anything to do with, or give a **** about, what other white men happen to have done in the past? Does it have anything at all to do with me? NO and NO. I am an individual, I am not part of some collective conscious of "males", and the actions of any other individual who happens to be a male are not my responsibility.

Equality is equality. The past is irrelevant and each situation should be taken exactly as it is found, right here and right now. Otherwise what is being sought is NOT equality - it is retribution / reparation.

Men leer at female sports stars, women leer at male sports stars. That is equal. Is it RIGHT? Maybe not, that's a completely separate issue that has nothing at all to do with gender equality. If it is not right, then it should stop, or at least, presenters and interviewers shouldn't be engaging in it. Whether the sports star happens to have boobies and bergina or a peeners and testercoes.

Not every moral question is a "feminist issue" ffs.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Can't really say if it's sexist without knowing their attitudes towards male sports stars. Males are occasionally jokingly asked to flex their biceps / show off a six-pack in these sorts of interviews sooo... no, not really sexist. Is it slightly inappropriate for them to be trivialised into something purely aesthetic when they obviously put a lot of effort into being good at their sport, and not "looking good for the cameras"...? Yes, maybe slightly inappropriate, both for the flexing men and the twirling girls.

HOWEVER, the words "mountain", "mole" and "hill" spring to mind. And to play devil's advocate... there's clearly a reason that the female tennis stars wear tight dresses instead of the shorts / t-shirt combo that most of the male tennis stars rock up in, and it isn't because it improves their sporting ability. Otherwise the men would be wearing slinky little dresses, too.

the difference is that an athlete's bicep actually has to do with the physicality of the sport. the clothes the women are wearing (unless she's wearing something really bizarre) has nothing to do with her athletic performance.