Richard Scudamore, has this week been forced to apologise for participating in the sending and receiving of “inappropriate” emails which have been leaked by his former PA.
To refer to the content of these emails as “inappropriate”
is in itself, inappropriate. The content is deeply sexist and
entirely degrading of women where he labels women as "irrational". Another
email advised a lawyer friend to keep a female colleague “off your shaft”, while said lawyer friend referred to women as "gash."
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| Scudamore in sexist scandal |
The Premier League boss is at the helm of a multi-million
campaign aimed at attracting young girls and women into the football industry.
It is irrelevant that these emails were intended only for
private reading. What matters, is that the man who is publicly stating that the
Premier League is striving to be at the “leading edge” of the “whole equality
agenda”, is guilty of sending misogynistic emails which suggest an assumption of
male superiority.
While the football industry is eager to state that sexism is
a prehistoric prejudice no longer existing in our beautiful game, the fact that
the boss of the Premier League is responsible for such degrading comments
paints a much truer picture.
The fact of the matter is that while the men at the top of
the game have such a disgusting view of their female counterparts, then women
stand no chance in football whatsoever.
Not only this, but the probability that Scudamore will
escape this scandal with his job still intact is remarkable. It begs the
question, if Scudamore had sent “inappropriate” emails bearing racist comments,
would he still be likely to get off so easily?
Presumably not. So why, in 2014 is sexism still seen as a
small matter of “banter” or “inappropriateness” compared to racism, or
homophobia which is considered a much higher evil?
During the Andy Gray and Richard Keyes sexism scandal, despite
being sacked from their jobs, they found other football media jobs with ease and still retain a huge media presence.
The lack of seriousness that sexism scandals attract
delivers only one message to young women in all parts of the industry, and the
message is loud and clear.
The fact that Scudamore could keep his job screams to me
that sexism is nothing more than an over-reaction on the behalf of women. It
tells me to “calm down, dear”, as it was only a joke in a private email.
Sexism is not just wrong, but it is utterly abhorrent. It is 2014
and our society is still guilty of portraying women as inferior, as sexual
objects and as “irrational”.
Is it really any surprise that only a tiny minority of
sports reporters are women? Is it so shocking that very few women referee or
officiate our football matches? Of course it isn't.
How can any woman feel confident, or secure in this industry
when the man at the top of the food chain has no qualms about disrespecting their intellect?
I wrote a blog last June about sexism in football, and I
naively believed that the game had been making small steps towards the end goal
of gender equality. Unfortunately, when I am bracketed under the
term “irrational” in a conversation that refers to me as "gash", the blow to my faith and hope is only analogous of taking a
sledgehammer and smashing the Premier League trophy to pieces.
It is fortunate that groups such as Women in Football exist,
as I do not know how many women would be able to cope with the continuous
sexism passed off as banter without it.
It is frankly embarrassing that the man responsible for
the Premier League, the “greatest league in the world” is capable of such foul
prejudice.
Now, Richard Scudamore’s hopes of attracting women into the
world of football is about as probable as him seeing a pig fly past his office
window.
What will attract women into the industry is re-education of
our society, what will attract women into the industry, is the knowledge that
the men at the top of the football pyramid see us as their equals, not as their
inferiors. What will attract women into the industry is a shift in the way that
women are viewed.
I am not a piece of “gash” to be viewed and used for male sexual gratification, as the word implies. Nor am I
irrational; the fact that my understanding of gender equality exceeds that of
yours, Richard Scudamore, highlights a lack of reasoning ability on your
behalf.
As I said in my blog just under a year ago, I am a sports
journalist. My gender is of no importance.
@annalouiseadams
So, you have never (in your private correspondence or chats with the girls) made a joke that could be construed as derogatory to men?! !! I simply do not believe you.
ReplyDeleteIt was a private joke between two friends. As with most PC items it is always ok to be anti male but offensive if anti female. Methinks the usual PC double standards still apply.
PC double standards as usual,my god a femist told me that the ideal of feminism is in the title, its not about being equal to men, its about being superior to men! I think the question should be why this IS being taken so seriously. Get off your PC high horse, my girlfriend said you need to get laid! If this was your favourate rock star or pin up i bet you wouldn't be makin all this fuss
ReplyDeleteIf your gender is of no importance why do you bring it up in virtually every blog post. We get the message, you are female. Try and write something without mentioning it.
ReplyDeleteBecause sexism is a serious problem.
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