Language Use – in the media

Ever noticed? A repeating feature

That different words are to assess the same actions of males @ females. Sometimes it’s easy to notice because it’s right out there in the media.

Listening to the BBC World News’ coverage of the French Presidential Race, I was struck by the language used by press observers analyzing the debate style of the man and (first) woman candidates, Nicholas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal. Robert Siegel, for PBS, remarked on the “nurturing” quality of Royal’s approach and the BBC’s female reporter, Eleanor Beardsley, asserted that Royal’s debate style reminded her of “a mother scolding a naughty child.” Sarkozy, in contrast, was seen as putting in a “strong showing” in countering Royal’s points. What I heard in the brief segment transmitted, was Sarkozy’s repeated interruptions and “talk-overs” of Royal’s delivery. Since we have a parallel in the U.S. , my new game is to track the Hillary stereotypes in our media coverage. What are you noticing?

This reminds us of Geraldine Ferraro’s run for Vice President in the 80’s. Her voice was repeatedly described by media pundits as “shrill” when she effectively dissected her opponents’ arguments (George Bush, Sr.). Not to be forgotten was the post-debate interview by Tom Brokaw of Barbara Bush, after Ferraro had brilliantly answered two hours of unscripted press questions. When asked for her impression of Ferraro in the debate, Barbara’s prim reply was: “Well, Tom, I can’t bring myself to say the exact word, but it rhymes with “witch”.

Professor Caryl Rivers, quoted in this Sunday’s Boston Globe, agrees. “Politically active women are often disparaged and stereotyped by the media. When Hillary Clinton was still first lady, she was referred to as a "witch" or "witchlike" at least 50 times in the press.” Rivers writes, "male political figures may be called mean and nasty names, but those words don’t usually reflect superstition and dread. Did the press ever call Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, or Clinton warlocks?"

Only when a dramatic media event occurs, like a shock jock spraying hate talk on champions, or a lone gunman targeting girls (The Amish Schoolhouse) and women (The Montreal Massacre) to “take out” in a shooting spree, does the society seem to notice. And it’s tough to see this when it goes on in the more isolated office setting.

Anything you’ve noticed? Bring it on!

Carlotta Tyler