1/. Horrific!
@lindsaylohan interviewed by David Letterman in 2013.
2/. INTERVIEWER: Everyone’s talking about it

BRITTNEY] shy smile] What?

INTERVIEWER: Your breasts

#BrittneySpears getting asked about getting breast implants, aged 16, on German TV.
3/. In 1975, Michael Parkinson introduced Helen Mirren as the “sex queen” of @TheRSC

He asked if her “equipment” or “physical attributes” had prevented her from becoming a serious actor, & whether the size of her breasts “detract from the performance”.
4/. “We should say Miss Fookes is the most gorgeous redhead"

In 1970, Janet Fookes MP, had to put up with thiis

Today, no interviewer would talk to an MP or Congresswoman like this

But whilst behaviours may have shifted, prejudices live stubbornly on.
5/. INTERVIEWER: Were you able to wear undergarments?

SCARLETT JOHANSSON: What kind of interview is this?

INTERVIEWER: Is that inappropriate?

SJ: To ask someone what type of underwear they’re wearing? What do you reckon?”

This interview was last year!
6/. This short thread, spanning five decades of misogyny, shouldn’t come as a surprise

It’s been the mood music accompanying all our lives

Some think things have got better, but with misogyny & abuse being ‘democratised’ by social media, I would disagree
7/. The point of this thread wasn't to encourage a pile on against Letterman, Parky or that weird Dutch guy

It was to highlight the fact that sexism has been part of our culture for a very long time

Growing up in a culture, you assume that the behaviours of adults are "normal".
8/. To those asking "why weren't you outraged at the time?"

Maybe we were

Or maybe we were too young to understand misogyny & structural inequality back then

Or maybe culture taught us this was the way things were

The Benny Hill Show had 21 million viewers in 1970’s Britain.
9/. “Women are perceived to be a
failures when we’re sad & pathetic when we’re angry. Women are ridiculous when we’re militant & unpleasant when we’re bitter. Women are deranged we want justice & man-haters when we want accountability & respect from men.”
You can follow @StefSimanowitz.
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