Portia was way off course with women only interviews

Cloud Strife says:

07:28am | 23/11/10

An “ism” is prejudice + power. The Power is the important thing. As a male, you will never understand how much power you hold over a woman, simply through the ages old patriarchal nature of society.

Sedden says:

07:44am | 23/11/10

John is right. We all know there is one rule for them and one rule for us.

@Cloud Strife
You need to google “myth of male power”. Men as a group do not hold any power. Some men are privileged. But there are more homeless men than women, men are far more likely to be the victim of violence than women, men die sooner than women, men are the victim of death at work in far greater numbers than women, men get more diseases than women, the list goes on.

John Black says:

08:02am | 23/11/10

To Cloud Strife, I this was a male refusing to be interviewed by women all hell would break loose, but because it’s a women it’s ok. Stop “Living” if that’s what you call it in the pas and move forward. Her reason “it wouldn’t relate to them” How many interviewers can “Relate” to the person they interview? All of them all the time. Get a grip, this is sexism, plain and simple!

Steve says:

08:15am | 23/11/10

Cloud Strife can’t fathom the reality that men in power have never looked after the health and wellbeing of other men. Women and children first hey Cloud Strife and feminists insist that status quo. Sexist cows!

CommonSense says:

12:20pm | 23/11/10

Im glad Kochie has kicked up a fuss about this…why? Because we men brush everything off too easily…and im sick of this whole business about females not being recognised for their efforts or this glass ceiling crap…plain and simple MEN get the wrong end of the stick and this Hypocrisy buy fakes like De Rossi…should not be stodd for…men should start kicking up a fuss about every ‘LITTLE’ thing that we dont agree with too!!...Its about time EQUALITY was adhered to….

frank De Nile says:

05:54pm | 23/11/10

Go to your local hardware store,buy some timber, build a bridge and get over it Kochy.

Lisa H. says:

10:11pm | 23/11/10

I think that Cloud Strife is right. Mediocre men hold positions of power that amazing women are not considered for. Why? Because the social nature of humanity means that connections mean power, and social expectations can mean power… or disempowerment, depending on which side of the gender equation your bread is buttered.
A great example of this is financial power.
A crucial indicator of this power imbalance is in how family businesses are set up. How many women do you know that are running a family business with the assistance of their husband? How many women have had their husband sign on the dotted line for a business loan on their wife’s behalf?
A sense of entitlement is a crucial aspect of reaching for, and holding, power. Often, or usually, women don’t have the social support to develop that sense of entitlement.

Tim says:

08:25am | 24/11/10

Gentlemen, the fact of the matter is this: when men are sexist towards women, men say nothing. They ignore it; turn a blind eye. But the moment a woman is sexist towards men, men kick off like firecrackers screaming all kinds of injustice.

It’s not so much that there’s “One rule for them and one for us”, it’s more that men are happy to accept the status quo until it affects THEM.

What Portia De Rossi did was technically wrong (and if we’re going to whack a label on this, well let’s call a spade a spade and call it sexism), but, like many empowered women the world over (as opposed to the many door mats who simply don’t “get it”), she knew that her message and her book was a domain for women only. God only knows that she may also have had bad experiences with male interviewers giving her a hard time about a book that addresses mainly women’s issues - and how dare a book be written for women’s eyes only! Heaven forbid!

Don’t forget, too, that until recently, in this country there were men-only clubs (in fact, they still exist) that excluded people based on their gender (er, women) and barely one man complained. Why? Because it didn’t concern them. But as soon as a women’s only club opened, men across the land stood up and yelled, “Sexism!”.

So, gentlemen, if a sexism truly does bother you, then we can expect to see you at the next women’s street demonstration against sexism towards women. I’m sure that you’ll also be championing for equal wages for women in high profile CEO-ish positions, and encouraging members of the next board meeting to promote the hot-shot woman in marketing to the $250,000 role just vacated by John Smith. But that’s not going to happen now, is it? Because in all likelihood it doesn’t affect you - but it does affect a fellow man and therefore you’ll probably champion that the lesser employee get the job instead. And that employee just happens to be a man.

Oh, and by the way, I’m a bloke. Just one that has his eyes open, that’s all. Have a ripper day day, Gents, and may we smack the Brits in the cricket this week.

Alex says:

12:01pm | 25/11/10

@Tim “But the moment a woman is sexist towards men, men kick off like firecrackers screaming all kinds of injustice”. That’s bullshit out of any immediate social circle, when it’s an act of exclusion the victim is both the excluded individual and ‘righteous cause’ to which you justify your actions with.

