Comments on: Our Fantasy

By: Brenda Coulter

Brenda Coulter — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 04:54:27 +0000

“Women running major agencies should not be remarkable.”

Oh, I think those women SHOULD be remarkable.

[Snicker.] Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.

By: booksquare

booksquare — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 17:35:06 +0000

Once I get through my other pieces of major legislation (starting with banning either Daylight Savings or the other one — whichever means I’m losing an hour of my precious sleep), I might be able to get up a petition about abolishing the use of “first” unless the event is truly notable. I think I also have to do something about inane headlines as well. I need an assistant ranter and raver …

Women running major agencies should not be remarkable.

By: Brenda Coulter

Brenda Coulter — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:18:02 +0000

You’ve just hit on a pet peeve of mine.

Why is the media so in love with these “firsts”? The first American woman in space. The first deaf Miss America. The first black Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. To me, such statements all but scream, “Well, isn’t this REMARKABLE? Just imagine! Even a black/Jewish/paraplegic/female/deaf person/Hispanic can succeed!”

Remarking on such firsts merely perpetuates prejudice by focusing attention on the “differentness” of the people involved. Celebrating the first woman President of MMA seems almost to hint that not until now has MMA found a woman clever enough to do the job.

Please.