Until recently, the three main anchors at the local ABC affiliate WAOW in Wausau, WI, were Erik Mrotek, Melissa Langbehn and Pam Warnke. I say recently because it appears that Mrotek is no longer with one of the station’s anchors. Regardless, the trio shared anchor duties for years. During commercial breaks for Grey’s Anatomy or Private Practice, the station would run promos featuring Mrotek, Langbehn and Warnke for its 10 PM newscast.
The promos would be a conglomeration of the three photos, something like this (only Mrotek was in the mix):
I was always irritated when I saw these promos, as well as the few times I watched WAOW. Mrotek appears to be (very) overweight while Langbehn and Warnke are extremely thin. I am sure Langbehn and Warnke work hard to maintain their weight out of simple vanity and all that (the camera does add ten pounds, you know), but as women working in television, they must feel enormous pressure to be thin. Mrotek obviously doesn’t feel that pressure.
This double standard occurs in the national media as well. On MSNBC, Mika Brzezinski and Andrea Mitchell are stick-skinny. Fox trio of News’ blonde anchors (Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly & Greta van Susteren) are tiny. Does CNN even have any female anchors? Oh yeah, Campbell Brown. Yup, she probably spends an hour a day in the gym, too.
The male anchors don’t seem to have to worry about their weight, though. For every guy that takes care of himself (Hello, Carlos Watson!), there’s another that needs to spend some serious time in the gym. (Yes, Keith Olbermann, this would be you.)
Then there is Glen Beck and Ed Schultz. Forget the fact that Beck is probably an evil genius masquerading as a paranoid schizophrenic who spouts crazy conspiracy theories. Forget the fact that Schultz can be extremely obnoxious, using his TV show as forum for his personal temper tantrums. Every time I see either of these two men, I wonder if they would have shows in prime time, if they were women. I highly doubt it. Beck is overweight. Schultz is probably clinically obese. (I have no personal knowledge of that. I’m just assuming from looking at him.)
If their names were “Glenda” Beck or “Edwina” Schultz, would they still be in prime time?
Fat chance.
Photos “borrowed” from WAOW, Fox News & HuffPost
So true, Danine. Even in news, where women are supposedly taken more seriously than, say, in Esquire (topical!), there’s still pressure to conform to a patriarchal image, and let’s not forget how having TWO, wow, TWO females in prime time (Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer) is going to start a CAT FIGHT! We need more representation, period.
You and Amanda said it all!
Also, remember that post that was circulating a while back about beer bellies being sexy? I think this problem shows up in news, but reaches MUCH farther!!
Beer bellies on men, I meant. Sorry.
I actually don’t remember the beer bellies are sexy post. Was it satirical or actually saying they are sexy? In that case call me FURIOUS because men’s beer bellies are “sexy” but fat women are a special porn fetish? UGH.
You forgot Limbaugh. While he doesn’t have a tv show, he’s on tv a lot and everyone knows what he looks like.
Actually, you’re right. Radio is a separate beast but the only women in radio that I know of are Laura Ingraham and Dr. Laura. That’s the right. On Air America, Rachel Maddow and Ana Marie Cox are all thin. Ed Schultz is a product of Air America (I think). The double standard is also there in radio.
ARRGGGHHHH.
Has anyone read Alex Jones’ open letter to Glenn Beck…
I have to say he totally exposes Beck.
http://lookfromabove.com/news-politics/open-letter-to-glenn-beck-by-alex-jones