Less Clothes Please

  LESS CLOTHES PLEASE

A necessary comment  seems appropriate regarding our current TV consumption, especially involving athletic contests.  I, being a male who enjoys watching athletic contests, particularly appreciate the latest effort in bringing female commentators on board.    The appearance of women on athletic talks shows has indeed become more frequent and this is due, of course, to the view that women should have equal time.  After all, I'm a feminist and fully approve of this effort.  And, more importantly, this effort is being accomplished in a correct manner. 

Have you noticed, you must have, or else you are completely oblivious, how people are dressed at these events and presented.  This applies not only to athletic events but so-called news events and all special events, but athletic contests specially.  All men are fully clothed and all women are partially nude.  A fully dressed female is simply not marketable; bare shoulders and arms, low cut dresses, and short skirts (if currently in style) are mandatory.  Males, on the other hand, should be fully attired with suit, nice shirt, and tie.  

Now I, for one, being a man and all, think this is perfectly fine and dandy.  The women I see on the TV screen should wear the fewest clothes as decently possible.  This is called marketing.  Sporting events are primarily intended for male audiences and  professionally dressed men look professional and are clearly competent to give us their opinion on what we just watched. Women can be professional and competent as well, but only if they clearly reveal some cleavage.  That's competence.  They know their audience and they give it what is expected - - no cleavage, no opinion.

It's all ratings folks.  I understand this and approve.  The market demands semi-nude female announcers and fully clothed male announcers and this is the way it should be.  We live in a capitalist society and market share is the sole criteria of success.  So just quit complaining and go with it.  These continuous protestations of sexism and other isms that we hear are just sour grapes after all.

Richard E H Phelps II