Sexism or just male ignorance?

During this year’s prestigious Wimbledon tournament, the BBC was forced to apologise after veteran presenter John Inverdale made sexist remarks about ladies champion Marion Bartoli.

55 year old Inverdale said on TV “I just wonder if her Dad did say to her, listen you’re never going to be- you know, a looker ”, sparking outrage from viewers with over 700 complaints. Social media networks were full of calls for his sacking. Mr Inverdale escaped punishment from his BBC bosses but was forced to apologise on TV and had write a snivelling letter to the French champion.

Just days before this foreign secretary William Hague appeared to call fellow parliamentarian Cathy Jaimeson a “stupid woman”, after she asked a question at Wednesdays prime ministers questions. He too issued an apology saying he had intended to cause no offence..

Both incidents were labelled in the media as sexist remarks, but were they sexist or were they just very bad manners?

Calling someone stupid is clearly not polite, nor is calling someone ugly, but does that cause offence more when aimed at a woman or is it equally as bad if the recipient of the comment is of the same gender?

Prime minister David Cameron felt the wrath of the female public last year when he told a lady colleague “calm down dear”, quoting from the well-known TV advert.

So what does constitute sexism?

Is it sexist to call a member of the opposite sex attractive or only when you are calling them ugly? As a man, I would not be offended in the slightest if a female told me I had a good physique, although I wouldn’t be too thrilled if she said I was a short fat old man. Is this because I am sexist or is it because I am male? Is sexism only applicable if carried out by a male against a female or does it apply both ways? Is it only sexism if uncomplimentary?

Is the massive lack of women in the boardrooms of big business a result of institutionalised sexism or simply a result of generations of stay at home mums and house wives? Would it be acceptable to remedy this by having all female shortlists or would that be just as bad or even worse?

 Is the recent spate of sexist behaviour because some men think that women are less worthy than them, therefore it is OK to demean and belittle them or is it simply that men don’t know any better?

Could it be that as a nation we are so determined to excersize our right to be offended and rid ourselves of bigots that we have given up the right to offend?

Now clearly, some people who have the opinion that rape is the fault of the victim or that they were in some way asking to be raped are not nice people. They are stupid ignorant foolish idiots but does that make them sexist? I just don’t know.

In a world where some of us strive for real equality where everyone should be accepted and treated fairly whether black, white, Asian, fat, thin, tall, small, man, woman, gay or straight- do we need labels for individual acts of ignorance or could we just simply show these people for what they actually are – idiots?

I don’t know the answer to these questions but then, I’m just a man.