[Image-1]
Once upon a time, I visited a government building with a couple female colleagues. Between us, we had six degrees and worked for almost every major print and broadcast chain in the country. We were all under 30.
The security guard didn’t believe us when we identified as media. He laughed and said he didn’t know young women could be journalists. He asked if we’d grow up to be old men like Walter Cronkite.
That was hardly unusual. After interviews, I’ve had male sources call their communications advisors—and sometimes people I know—to complain that I didn’t understand the topic. I’ve been told to deepen my voice for radio. I’ve had too many sources to count think an interview meant a date later. A male source once kissed my hand.
I have to explain over and over again: I have two degrees, years of experience and I can read, do math and get things right. I love this work and I’ve been through a lot to get here.
I repeat this to myself as a reminder. Usually, several times a day, I brush off casual sexism. Being angry and hyper-vigilant is exhausting. Over time, it builds up like a brick wall, eventually emerging as this two-tonne mass I can’t ignore.
In the last week, we’ve heard about female on-camera reporters who’ve been verbally attacked by men yelling “Fuck her right in the pussy.” This loud, obvious abuse is only one example of the insidious sexism people face in the field. Often it’s quiet, so ignorable. I’ve worked in newsrooms for amazing men and women, and am lucky to have inspiring, caring professional mentors. Sometimes, however, that quiet aggression by others grinds away at my confidence.
I question, like some men have, if I’m qualified to ask questions about crosswalk accidents or the source of statistics. Sometimes I keep ideas to myself or load them with the caveat, “This idea is probably no good, but.” Why bust someone’s ego when they can’t be bothered to learn my name? My identity—as a journalist and a woman—is undermined.
My mom tells a story of when she worked, as a young woman, at a technology magazine. A business executive called her editor to complain she asked stupid questions. Her boss told her to write the article and when it was done, he said she obviously understood the subject. It’s been almost 35 years since then, and still, I question my right to this work. It doesn’t help that, as women, many of us have experienced, or been threatened with, sexual violence from men. These micro-aggressions are a daily reminder of our vulnerability.
If I, a white cis woman with a good education, feels this way, imagine what huge barriers stand against achieving real diversity in media. If I, with all my privilege, can be made uncomfortable so easily, is it a wonder this is the state of a pillar of democracy?
Journalists face all sorts of harassment: nasty emails, threats of lawsuits, attacks on social media. You need a thick skin, so they say, as it comes with the trade, but that doesn’t excuse the perpetrators. I want to be pushed to do better, absolutely, but I want to build professional credibility like a man: work hard and don’t lie.
I am enough to be a journalist. I’ll be one whether or not you remember my name, grumble about my supposed inabilities or prefer to give that press pass to Walter Cronkite. Journalism is still the best job in the world. It’d be nice if you’d let us do it.
———
Voice of the City is a platform for any and all Halifax individuals to share their diverse opinions and writings. The Coast does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse the views of those published. Our editors reserve the right to alter submissions for clarity, length and style. Want to appear in this section? Submissions can be sent to voice@thecoast.ca.
Related Stories
Harassment on the Hill
What’s asked of women in the film industry
This article appears in May 21-27, 2015.
Having just been called “shrill” (a term I am quite sure would not be levelled at me if I were a man) for some recent editorial pieces, I am very alert to this experience. I am old, I have been a feminist for my entire life (even before I knew it was a thing). I was in a “non-traditional” field of study when Marc Lepine gunned down 14 women in Montreal, just for being women. I remember being afraid walking across campus to my lab after hearing the news reports. I can’t believe “Men Explain Things To Me” has to be written in the 21st century. Everybody who believes in gender equality needs to step up their advocacy game, and make it very clear misogynist behaviour is socially unacceptable.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/t…
With more stories like this coming out hopefully men will start to be aware that these issues affect women daily and can help call out casual sexism instead of getting defensive about it and claiming, “Not me/not all men.”
A few points. 1. Rachel is an excellent journalist. 2. The casual sexism she (and other woman journos) have to put up with is outrageous and inexcusable. 3. Journalists have a licence to be ignorant and to ask stupid questions. How could it be otherwise? They have to report on a 500-page budget bill one day, an advance in liver transplant techniques the next, a factory closing the day after, a securities fraud indictment the next. 4. Smart journalists exercise their licence to be ignorant every day, unabashedly, gracefully. 5. Not all insecurities are the result of sexism. Lots of people who are good at their jobs, and not just journalists, feel like posers and need constant reassurance. 6. Sorry, Rachel, but journalists are most assuredly NOT thick skinned. On the contrary, as a group, they are neurotically thin-skinned and resistant to even the mildest and best intentioned critiques of their work. 7. Keep up the good work and don’t let the bastards get you down.
