Latest news with #sexism
The Independent
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lady Starmer deserves better than putting up with ‘banter' from Donald Trump
We are all Victoria Starmer. No, really – ask any woman if she's had to fix a smile on her face and grin through gritted teeth while an older man makes 'lols' and instigates 'banter' about our appearance or demeanour. Then ask her if she eye-rolled, silently, the moment she turned away. Shocked? You really shouldn't be – though you might not have seen it. We never let on, you see. We titter and giggle and do all the things you have to do simply to get through the ordeal so they'll leave you alone – an exaggerated wink, a rib-nudge, an elbow pat, a waggling eyebrow Barbara Windsor would be proud of; Carry On, Mr President, perhaps. But us women see you, Lady Starmer. We feel your pain. We see you making a rare public appearance, being trotted out like a secret weapon off the back of a US-EU deal on trade, ahead of a talk on Gaza; we see you being brought up by the US president in an impromptu press conference in the same breath as he lols about whiskey; as he is almost drowned out on his Scottish golf course steps by some rogue bagpipes: 'Whisky? Well, we'll talk about that. I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be one of them. Maybe I'll have some whisky today…' We see you, doing your level best not to look openly confused by the 'last person at the bar, let me tell you my life story'-style rhetoric while smiling at the cameras alongside your husband, Keir Starmer. Stoically and majestically ignoring Trump's word salad segue from whiskey to 'making the prime minister happy' – by way of you, poor love. For this is where 'first lady as plot device' really came into fruition (though the other first lady, Melania Trump, was notable in her absence): 'We want to make the prime minister happy,' Trump said, grasping Lady Starmer's arm (and they always do. At some point, they always do). 'We want to make, by the way, your first lady, I would say first lady. She's, she's a respected person all over the United States! 'I don't know what he's doing, but she's very respected – as respected as him! I don't want to say more. I'll get myself in trouble. But she's married. She's a great woman and very highly respected.' Oh, Donald… pray, keep your word and don't say more. Do anything but say more! Because we've heard it all before, really, we have. We've all been in encounters with men like this – the ones who joke about getting themselves into trouble; the ones who sometimes veer from calling you a 'great woman' to a 'naughty girl'. It is usually, at this point, that we try to edge away – physically – from the old lech with a twinkle in his eye. And The Donald is no stranger to accusations of lechery (and worse) – for not only is the president under pressure to release all files relating to the Epstein case, which he has so far refused to do despite a 2024 election promise; but in May 2023, a jury in New York found him liable for the sexual abuse of writer E Jean Carroll. The court ruled Trump more likely than not sexually abused Ms Carroll and awarded her $2 million (£1.6 million), while he was also accused of sexual assault by two other women. If that wasn't enough, there were the infamous 'grab em by the p***y' comments in the Access Hollywood tape from the set of Days of Our Lives in 2005, when he was recorded talking about groping women and how 'you can do anything' when you're a 'star' (then, in a statement issued on his behalf, blamed it on "locker room banter"). Or, any one of his many other controversies which belie his attitude to women, such as calling a former Miss Universe "fat" and claiming he would date his daughter Ivanka if she were not related to him; and the comments he made right before the US election in 2024 to refute historic sexual assault allegations by the businesswoman Jessica Leeds, in which he said it 'couldn't have happened' because she 'would not have been the chosen one'. Women usually have a signal we give each other when we are in the orbit of men like this; we mouth things like 'handsy' to each other or make a 'vomit' shape with our fingers and warn our friends to be careful not to stand too close. 'Girl code' serves us well when dealing with older men with bad reputations, particularly when they are powerful and entitled. It's usually enough, thankfully, to make any woman give them a wide berth at a party – or press conference. Of course, even when in the company of someone like Trump, Lady Starmer was a consummate professional. We shouldn't be remotely surprised – after all, she was a lawyer who now works in the NHS as an occupational health worker. She must have experienced her fair share of tiresome old men. And when Trump went on to say Starmer has a "perfect wife", espousing: "I respect him much more today than I did before, because I just met his wife and family. He's got a perfect wife and that's never easy to achieve, right?" (to which, the prime minister replied: "I take no credit for that') she simply smiled and laughed and acted every inch the good sport, like women have done – and will continue to do – for time immemorial; because it's easier, because it's polite, because we are tired. All I (and perhaps she?) really wanted to do, however, is pretend to throw up.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘You should apologise': AFL legend, journo in heated clash
