Sexist Media from CNBC to al Jazeera

Women have made great strides in the media. Decades prior all women could expect from the press corps was the opportunity to be hot weather girls. But now two of America's three evening news broadcasts are anchored by women and many of al Jazeera's broadcasters and show hosts are also women.

But sexism still exists, of course. Consider the recent case where five female al Jazeera employees resigned after management requests that they dress more modestly. This is clear sexism. It is not as if these women were dressing in a crude manner. This is just male chauvinism that thinks it can dictate the dress manner of women but would never dictate to men in such a manner. It is sexism, and noble that these women left with their integrity rather than stay on.

But before anyone makes stereotypes about sexism in the Arab world, let's remember that sexism is still dominant in the United States. And women in the media are often still expected to play the role of sex objects captivating male audiences. Take business network CNBC. The network is home to two main female anchors. First, there is the "Money Honey" Maria Bartiromo. This gal is a nice Italian face, but she's none too bright. I have seen hear speaking about, for instance, free trade before and it is clear she knows very little. She's just a pretty face whose sole purpose is to get men to watch (not that there's anything wrong with that; she is cute) and to flirt with CEOs into getting them to agree to give exclusive interviews to CNBC. In that regard, Bartiromo's position at the network is really sexist because it is meant to confine her to the traditional female role of being a pretty face whose sole purpose is to lure male viewers. She is not valued for her intellect, but her beauty. Her nickname of the "Money Honey" - which CNBC embraces - says it all. For the record, this is the qualification for most female anchors on Fox News. Even those who are smart have to play dumb.

But the other main female anchor is anything but a lightweight. She is equally beautiful - more beautiful, in my opinion - and very well-educated. I speak about Erin Burnett. She is a graduate of the St. Andrew's School, a preparatory school which is one of the most selective in the world, and of the private Williams College, ranked the #1 liberal arts college by the authoritative U.S. News and World Report. She worked as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs and as a vice president for Citigroup, before joining CNBC.

Ironically it was Burnett and not Bartiromo who was recently the target of a dismissive sexist comment:

At least she did not take it "sitting down". Just like the women of al Jazeera.