I don’t really care for any rediculous cause for equality, if it isn’t literal equality then it isn’t equality that shouldn’t be a hard concept for anyone to grasp. The us and them stance is without a doubt the stupidest argument that could come out of any adult, particularly when dealing with actual social issues.

I wouldn’t dare pratle of statistics about mens suffering in society as to suggest some outrageous inadequacy in the liveliehood of men as compared to women and I wouldn’t dare to offer any counter opinion from the perspective a woman reflective of my perspective because it is redundant.

My gender stereotypes me to another gender which in itself is stereotyped by my gender, and that stereotype doesn’t define who I am. We already have equality in individuals, my interactions with women despite obvious consideration carry no variety of intention and that itself is equality.

Portia harms equality just as anyone who picks up a pitchfork over this, grow up people your not helping anyone.

Al says:

03:20pm | 26/11/10

Hear, Hear,
I’ve been saying this for years.
Well I for one am not going to hand over power without a fight.

John Dark says:

12:35pm | 28/11/10

Lisa H and Time: so what you’re saying is sometimes 2 wrongs DO make a right ... under certain circumstances? Once upon a time we did have men only clubs, sure. These were “less enlightened” times, where women were also quite free to have their own places. It was recognised that there would be times and places where the genders would like to take a break from each other. What’s so bad about that? But all of a sudden that became discrimination, so the men grumbled a bit but by and large they accepted it because they understood that yes it was discriminatory, and we were being told that any sort of discrimination was bad. But then it became OK to have women only clubs, organisations, Federal Ministers ... and the men went “Whoa ... back up a bit, isn’t that discrimination?”, but we were told that no it wasn’t because it was OK if it was in wymyn’s favour, as they needed a place to get away from men because blah blah blah. “But wait,” we cried “when we said that we were misogynist old dinosaurs!” To which there came a deafening silence of logic, interrupted only by the chirping of crickets and the feeble defenses of inane feminazis.  So we got the picture very quickly at that point - all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. And please don’t forget that not all men hold power, I’d say that’s more of a class thing really, which is used quite well against lower-order men as much as women. Money talks, BS walks. Personally I am all for total equality in the workplace - do the same work, get the same pay. A person should get a job by being the best candidate for the job based on merit, not something like gender. I couldn’t care less if my boss were a man, a woman, or a purple sheep - as long as they deserved the job on merit, can do it well and treat their subordinates fairly. If my girlfriend had a fantastic idea for a business with a good plan etc, I would love to help her. If we are going to say that discrimination is OK in some cases, then can we please have our men only bars back (Oxford Street notwithstanding)? At least then we might get some peace and quiet. Either have total equality or don’t, but please stop treating us like idiots with your “do as I say, not as I do” crap. In the old days at least they could claim ignorance for their social sins - women these days cannot do that. I would go further to say that it is worse to sin in full knowledge than it is to sin in ignorance, hence the charges of rampant hypocrisy against Ms de Rossi as but one small example. But I’m a white straight male, I therefore must be the Devil. And an ignorant Devil at that. Please show me how sexism against women has benefited me? Oh, and there IS a place where being a women gets you promoted far faster, gets you put on sought-after courses sooner, greater consideration in compassionate cases and gets you better postings than your male contemporaries - it’s called the Australian Defence Force.

fairsfair says:

08:32am | 23/11/10

I’ll second that. In its most radical form where it attempts to exclude mails (hello Portia!) it is some scary sh*t.

kyzz says:

09:46am | 23/11/10

exclude mails, fairs fair what does Australia Post have to do with any of this. I’m guessing you mean males?

fairsfair says:

09:50am | 23/11/10

Oh, that would be males. Nobody has anything against Australia Post…

Lachlan McKenzie says:

12:11pm | 23/11/10

That’s actually incorrect. Feminism has various definitions, but it can be roughly defined as a movement to end inequality between men and women.

This is confused with hating or excluding men, which is not feminism at all.

Portia was being sexist here. No two ways about it.

Eric says:

01:00pm | 23/11/10

Lachlan, that may be the “official” definition of feminism - but it isn’t the practical definition of what feminism actually *is*.

The “official” definition of Communism involves a world where everyone lives in peace and harmony and equality, but the reality is different.

This is no coincidence. Under Marxist influence during the last century, feminism sprouted a class theory in which men were defined as the oppressing class, and women as the exploited class.