I’ve worked as reporter, photographer and editor in newspapers and magazines in Canada and England for 40 years. I’ve never seen one substantial example of sexism though at least half of my colleagues were women. I’ve been called ‘boy’ and been punched in the mouth twice, been subject to abusive behavior and told I ask stupid questions. Journalists have a habit of getting in the way and being provocative and it’s often the females who are under the most pressure to behave. But I have seen a lot of female print journalists and photographers and been a confidant of many. I’ve never had one complain about sexism. I deplore that FHITP incident but this article is a bit like jumping on the bandwagon. Why didn’t we hear about this 20 years ago?
graphicsgeezzer – Don’t tell women that their experiences are false just because YOU haven’t been paying attention for the past 40 years. You are part of the problem.
I work in an industry that has long been male dominated, but which is now seeing many more women customers. Our growing number of female employees, experts in their field, still are asked if ” I can speak to a man.” Although the term micro aggression is relatively new to me, it is a clear explanation of why a woman might seem to take great offense at what a man might think of as a very slight “joke” or whatever. Understanding this has launched our company into an initiative to raise the awareness of our staff of the experience that women can have in the work place or as customers. Interestingly, the reception is mixed as it is in these comments. There are those who have an “aha” moment, those who are in the early phase of understanding this perspective – and those who who think it’s a joke,continue the bro behavior that has served them well and think that everyone should just get over it. Their intransigence is a challenge we shouldn’t have to be facing at this point in history, but it’s there and it illustrates the work that needs to be done.
Congrats on a great article, Rachel. Miss you in these parts!
@graphicsgeezzer “…often the females who are under the most pressure to behave. But I have seen a lot of female print journalists and photographers and been a confidant of many. I’ve never had one complain about sexism…”
You say it’s often the “females” who are under the most pressure to behave.” Then go on to say you’re never had “one” complain about sexism. I’m not even sure where to start with this. I’m sort of flabbergasted.
I had never heard of the “FHRITP” heckling phenomenon until coming across the recent news story about Toronto CityTV reporter Shauna Hunt pre-emptively confronting a group of men who appeared ready to pull the FHRITP stunt as she was about to go live while covering events outside an MLS game. I watched the now-viral YouTube video of the incident. The recorded remarks by the men during the verbal exchange with the reporter were appalling and disgusting.
I’m shocked, perhaps naively so, that this activity occurs with such frequently in our society, and that (usually) female journalists have been, for the most part, effectively forced to put up with it.
As an adult male, I’ve never had to suffer the consequences of misogynist activity or comments. Similarly, as a person of European descent, I’ve never had to bear the pain or humiliation of racist verbal assaults or actions.
So, what about the thousands of men who have witnessed, in broad public, these sexually and gender based verbal assaults? Have they said nothing? Just smirk at the “comedy” of it? At best, walk by, somewhat chagrined?
And yes, I do mean specifically MEN. The prevention, denunciation and repudiation of such behaviour falls upon our adult male collectivity. Why? Because women don’t generally exhibit or perpetrate misogynist behaviour. Men do.
Please don’t interpret this to mean that women can’t do the same, or that women are pre-disposed to fall into a state of helpless victimhood. Just the opposite – it’s been largely women who have publically spoken up to effectively say “this behaviour is contrary to our accepted societal norms and values and we absolutely will not tolerate it”.
It’s time for men to do the same. If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem – an obvious oversimplification, but essentially true. Would any man do less for their sister, mother, girlfriend, daughter? If you’re walking down the street with your wife and some lout calls her a bitch, do you remain silent?
Common human decency, respect for all people, equality of value for all persons. My two young sons already know these as simple truths and tenets of our society. I hope yours do as well.
The “FHRITP” heckling is done by both men and women. Maybe the media only focusing on the male individuals taking part in it is another example of sexism in the media.
Seriously though, check out the Vine and WorldStar comps and you’ll see just as many female hecklers. One that really made me laugh was a female british teenager shouting “FHITPR” instead of “FHRITP”.