Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique sparked what is called the second wave of feminism in 1963, and nearly 60 years later, the battle of the sexes is if anything an even hotter war than it ever was. Sensitivity to perceived “sexist” or “misogynist” remarks by men is so extreme that the smallest slips can cost someone a job or career.
Longtime sports commentator Bob Ballard has lost his gig commenting on the 2024 games in Paris after just such a remark. While he was calling and commentating on the Australian freestyle relay swim team, he added what he must have thought was just a lighthearted joke to fill air time as competitors got ready. Ballard said that the swimmers were taking a while to get ready because “you know what women are like.” He said they are “hanging around, doing their makeup.”
Ballad’s co-host, top British swimmer Lizzie Simmonds, reacted quickly, calling Ballard’s joke “outrageous.” Apparently fearing that she would be subject to an online backlash, Ballard wrote on Twitter/X imploring people to dog-pile Simmons. But it was himself that Ballard should have been more worried about.
The clip of his remarks instantly went viral on social media and drew huge pushback. The idea that any remark that is critical of women, even in a joking manner, warrants outraged public reaction has been thoroughly accepted by both the public and the media. Making even a passing reference to any stereotype is met with immediate and caustic scolding.
This is easy to see when noticing how mainstream media outlets frame the issue. Instead of merely reporting on the events and the controversy, many outlets edge right up to editorializing and supporting the accusations of sexism. Take the UK’s Independent newspaper. The headline and subheader introducing coverage of this story simply repeats the charges against Ballard as if they were uncontroversially true and universally agreed on. The headline claims Ballard made a “sexist” comment, while the sub-headline describes his remarks as “inappropriate”.
The broadcaster Eurosport quickly removed footage of Ballard’s remarks from its videos covering the Olympics. And even though Ballard apologized on Twitter/X—public apologies do not appear to save very many from cancellation these days—the BBC said he will not be welcomed back for work with them, either.
Ballard began his career as a sports commentator in 1980 and has covered multiple Olympic games and other important world sports championships since.