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has demanded an apology after his comments were called 'sexist' during a heated TV exchange on Monday night. The Saints champion and veteran football reporter Caroline Wilson exchanged verbal barbs on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters as the panel discussed North Melbourne's abysmal 101-point defeat to Geelong on Saturday. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Wilson said it was now up to North Melbourne president Sonja Hood and chief executive Jennifer Watt to come out and address the club's woes in public. Wilson said it was also up to Hood to scrutinise the club's football department and coach Alastair Clarkson. Riewoldt said Clarkson would not be happy if Hood decided to question the four-time premiership coach's operations, despite the club enduring another disastrous season where they sit 17th on the ladder with just four wins this season. Hood was on a public relations drive and was full of praise for Clarkson when he was appointed coach of the Kangaroos on a five-year deal that reportedly made him the highest paid coach in the sport. Riewoldt described Hood's behaviour at the time 'sycophantic' with Wilson taking umbrage to the term. 'That is bordering on sexism,' she said. 'If a male president had lauded getting a premiership coach … you wouldn't call it sycophantic. I bet you wouldn't.' Riewoldt responded: 'What are you talking about … I resent the fact you think that's a sexist comment. That is a ridiculous thing to say. 'How is someone being sycophantic got anything to do with their gender? 'That's ridiculous and you should apologise. 'It's not sexist Caroline.' Wilson said she was not going to 'cop' Riewoldt's comment. 'You're making ridiculous statements like that. You're wrong to say she was sycophantic,' she said. 'You should apologise to her Nick for calling her sycophantic. That's ridiculous.' The tension seemed to have simmered when the show returned from an ad-break. Wilson last week made plenty of headlines when she put Channel 7 host Craig Hutchison on the spot asking him not to fire her on air. The pre-planned segment, which Hutchison clearly did not know was going to happen, related to the media mogul's awkward appearance on radio network RSN last week after he announced a raft of sackings at the station. Earlier this month, the TV host's SEN group purchased RSN in a $3.25 million deal and immediately set about cutting costs, including giving popular hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate the flick. Many long-time listeners of the station only learned the news when Hutchison fronted Felgate's Racing Pulse show last Thursday. So Wilson took the opportunity to make a cheeky plea over her own future on the Channel 7 show. Set up by Riewoldt in a section called The Spill, the former St Kilda captain put the vague question to Wilson: 'The hour on air of the Agenda Setters is the highest risk of all.' The long-time Age reporter replied: 'Well, certainly if you're on air with Craig Hutchison. 'This is no respect, disrespect I should say, to Michael Felgate or Daniel Harford for that matter. 'But if you're going to remove me from the show, can you please not do it with me on-air?' Wilson delivered the jab with a straight face and Hutchison did not take it well. 'This is not something to joke about,' he shot back. There was plenty of drama elsewhere on Monday night with Channel 9's Footy Classified showing previously unseen footage of Giants captain Toby Greene appearing to kick Swans defender Dane Rampe in the groin region. The new vision shows Greene lashing out, kicking directly behind him between Rampe's legs during a heated confrontation before the start of the game.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend can't contain his anger after being branded a sexist by his co-host on live TV
Footy legend Nick Riewoldt demanded an apology on live TV after he was labelled a sexist by veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson on Monday night. The fiery exchange unfolded on Channel Seven 's The Agenda Setters as both panel members were discussing the dire state of North Melbourne. Alastair Clarkson's men were trounced by 101 points at Marvel Stadium on July 26 by Geelong, with Jeremy Cameron booting 11 goals. Bailey Smith was a standout in the midfield for the Cats, chalking up 43 disposals. Tellingly, the thrashing was the third time this season the Kangaroos have conceded a score of 150 or more - and the third time in five games they have allowed at least 130 points. Riewoldt was discussing where it's gone wrong for North when he labelled club president Sonja Hood 'sycophantic' over her praise when the team signed Clarkson as head coach in 2023. The fiery exchange unfolded on Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters when both panel hosts were discussing the dire state of North Melbourne That offended Wilson, who loudly questioned whether Riewoldt would have formed a similar view if Hood was a man. 'That is bordering on sexism, if a male president had lauded getting a premiership coach... you wouldn't call it sycophantic. I bet you wouldn't,' she said. The St Kilda great was seething at the accusation from Wilson. 'What are you talking about? I resent the fact you think that's a sexist comment, that is a ridiculous thing to say,' he said. 'How is someone being sycophantic got anything to do with their gender? That's ridiculous and you should apologise.' It is unknown if the footy identities resolved the tension - or if Wilson apologised - as an ad break broke up the clash. Meanwhile, two-time Kangaroos premiership player David King is concerned for the club's future with Clarkson at the helm. 'You have to be worried, don't you?' King said on SEN. 'Nothing has changed defensively, and when nothing (has) changed what are you building? 'Clarko for five years was perfect, but I thought there would be a more significant improvement in the third year (2025). 'In my own heart of hearts, this club desperately needs stability. It's been through turmoil. It's spat out coach after coach for six or seven years.
