Here is a guest post from our trusty reader and commenter Ali. (I am actually copying it from her comment to an earlier post about the primary, with her permission.)She brings up a great point about how the visual culture of the media reveals sexist tendencies. Pictures say a thousand words–and the cover of this past Tuesday’s Marquette Tribune proves that a cover layout packs a dramatic sexist punch. Thanks, Ali!Did anyone happen to see the the front page of Tuesday’s Trib?Irresponsible journalism, to say the least.What am I talking about, you ask?The matrix-like graphic of all the political figures who have made their ways to Wisconsin in the past week.This is how the photos were set up:(Bill Clinton) (Barack Obama)(Mike Huckabee) (John McCain)(Michelle Obama) (Hillary Clinton)Are you kidding me?! First of all, why is Bill Clinton’s picture at the TOP, NEXT TO Barack Obama’s photo? Bill Clinton is not running for president–his WIFE is and as far as I’m concerned, her picture did not belong in “The Wives Club” row. I have a hard time understanding the logic behind such design. Whoever decided that this would be a good layout should be ashamed. Secondly, why are the females on the bottom? I hate to sound like I’m making something out of nothing, but I was really appalled that the Tribune would automatically place the Republican candidates next to each other and yet, the Democrats seemed to be divided according to marital roles rather than political aspirations.And to be honest, I don’t think many people gave it a second thought…because society tells us that that’s where women belong, so why should this scenario be any different. Shame on them for publishing the photos in that order. They should be doubly shameful because it was released on ELECTION DAY. Ahhhhh.This may be trivial or a non-issue to some, but it feels like a big deal to me. Journalists know that what they print influences people’s actions and, in my opinion, should be held responsible for mistakes like this one.Don’t worry, I am sending a response to the Tribune. I just want some answers.
Filed under: Marquette Tribune, discrimination, sexism
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[...] Post–Women on the Bottom? February 22nd, 2008 Li Evans wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThis is how the photos were set [...]