Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
Theory on Penelope
raoullefere:
I was speaking of homosexuals—I'm well aware of how women, particularly upper-class women, were treated in ancient Athens, although Athenian customs were not necessarily representative of ancient Greece as a whole.
Beware of that word 'value.' It's not the same thing as equality. There were and are cultures where women were certainly 'valued,' which is one reason some powerful men amass large collections of them, much like gems or gold, to name a few other things people have valued more than human life, while cheerfully sending hordes of men off to die in battle or even labor. Rights, however, are another matter.
But, if we're going to talk 'value' as measured by monetary compensation, what sex has the most top paid athletes* is nowhere near the issue to me that the inequity between the pay given, say, male and female actors is, since it cannot be argued that the exact same job is being done by either gender (and sometimes women do it backwards—here's to you, Ms. Rogers!). It says more about our culture, too—people will apparently pay more, or go more times to see their favorite male actor than their favorite female actor in a given film. That's what's being claimed, in a round-about way, in any case.
Then there's the startling fact that suchlike as athletes, actors, and musicians are highly paid at all, idolized they way they are, or enjoy the social and political influence they do. But that's another subject.
*I think part of what sport is pays what is, and will always be, fad. Well, except for the hope that someone will be badly injured or killed while the audience watches. That 'fad' seems to be here to stay, having been around for a few millennia now. Take a look at what sports are truly high-pay, and how often permanent injury or death can occur while playing at a professional level, and I think you'll see a concurrence (except for soccer; that one I can't figure out). Anyway, this is paired by a certain squeamishness; apparently it's okay to see men get killed in the boxing ring, but not women. Many people watching female boxing don't even want to see the fighters bleed, or their faces become deformed by bruises. In other words, we 'value' women too much to see them come to bodily harm, and thus deny them a chance at the big bucks. Go figure.
Alex C:
I always thought that comment was more than a li'l unfair to Fred given that he was considered an amazing perfectionist and choreographer as well as a dancer.
Akima:
--- Quote from: raoullefere on 27 Jun 2010, 17:13 ---Beware of that word 'value.' It's not the same thing as equality. There were and are cultures where women were certainly 'valued,' which is one reason some powerful men amass large collections of them, much like gems or gold, much like gems or gold, to name a few other things people have valued more than human life, while cheerfully sending hordes of men off to die in battle or even labor.
--- End quote ---
The establishment of harems and the like is never about the value of the women, but is always a symbol of the wealth and status of the man. Whether the "collecting" is parallel as in the Middle-East, or serial as in Australia or the USA, the message is always the same. "Valuing" women on the same basis as a piles of gold, big houses or fancy cars, is to rate them as equivalent to inanimate objects. The term "trophy wife" sums that attitude up nicely.
--- Quote ---But, if we're going to talk 'value' as measured by monetary compensation, what sex has the most top paid athletes* is nowhere near the issue to me that the inequity between the pay given, say, male and female actors is, since it cannot be argued that the exact same job is being done by either gender (and sometimes women do it backwards—here's to you, Ms. Rogers!). It says more about our culture, too—people will apparently pay more, or go more times to see their favorite male actor than their favorite female actor in a given film. That's what's being claimed, in a round-about way, in any case.
--- End quote ---
I couldn't agree more. I plucked professional athletes out of the air, in an atmosphere heated by the festival of improv theatre currently being held in South Africa. There is a FIFA Women's World Cup too incidentally, but you'd be hard-put to know it, or watch any of the action, since it gets barely any media attention, and I suspect that the combined pay of all the players in the tournament would be less than that of one David Beckham. Also, I live in Australia, and down here (men's) sport is the national religion.
jwhouk:
--- Quote from: Akima on 27 Jun 2010, 18:46 ---<snip>
There is a FIFA Women's World Cup too incidentally, but you'd be hard-put to know it, or watch any of the action, since it gets barely any media attention, and I suspect that the combined pay of all the players in the tournament would be less than that of one David Beckham. Also, I live in Australia, and down here (men's) sport is the national religion.
--- End quote ---
That's funny, because the USA Women's World Cup squad is better known than the men's. (And NOT just because of Brandi Chastain's top-removal.)
Near Lurker:
--- Quote from: jwhouk on 27 Jun 2010, 19:18 ---
--- Quote from: Akima on 27 Jun 2010, 18:46 ---<snip>
There is a FIFA Women's World Cup too incidentally, but you'd be hard-put to know it, or watch any of the action, since it gets barely any media attention, and I suspect that the combined pay of all the players in the tournament would be less than that of one David Beckham. Also, I live in Australia, and down here (men's) sport is the national religion.
--- End quote ---
That's funny, because the USA Women's World Cup squad is better known than the men's. (And NOT just because of Brandi Chastain's top-removal.)
--- End quote ---
Since I'm an American... who two days ago was in a packed bar watching us get knocked out... and just had to check whether the tournaments overlapped or were staggered... I'm going to say you're full of it.
(Who's Brandi Chastain?)
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