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
Almost half of women have been dished sexist insults playing sports, survey shows
ALMOST half of women have faced sexist jibes while playing sport – with many being told they "throw like a girl", "look like a man", or are "not strong enough". The shocking stats come from a UK-wide survey of 3,000 female athletes and amateur players, revealing the widespread abuse women face on and off the pitch. The poll found 42 per cent had been told women weren't as good at sport as men, while nearly one in three (32 per cent) had been labelled 'soft' or inferior. Male strangers on the street (47 per cent), male athletes (44 per cent), and even male coaches (36 per cent) were named as the most common culprits behind the abuse. Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, deputy chief medical officer at AXA Health Insurance, which commissioned the research, said: 'It can be a lose-lose situation for women sometimes. 'Despite the progress which has been made to improve access to women's sport, the research shows there's still a long way to go to making sport an equal playing field for all. 'Comments about physical ability or derogatory statements about gender have no place in sport or exercise.' Other barriers holding women back include menstrual health – with 39 per cent saying their performance was affected – and 29 per cent reporting low energy levels. Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek said: 'Speak up and you're difficult – stay quiet, and you're weak. 'As a woman in sport, I've experienced and also heard a number of insults, problems and accusations. ''Oh, she's hormonal, oh, she's on her period, she throws like a girl, she's not strong enough – the list is endless. 'One area in women's sport which I have loved to see evolve is the menstrual cycle and women's periods, because whether you like it or not, it does affect sporting performance. 'We are not using it as an excuse, we just needed a greater understanding.' The research also revealed that 78 per cent believe female athletes don't get the credit they deserve, despite 94 per cent of parents saying it's important to set a good example when it comes to exercise. Shockingly, 58 per cent of women who've been on the receiving end of sexist abuse admitted it made them consider quitting sport altogether. To change things, nearly nine in ten (88 per cent) said people in sport, from coaches to spectators, need to do more to stop the abuse. Suggestions include calling out bad behaviour (74 per cent), promoting equal chances (65 per cent), and praising women when deserved (56 per cent). Dr Bradshaw added: 'Sport and exercise – from running to rugby, lacrosse to lifting weights, can have huge benefits both physically and mentally, and help keep bones, joints and muscles healthy as we age. 'It's important we ensure that women are treated fairly, so we need to normalise flexing training plans to suit women's needs, such as using the stages of the menstrual cycle to benefit training. 'We know that certain stages of the cycle women can feel more fatigued, but there are stages where they might feel stronger, too – so they can use this to their advantage. "Women menstruating are also more likely to suffer injuries, so this should be factored into training plans. 'And as female athletes get older, we need to ensure they have the confidence to challenge expectations and reset their own priorities to find what works best for them, rather than giving up entirely.' Sam Quek added: 'Sport for me is magical. It's for everyone. "To any female involved in sport who has been told they're too much – you're not, you're you. And to any female who has been told we're not enough, we are enough.' SEXIST ABUSE FACED BY WOMEN PLAYING SPORTS: 1. Being told women aren't as good at sports as men 2. Mocking or belittling women's sports as inferior or 'soft' 3. Being told that you 'throw like a girl' as an insult 4. Sexual comments or harassment during or after playing sports 5. Being wolf whistled 6. Being told you're 'too emotional' to handle high-pressure situations 7. Being told you should 'smile more' while playing 8. Criticism focused on appearance instead of athletic performance 9. Being asked about relationship status or family plans instead of their skills 10. Doubts cast on your sexuality for playing 'masculine' sports 2
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'A different world' - Spain's transformation after World Cup fallout
The last time Spain played in the final of a major tournament, it was a watershed moment for the country. Not only did they win their first major women's trophy, but the players were about to find themselves at the centre of a sexism scandal. Instead of celebrating their historic World Cup victory in 2023, when they defeated England 1-0, Spain's triumph was overshadowed by controversy. But nearly two years later, La Roja are preparing to play the Lionesses once again in Sunday's Euro 2025 final. What has unfolded in the meantime? And how different has this tournament been for Spain? How did we get here? Just as Spain were getting ready to lift the World Cup trophy, Luis Rubiales - the country's football federation president - kissed striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips. It was a kiss that Rubiales said was consensual, but Hermoso said was not. What followed was a storm of criticism, widespread protests and a court case that found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault. Hermoso said the incident had "stained one of the happiest days" of her life. In the immediate aftermath, 81 players - including all 23 World Cup winners - said they would not play for Spain again while Rubiales was in charge. "It was a difficult period for the Spanish players," England midfielder Ella Toone said on Friday. "What they did in the World Cup, for that [the Rubiales incident] then to be the main talking point, I think was really tough for them and was something they shouldn't have had to go through." The boycott only ended almost a month later when Spain's football association, the RFEF, promised "profound changes" following a lengthy meeting with players and government officials. 