I'd like to say a few words about Ines Sainz (not pictured--- as if you haven't already googled her) flap involving the New York Jets.
And those words are: Grow up.
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For those of you know are uninitiated, where have you been this week?
Ines Sainz is a reporter for TV Azteca, a Mexican outlet, who wanted to interview Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (perhaps she was doing a story on how to get lots of media attention, without actually being good at football).
Sainz is a former beauty queen and dresses slutty.
So, you'll never guess what happens next?
Apparently, the boys started hootin' and hollerin' and creating an environment that made the reporter uncomfortable.
It got so bad that Jets owner Woody (yes, I see the joke, no I won't go there) Johnson had to call to apologize.
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Gentleman, this is an NFL locker room, not Shawshank prison.
You've never seen a woman before?
I don't care WHAT that reporter wears, act like a professional.
I've seen Sainz before in person.
She was at Super Bowl media day.
OK, she's attractive.
Who cares?
I still had a job to do.
Somehow I managed to not act like I was at a construction site (is that sterotype even true about construction workers whistling at hot women? Let's just assume so for the purposes of my argument).
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We've all been inside the Jets locker room this year with 'Hard Knocks.'
We know that they're a rowdy bunch and like to have a good time.
That's all fine.
What's not fine is to sexually harrass a woman trying to do her job.
People who are making the 'she shouldn't dress like that' argument (I'm looking at you Clinton Portis), 1972 called, it wanted its gender norms back.
Female journalists have just as much of a right to cover sports.
Even if she's being unprofessional with her attire, what the Jets did is still not OK.
Maybe if they spent more time working on their offense, and less time staring at the reporter, they wouldn't suck as much as they do.
I have to take a small issue with your belief that a woman reporter should be permitted in the locker room. There is a post-game press conference that she could have gone to and not gotten harassed. In all honesty, I feel that women should be prohibited from the locker room for just this reason. A bunch of alpha males with their junk hanging out is not an appropriate place to interview anyone. If as a media outlet you feel that you need to cover the story immediately after the game, then send a male. No discrimination, common sense. Would you see a male broadcaster walking into the locker room at an LPGA event, Wimbledon? I understand that she has just as much right to cover the game, but that does not give her carte blanche to go into the locker room.
ReplyDeleteThink about how much great sound has come RIGHT from the locker room when emotions are fresh and the feelings are still raw after a game. You're telling me, that if I'm female, I shouldn't have access to that? Why stop at gender? Why not also discriminate against reporters of different races and religions?
ReplyDeleteEqual access.
These are professional athletes who are very well paid. They should be able to keep it in their pants for five minutes.
even when they aren't actually wearing pants
ReplyDeleteAs much as I dislike the Jets, I think their actions are justifiable. The locker room is a man cave. Media access to the locker room is a privilege and the media is going into the lion's den (that is why you get such raw emotion in your interviews). You can't step into their locker room and then demand they make it more accommodating. In general, if you are in an environment where you don't need to wear pants, you don't need to be held to standards of professionalism.
ReplyDeleteDespite the double standard (I am available to interview womens tennis players btw), women should be allowed to enter at their own risk. If you go in there all scantily clad looking for 'respect' then your lack of judgment questions whether or not you deserve it. You can't go into the lion's den dressed like a gazelle and expect restraint. If you don't want attention, wear a pant suit. In such a situation, the reporter needs to be the professional one. She had it coming (they made catcalls not rape--so don't use that analogy) and judging by her presence on TV, she is probably loving the attention.
excellent counter-argument. Totally disagree but I sure do enjoy your use of animal analogies
ReplyDeleteI agree w/ Maswe12... I dress conservatively at my respective job. I can go the other route too, however, I know the reality of the world. Sadly, it's the nature of being a woman that in order to prevent any unprovoked harassment, one must dress respectively and conservatively. However, that doesn't mean that sexual harassment is ever ok... Nor does it mean that conservative dress prevents the behavior.
ReplyDeleteMLN
It's this tacid acceptance of the man-culture that has made it impossible for any pro athlete to ever come out of the closet. It's possible to both be a professional athlete and not a caveman... I'm sorry for holding these people to a higher standard
ReplyDeleteThis all comes back to the fact that these people (athletes or not) are just conforming to a group think mentality that permeates all male dominated groups (i.e., military).
ReplyDeleteYour GF :)
well then subvert that dominant paradigm... The rest of society has adjusted to sexual mores
ReplyDeleteAll men are cavemen deep down inside. The locker room is one of the few places it isn't completely repressed. To have people insist on coming in and then demanding you change is not fair. If you want to pretend that men are all sophisticated and refined, don't go in.
