Sexism: the word sends tingles down my spine. Not because I’m anti or pro-feminist, but I know it’s a topic that always ends in some kind of argument dividing two sides of the room. So huzzah, imagine my delight when Andy Gray and Richard Keys get caught up in some kind of scandal surrounding the topic. Superb. Finally, football has got rid of its two most sexist men, eradicating one of the main things that’s at fault with the game. Wrong! So very wrong. In fact they’re not even the two most sexist men on sky sports (probably). Sure, getting caught under the microphone was a careless thing to do, but it’s hardly the worst case of sexism on sky sports. First off there’s Soccer AM in which a ‘Soccerette’ prances around for the pleasure of the football fans in the studio – and those at home – like she is the only attractive woman ever to like football. This is weekly, and whether you think it’s degrading or empowering (or sexy) it’s playing on a sexist stereotype. I’d like to stop for a minute and explain something; this is going somewhere and is not just a Jan Moir Daily Mail style rant about how sick it is that some women portray themselves in such a manner – in fact I like Soccer AM. Clear? Cool. Secondly, the female Sky Sports News presenters, if you have seen them you will know what I mean. Let’s just say they hardly scream ‘respect me as a sports journalist’, they sell sports news…how shall I put it? In a titillating style.

Past Sky though the way this story was reported in the tabloids was insanely hypocritical. The only way it could have been more so is if the page 3 girls had been reporting the story themselves: “Jen (18, Birmingham) believes Andy Gray and Richard Keys’ comments were totally irresponsible. Women should be allowed to enter whatever profession they want without being subject to sexual prejudices.” Great, now get your kit off for the lads; I imagine is what the photographer would say while the editor was compiling that current affairs waffle for her. My point is that if sexism was to be tackled with such severity as has been seen in the ‘Randy Gray’ fiasco, then we’d have to crack down on so many other aspects of sexism in the media.

It’s not just a one-way street of banter either. Recently an advert caught my attention that was selling oven cleaner with the tag: “so simple, a man could do it”. How patronising is that? You wouldn’t be allowed to sell power tools saying: “so simple, a woman could do it”. Not that I’m bitter. As I said, two way street. Inequality is the problem here, not sexism. The fact she was called a ‘female linesman’ as well was a bit strange, they were implying it was as if a linesman had had a sex change. Surely in accordance to generic PC guidelines it should now be linesperson. Or linesofficer perhaps? Not that I’m getting into that, or sexism at all. My main beef is with the media on this one. Scandals like this irritate me, somebody always ends up getting the sack and is a scapegoat for something that is far from eradicated just with their dismissal. Also most of those who complain haven't seen it, although in this case the 'did you smash it?' comments definitely earned the right to be somewhat controversial.

I’m afraid football is still considered ‘a man’s game’ and if that’s the case then women wanting to be linesofficers know full well what they’re in store for and are usually strong willed enough to go through with it. Although having embarrassing Myspace pictures appear on the front pages hardly worked in her favour on this one. It’s a harsh fact of life I’m afraid. Just like if a man wants to be a ballerina. It’s sad of course, but that is simply the way society works.

Acknowledging sexism as a concept furthers this divide, realising that there is a massive gulf in the roles of men and women in society and what professions are more suited to which gender. But as I said, I don’t want to get into any kind of sexism argument. I hate it, it’s such an overdone and boring argument that is unbelievably generalised. It always ends up with men being depicted as thuggish Andy Gray sexual predator types and women as hormonal creatures who should be in the kitchen and are oblivious to the offside rule. Perhaps someone should explain the Sex Discrimination Act (1975) to Andy Gray and Richard Keys using salt shakers and a bottle of ketchup. See how they like it.

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