'A different world' Speaking to BBC Sport last month, Amanda Gutierrez - the president of players' union Futpro - explained that the RFEF promised to improve the players' working conditions and provide equal access to the same resources the men's side had. But have those changes been evident at Euro 2025? "It's a different world," Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague said. "The players are saying 'we only have to worry now about playing', so that's completely new." Spain's performances have certainly reflected that attitude as they defeated Portugal, Belgium and Italy by a combined score of 14-3 in the group stage. Montse Tome's side then saw off a stubborn Switzerland side in the quarter-finals, before scoring an extra-time winner against eight-time winners Germany to reach their first European Championship final. Spain played 120 minutes in their semi-final and played a day later than England, but former midfielder Vicky Losada said their mental resilience will help them overcome their lack of recovery time. "Knowing them, straight after the game against Germany they will be thinking about doing anything they can to be ready for this game," Losada told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "They have 24 hours less to recover but the mental strength of the girls, because of their experience, because of all they have won, is massive. "The players on the team are winners. For a lot of them, the only major tournament they are missing is the Euros. They know they have one opportunity." Sara Alcaraz Guiterrez, a reporter for national Spanish radio, said this is the first tournament since the 2023 World Cup where she hasn't had to "speak about the federation and what is happening inside". "The players are more relaxed because they know everyone in Spain is speaking just about the Euros. It's like 'finally'." Final preview: England v Spain The kiss that shook Spanish & global football Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss 'Tome cannot do any better' Former coach Jorge Vilda may have delivered World Cup glory to Spain, but he will be remembered in a negative light by some for his role in their triumphant run. The head coach, who was booed by some fans after the final, had survived a player revolt before the tournament and was viewed as one of Rubiales' closest allies. By his side on the touchline was Montse Tome, his assistant coach who became his successor a few weeks after the World Cup final. There were concerns about her appointment, with many viewing it as a continuation of the previous regime, while she had no previous experience as a head coach. With Tome at the helm, Spain won the inaugural Women's Nations League in February 2024, but their fourth-place finish five months later at the Paris Olympics was deemed a failure. However, their journey to the Euro final, and the unity within the squad, seem to have changed perceptions of the former Spain midfielder. "She cannot do any better in terms of results," said Balague. "She's not friends with them [the players]. She's not supposed to be either. "You hear her talk and she makes a lot of sense. She's got a clear idea of how to maximize the potential. "She's not a representative of the previous regime, but she was present. Even if that's in the back of the mind of anybody, you look around and it's a completely different place. So I don't think there is a lot of hard feelings about where she's been, because she's been quite fair." 'The players want to move on' Not only is Sunday's final in Basel an opportunity for Spain to win their first European crown, but it's also a chance to celebrate achieving a major trophy without a cloud of controversy hanging over them. "It's something external that happened at the time," Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas said. "Now we're focused on giving our best to win this title. We're not thinking about celebrations or non-celebrations; we're only thinking about being prepared and doing well so that we can get closer to our goal." The culture within the Spanish camp also appears to have changed drastically from the World Cup in 2023, when they arrived in New Zealand with a divided squad amid a backdrop of unrest around then head coach Vilda. "The things have changed," Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati added. "There's a very healthy and united group. We can see that on the pitch. We all agree on this." Spain's Euro 2025 squad includes 11 World-Cup winning players, although Hermoso was not selected by Tome. Balague explained: "They want to move on, and it makes sense," "The players I've spoken to, they all have mixed feelings. They [Rubiales and the RFEF] took the celebrations away from them, but they changed our society and the way we think about women's football, and also women in society. "They have advanced society. Nobody will give them a trophy for that." Former Lionesses forward Ellen White was part of Sarina Wiegman's side beaten by Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, but said this group of Spanish players deserve their moment in the spotlight. "The controversy was so horrible. I felt for the whole team after the World Cup final," White told BBC Radio 5 Live. "They weren't able to celebrate and have that monumental moment. "This final brings them the chance to create absolute history. Enjoy it, have nothing else to think about and if they were to win to just bask in the absolute joy of winning a tournament together as a group of individuals. And hopefully the whole of Spain will be celebrating what they have done. "They deserve this. They have worked so hard and it would be an absolutely amazing moment for the whole team." The kiss that shook Spanish & global football Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss 'They had biggest moment of their careers stolen' - what next for Spain?
