Family Feud under fire for 'misogynistic' question
October 16, 2014 - 10:25AM
by Nick Toscano
Channel Ten game show Family Feud is facing fierce criticism after suggesting jobs for women commonly include hairdressing, reception work and domestic duties like washing clothes and doing the dishes.
During an episode broadcast on Wednesday night, host Grant Denyer asked contestants to "name something people think is a woman's job", after asking the same about "a man's job".
The game show's format pits two families against each to other name the top eight most popular responses to survey questions posed to 100 Australians.
The correct answers to the question on Wednesday night's episode included cooking, washing clothes, cleaning, nursing, doing the dishes, hairdressing and domestic duties.
When asked to name a man's job, the top responses were builder, plumber, mechanic, carpenter and being a tradesman in general.
Viewers reacted angrily on social media, with many branding the show "misogynistic".
"It is not a woman's job to do the dishes or clean or do the domestic duties in general," one said. "Women can do whatever the f--- they want, not just what they've been told to do throughout history."
RMIT University's deputy dean of media and communication Lisa French questioned the integrity of the game show's "surveying" procedure to determine the most popular answers.
"Where did they find these 100 people? I don't think I know anyone who would respond in that way," she said.
"Could it just be a ploy for publicity?"
Associate Professor French said the program showed sexism was "alive and well" in Australia.
"When the answer that the most popular women's jobs are 'washing, cooking and cleaning' arises, it makes it clear that sexism is alive and well, and it highlights that women are still being demeaned," she said.
"It oppresses men as much as it does women for jobs to be typecast according to gender ... what we want is freedom of choice, and for those choices to be respected."
Network Ten has been contacted for comment.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-a...z3GGDyKmKi
October 16, 2014 - 10:25AM
by Nick Toscano
Channel Ten game show Family Feud is facing fierce criticism after suggesting jobs for women commonly include hairdressing, reception work and domestic duties like washing clothes and doing the dishes.
During an episode broadcast on Wednesday night, host Grant Denyer asked contestants to "name something people think is a woman's job", after asking the same about "a man's job".
The game show's format pits two families against each to other name the top eight most popular responses to survey questions posed to 100 Australians.
The correct answers to the question on Wednesday night's episode included cooking, washing clothes, cleaning, nursing, doing the dishes, hairdressing and domestic duties.
When asked to name a man's job, the top responses were builder, plumber, mechanic, carpenter and being a tradesman in general.
Viewers reacted angrily on social media, with many branding the show "misogynistic".
"It is not a woman's job to do the dishes or clean or do the domestic duties in general," one said. "Women can do whatever the f--- they want, not just what they've been told to do throughout history."
RMIT University's deputy dean of media and communication Lisa French questioned the integrity of the game show's "surveying" procedure to determine the most popular answers.
"Where did they find these 100 people? I don't think I know anyone who would respond in that way," she said.
"Could it just be a ploy for publicity?"
Associate Professor French said the program showed sexism was "alive and well" in Australia.
"When the answer that the most popular women's jobs are 'washing, cooking and cleaning' arises, it makes it clear that sexism is alive and well, and it highlights that women are still being demeaned," she said.
"It oppresses men as much as it does women for jobs to be typecast according to gender ... what we want is freedom of choice, and for those choices to be respected."
Network Ten has been contacted for comment.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-a...z3GGDyKmKi