Saw this reaction when it was suggested that Top Gear have a female presenter on their show.
Interesting viewpoint.
Drop the macho: Top Gear under pressure to tone down sexism
The famously juvenile boys-toys show
Top Gear could soon be under arrest from the PC police with some aiming to make the show less sexist.
The show was targeted this week as a result of a new bill which has been drafted with the intent to promote equality and fight discrimination in all its forms.
The Equality Bill also aims to introduce transparency in the workplace and will attempt to tackle the gender pay gap.
It has been suggested by some academics that
Top Gear, with several other BBC shows, could be considered for review under the bill due to their entrenched, institutional sexism.
The show has been criticized for its heavy leaning towards male dominated presentation however, these assertions have been quickly dismissed by heads of the show.
"If the show is allegedly female-unfriendly, why is almost half the audience female? said Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman.
"Secondly, if we are to have a female presenter just to represent the sexes, then by that logic Loose Women needs a bloke in the line-up pretty sharpish.
"I actually believe these sorts of mandates are patronising to women viewers, because they assume that women can't enjoy a show's presenters on merit, but can only appreciate a program if spoken to by one of their own sex."
There are also fears the bill could impede on editorial independence for broadcasters in a wider sense a freedom which is currently protected by government policy.
"Allowing broadcasters creative and intellectual freedom over the content of their programmes is vital in a free society," Jeremy Hunt, cultural spokesperson for The Conservatives, wrote in a letter to the Department of Culture Media and Sport.
"It is a real concern that the BBC and Channel 4 are not included in the list of public bodies exempt from the requirements of the bill. Both broadcasters have an important role in focusing attention on important social issues, but editorial independence must be sacrosanct."
http://www.livenews.com.au/entertai...pressure-to-tone-down-sexism/2009/4/30/204654