Donald Trump was always a bit of a dink. Now, he appears to be an ultra right-wing Republican dink.
On the most recent episode of Celebrity Apprentice, Trump could not fathom why a professional woman would not want to be called "sweetie" by a colleague during a professional exchange. Not only could he not fathom it, he ended up firing Star Jones for politely objecting to being diminished as a woman.
To recap: Outside the boardroom, while waiting for Trump's decision, Meatloaf decided to engage Star Jones in an argument. He began by condescendingly calling her "sweetie." Jones, politely asked not to be referred to in that way. Meatloaf, who throughout the season has shown himself to have severe mood management issues, flew off the handle and began raging at Jones. When she declined to engage in his antics, he grew even more irate. Back in the boardroom, Trump wondered what all the fuss was about. Jones pointed out that it began when Meatloaf called her "sweetie." Mind you, she was not even complaining about this, but simply pointing out how the incident began. Before the conversation could turn to Meatloaf's completely inappropriate behaviour, Trump got stuck on the "political correctness" of calling a professional woman "sweetie" (or any such term).
"I don't understand it? What's wrong with it? Aren't you just being too sensitive?" Trump asked all these questions leaving Jones to defend herself. Jones pointed out that had she been called "sweetie" by a friend at lunch she wouldn't have minded. What she objected to was being called such a term while in the context of a professional conversation with a colleague. She pointed out that the term was used to diminish her as a professional woman when she should have been treated as an equal. That was all. A clear, succinct explanation. But Trump wouldn't have any of it. He fired Jones.
So. Not only was there a sexist comment made in the first place, Trump validated it by firing the woman who was the target of the comment. A woman who has proved herself to be one of the strongest players this season. In favour of a man who is clearly erratic. A deeper analysis of this incident might also point to the fact that Jones is a black woman, and both the person who made the comment and the three people who sat as judges, were white men.
So. What is the big deal? Isn't this just an episode of crappy reality television anyway. Well, crappy as reality television may be, a lot of people watch. And perhaps more than fictionalized media forms, audiences tend to engage more with reality television and thus internalize more of the value messages.
Calling a woman "sweetie" or any other such term in a professional context diminishes her position as an equal colleague. It diminishes her as a person. Whether consciously intended or not, when a man makes such a comment to his colleague he is doing it to demean her. It is intended to take her down a notch. It is no accident that Meatloaf began his argument with Jones with this comment. He wanted to set the tone. And he flew into a blind rage when Jones had the audacity to speak up for herself.
Ask yourself: is there a similar comment that a woman could make to a male colleague that would have the same impact? I would argue that there isn't. Not a comment that reduce him and objectify him based solely on his gender. That, my friends, is sexism.