ReplyDeleteYou must be referring to Afghanistan or any other Birka wearing country, for that matter...
ReplyDeleteMN :)
Some might say she actually sexually harrassed Tom Brady when she appeared in a wedding dress ready to propose to him?
ReplyDeleteDukie,
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness, most of the Jets weren't alive in 1972 so an education of its "gender norms" would need to be set up.
But maybe someone should have given Slutty McWhore the NFL dress code before she shows up at the next media day wearing a bikini that says "look but don't cat call" on her ass.
anon: I agree. An education should be set up, fine. I have to take a sexual harrassment seminar at my job, they can have one too
ReplyDeleteMaswe12: as per your mancave idea... There's a mandatory cooling off period in every locker room I've ever been in. You want to give them time to chill, fine. But once those doors open, the laws of human society apply
Human society, or at least American, dictates that you wear pants. If you are in a private enough room that pants are optional--there are no behavior requirements either. Media chooses to go in. The podium is another story.
ReplyDeleteInsightful comments all around. But speaking as a woman that has been in pro football lockerrooms right after games, know what you're walking into. Be respectful of the players and they'll be respectful of you. That's not to say harassment/discrimination don't otherwise exist. They do. I can speak to that too firsthand. But it's women like this that make it harder for women like me to have any longevity. Because of her lack of professionalism in dress and behavior there will be new policies that limit access to women simply to limit team/player liability. And that's just unfair to those women wanting nothing more than to do their job, do it well and be respected for both.
ReplyDeleteanon: What a tremendous contribution to the discussion. Thanks so much for reading this and adding your insight! I truly appreciate it
ReplyDeleteThis post and comments all focus on the gender issue; what about the ethnicity issue? Latino television glorifies T&A even more than American TV. It's quite possible that Ms. Saenz was wearing the Telemundo-equivalent of a pantsuit when she showed up in the locker room.
ReplyDeletefair point Herb. There's definately a cultural element to her outfits. Having seen her in person, her outfits are what I would describe as "outrageous." But somehow I managed to not sexually harrass her and I'm sure if Gang Green tried hard enough, they could've too
ReplyDeleteWhen in Rome, Herb...
ReplyDeleteI have avoided commenting on your blog but this one has made it very difficult. Your reference to her as "slutty" and the fact that she was Miss Spain disqualifies Inez as a broadcaster more than surprises me.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Inez is entitled to wear whatever she chooses. It amazes ne how men in broadcasting especially sportscasters can lead the charge for a polyester comeback and wear ties that were undoubtably purchased at the gift shop on the Florida Turnpike and that's ok. Where as women in broadcasting are not allowed to dress like real women but have to look like librarians. Why is that if a woman is a title holder she can't be anything else? There's one that I know quite well managed to be the interim President of a South American country and even turned a country's economy around. The fact she was a titleholder had nothing to do with that. Men can touch a football or baseball professionally or even ride the bench but appear on "The Bachelor" yet that qualifies them as broadcasters. I am curious exactly how many of Inez reports you have actually seen? Her network is available on Dish and the ones I've seen are fine. I understand she works without a producer. I hear sports producers are dinosaurs--only time and they all be gone. What the New York Jets pales in comparison as to what her "friends " in the media subjected her to with comments like "slutty".
Why
Welcome back Darryl. I used the term "slutty" to acknowledge the other side which criticizes how she was dressing. My point all along has been, regardless of what she wears, the Jets have an obligation to not disrespect her as a person.
ReplyDeleteThe focus of this blog and subsequent conversation is the behavior by a group of alleged professional football players (I hesitate to give that distinction to that offense).
I've seen her in person.
She aims to garner attention.
Still, she should not be subject to harrassement either way.
Please do not misinterpret my remarks as an attack on you. I am just appauled at her treatment by the media. One NY station covered parts of her sound with pictures of her ass. If a male sportscaster acts like a dick---do we cover him with crotch shots ? ( gee I think one immediately that used to work locally Miami I'd love to do that to--probably worked w/him).
ReplyDeleteI didn't at all take it as a personal attack, and even if it were, I have incredibly thick skin. It is ironic that the media is criticizing those who objectify this woman, by... you guessed it... objectifying this woman. However, she's complicit in her own media representations. That she deserves. To be sexually harrassed, she doesn't.
ReplyDeleteGood glad you didn't take wrong way. But surprised you didn't ask who was the dick sportscaster was. (Satan in a Dolphins uniform)
ReplyDeletepeople will tell you a lot more when you don't ask. If you feel compelled to rip someone, go right ahead. I don't play guessing games
ReplyDelete