Systemic Sexism Invisible In Plain Sight

Today, the New York Times has two very readable and defining articles about women journalists who have moved to the forefront in political reporting and writing. They are Abby Phillip at CNN and Savannah Guthrie at NBC. They are well worth reading and I will link them here:

Savannah Guthrie Is Feeling Lucky: Since she held President Trump’s feet to the fire at a crucial turning point of the campaign, her future at NBC News appears bright.

Abby Phillip Is Next-Gen CNN: In an election dominated by fast-talking policy dudes, her deliberate commentary and context stood out.

Now, why am I listing these two defining profiles about two prominent and skilled women under a headline about Systemic Sexism? Because of their placement in the print edition of the paper.

Do these appear in the main news area? No. In the political area? No. In the media area? No. In the business area? No. Although they share the front page of a section of the print edition of the paper…it is the SUNDAY STYLES section…the one subheaded: lifestyle | relationships | society. You know, the section with the Modern Love column and the engagement and wedding announcements?

Now Sunday Styles is one of my secret little pleasures as a hold over from my retail days when I studied the fashion ads from our competitors. But it is still one of the first sections I read in the NYT after finishing the local Sunday paper…a sorta sorbet course!

But that placement implies this will only appeal to women? That they don’t deserve placement in news sections? It certainly means that a lot of movers and shakers and consumers of TV journalism and political commentary aren’t going to see it. So to my mind, here we have a clear cut case of systemic sexism.

And damn it, New York Times, you need to be better than this.

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