White House Correspondents’ Dinner - Gender

This past week, at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, Cecily Strong stole the show. She had the best jokes and zingers, and became an internet star seemingly overnight. But my favorite joke, and the one i want to write about tonight was when she assembled member of the media to repeat a pledge:

“I solemnly swear not to comment on Hillary Clinton’s appearance, because that is not journalism.”

You can view her entire set here:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/04/26/the_best_joke_of_the_white_house_correspondents_dinner_and_11_runners_up.html


The joke rattled the audience more than any moment of the night, since the entire audience was the media. To Strong, she was just commented on what she saw, which is that commentary and coverage over the years about Hillary's changing hairstyles, her penchant for pantsuits and other assorted appearances are the direct result of Clinton being a woman. A man running for president would never be subjected to similar treatment. The media was making her gender too big of an issue, and I agree. Clinton has dealt with more scrutiny for how she looks for the past two decades more than any male, and that's not fair. 

In terms of the CDA, the media was using appearance and looks to judge a candidate, regardless of their politics. Googling clips of Hillary Clinton and her looks will give proof of this. What is refreshing, especially at an event full of the media, and a clip that has now gone viral, is that Strong called out the media for this. And it seems like the American people agree. The overwhelming support of Strong and her set is proof of that. The American people are tired of the media using their influence and ideology to speak on gender and appearance, especially when it unfairly targets women. In the past, the media would use their ideology to target Hillary and her appearance, and people, through their exposure to this content, would agree. But in 2015, it seems the tide is turning. Why? I think our society is more informed of these issues and care about them more. Women aren't fully treated equally yet, but we are more accepting. And those who disagree with women's rights are in the minority. It's refreshing to see the media held to more accountability. Especially when gender is going to be a big part of the 2016 election. 

Money Man and Woman Beater

Last night, Floyd Mayweather fount, and won, the largest and most money generating boxing match in history. Before even stepping in the ring, Mayweather was set to make hundreds of millions of dollars. He's easily the face of the sport, and his personality is eccentric. He does whatever he wants, anytime he wants.

But I'm not here to write about boxing. Instead, I take issue with the exploits of Mayweather outside of the ring. Mayweather is a convicted woman beater, and not just once. He has threatened to kill the mother of his children, beat his children, and has been convicted three times of violence against women (going to jail for one).

The details of the encounters, taken from court records, are hard to ignore

"At 4 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2010, Mayweather and a friend came into the house of Josie Harris, mother to three of his children. He was not affectionate. Mayweather questioned Harris about dating another man (Mayweather at the time was himself with another woman). He threatened to make her disappearThen, with those leaden fists, he struck with a champion’s ferocity in the back of her head. He pulled her off the couch and twisted her left arm. All of this comes from court papers. Mayweather’s preadolescent sons, Koraun and Zion, heard their mother’s cries and ran into the room. Pretty Boy growled at Zion: You call 911 or run out of the house, and I’ll “beat you.” He also threatened to beat Koraun.Koraun wrote a statement for the police in block letters: “I saw my dad was on my mom said go to the office he was hiting my mom.”" (New York Times). 

With a conviction from domestic violence, and a history of run in withs the law, how is Mayweather still around? This is the same day and age where Ray Rice was stripped from the NFL in a matter of minutes after a video was posted from his singular incident. A single, one time video of Rice beating his then fiancee. Rice wasn't even taken to jail that night. Mayweather has been convicted three times, pleading guilty and serving time. The same kind of accusations that Rice faced as he was publicly shamed and taken out of his sport. Rice, to this day, still hasn't been signed to a new team. How is Mayweather any different? Why is he still making millions of dollars? Why is this history and ugly charges not part of the larger conversation during the upcoming days of the fight? Where is the media powerhouse and its ability to take down any athlete they want on a whim? 

Or what about the Adrian Peterson fallout? After Peterson was found of beating his children, he was taken out of the NFL as well and suspended. The public labeled him a child beater, and he still hasn't been forgiven or signed to a new team. Mayweather told his children he would beat them in the court papers. Where is the public outcry? The fact that similar athletes have committed similar offenses, in the same media climate, and were held to a standard makes this issue even more confusing. 

Floyd, for his part, defends his actions of abuse by saying there are no pictures or video proof of him attacking a woman. And that he is black, rich, and outspoken, which is argues are three strikes against him in today's media. 

Race and gender are not issues in this case, because all three people that I mentioned are black males. Nor is nationality or religion. Personality could be a factor, but if anything, Floyd's personality makes him even less likable, as he is loud, cocky, and rude. He doesn't come off as quiet and peaceful, like Peterson. There are articles about Floyd's abuses, and it has been talked about as the fight came up, but it didn't stop the juggernaut that was the event. It didn't even slow it down. It is still one of the most profitable sporting matches of all time. And made Floyd the highest paid athlete in the world. All while we knew who he is and what he has been convicted of. In the same day and age when athletes are seemingly held to more responsibility for their actions and the medias role in exposing their mistakes. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 million women experience physical violence by an intimate partner each year. Nearly one in four women have been a victim of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Yet the media and us as an audience celebrate him in his winnings? Where is the morality that we saw in the Peterson and Rice incidents? Where are the boycotts and outcries from audiences and sports journalists alike? It seems like the media and journalists pick and choose their battles, and Mayweather is either too powerful or too influential to touch. Although to that point, Peterson was the most popular running back in the most popular sport in America. 

Floyd will cash in millions as we won the fight, and that's not even counting the pay per view sales he will get. I don't write this post as an attempt to answer why Floyd is still walking the streets and all over our television. Because I personally don't understand how it's possible.

I close with a quote from a blog post on CNN, which wrote "At its best, a boxing match can be thrilling, artistic and mesmerizing. Unfortunately Mayweather's longstanding domestic abuse issues tarnish both the sport and the fans that choose not to hold him accountable for his behavior."