The White Face of Cable

This is interesting -- just don't bother reading the comments. The question posed in the article -- Who would have thought cable commentary would get whiter after the election of a black president? -- is provocative. I don't think it's a coincidence. There are a couple of possible explanations. The more innocent one is that once the nation voted a racial minority into the Oval Office, well-meaning people allowed themselves a sigh of relief and thought: Finally, the war with racism is over. They let up on their efforts to diversify, with the result being a step backward. The other explanation, more insidious, is that white executives in power, even the well-intended ones, feel anxious after the election of a black president, as if the sand is shifting beneath their feet. What do people with some level of anxiety do when they are in a position to hire? They hire those who make them feel comfortable, which usually means hiring people who look or act like they do.

This would be an interesting question to discuss in my next GRC and Media course ...

No Words

A student just passed along this story from CNN about rape games in Japan.

I'm Digging This Ad Concept

From The New York Times, via the Women's Media Center.

Kathy Griffin Plays a Lesbian

This post from Bitch Media makes the important point that it's not enough just to count the number of portrayals marginalized groups are given in popular culture to assess whether they are getting a fair shake. We also have to look at the context and narrative to understand how those groups are truly represented in the culture. Not having seen the episode, I can't speak to this particular critique -- but I will say that Griffin's response to the inevitable "what was it like to kiss a girl" question actually seems quite measured to my ear.

NY Times on Women Scientists

This article does a nice job of contextualizing the current and historical status of women in the sciences.

Utah Legislators Revise Miscarriage Bill

This is appalling, but no one should be surprised. It's a logical step in legislators' attempts to control women's reproduction.

Silencing Women ...

Ad says to "make her speechless--for once."