This inevitably led to a situation in which feminists see men as the enemy - and we can see the results in this thread.

notSue says:

01:49pm | 23/11/10

Oh Eric, It makes me laugh that you *still* have to bang the ‘feminists hate men’ drum when even we feminists are agreeing that Portia was in the wrong here.  Equality means exactly that, I agree,  as long as issues affectingthe sexes are treated with equal respect by both genders. It can be edifying for women to learn about men’s issues and vice versa.

Let’s add compulsion to the obsession you labour under. It’s really rather sad.

Eric says:

02:28pm | 23/11/10

NotSue, clearly you have not read the thread. The overwhelming majority of comments from feminists are supportive of Portia’s sexism, and dismissive toward men.

And your comment is one of the dismissive ones. You prove my point.

John says:

02:35pm | 23/11/10

Every rock you turn in the so called oppressed class movement. Blacks, Homosexuals, Lesbians Bi-sexuals, Minority’s, Muslims, Children, Jews Feminism you see a communist. The so called oppressors always seem be the Church, Men, White man, White society. I think it’s a tactic of divide and conqueror. Have you noticed in most Hollywood movies, the villains always seem to be white? Amazing isn’t? I wonder what this does to the sub-conscious of the people watching these fictional movies.

Tim says:

02:51pm | 23/11/10

Actually NotSue,
you may be agreeing with Eric on this issue but don’t presume that you speak for all Feminists.
I had quite the argument about this subject last week with two women who describe themselves as Feminists.
Their viewpoint was the exact opposite of yours.

Paul Horn says:

04:10pm | 23/11/10

Equality is a myth! We will never be exactly equal so long as there are men and women. Feminism in all its sickness strives to destroy these differences by pushing socially engineered legislation down our throats creating hatred, confusion and misery in the process.

I leave you with some quotes from some prominent feminist haters I mean “leaders”
“Feminism is the theory, lesbianism is the practice.”—
Ti-Grace Atkinson

“Since marriage constitutes slavery for women, it is clear that the women’s movement must concentrate on attacking this institution. Freedom for women cannot be won without the abolition of marriage.”—Sheila Cronin, prominent member of NOW

If life is to survive on this planet, there must be a decontamination of the Earth. I think this will be accompanied by an evolutionary process that will result in a drastic reduction of the population of males.”—Mary Daly, former Professor at Boston College, 2001.

“Heterosexual intercourse is the pure, formalized expression of contempt for women’s bodies.”—Andrea Dworkin

“All men are rapists and that’s all they are”—Marilyn French, Authoress; (later, advisoress to Al Gore’s Presidential Campaign.)

“The proportion of men must be reduced to and maintained at approximately 10% of the human race.”—Sally Miller Gearhart, in The Future - If There Is One - Is Female

“I feel that ‘man-hating’ is an honorable and viable political act, that the oppressed have a right to class-hatred against the class that is oppressing them.”—Robin Morgan, Ms. Magazine Editor.

“Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women, there remains to civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females only to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation, and destroy the male sex.”—Valerie Solanas

The list goes on! I suspect Portia as with most Western women would fit in well with this lot. Question is why do Western men put up with such perversity?

notSue says:

08:34pm | 23/11/10

@Tim and Eric,
I assure you I do not presume to speak for all feminists. I wouldn’t lump us all in one basket, as Eric does, as man-hating radicals.
However, I have spoken to some of my moderate feminist friends who agree with me. I understand why sensitive subjects are often more *comfortably* discussed in one gender audiences (such as rape victims telling their stories), however I believe, as do most my friends that excluding male reporters from the discussion merely served to disallow a learning opportunity…and promote a stereotype.

Eric, no I hadn’t finished reading the entire thread, true. I was stopped in my tracks by your banging drum. If you saw it it as a dismissive comment, I’m glad you got my point! LOL!

AliceC says:

09:03am | 24/11/10

@Paul Horn

If we’re gonna sum up a gender with a bunch of quotes, here are some more:

Foolish and wretched is the man who builds his happiness on the frail and unstable affection of a woman.—Leland

There are some meannesses which are too mean even for man - woman, lovely woman alone, can venture to commit them.—William Makepeace Thackeray

A fine lady is a squirrel-headed thing, with small airs and small notions, about as applicable to the business of life as a pair of tweezers to the clearing of a forest.—George Eliot

The souls of women are so small, that some believe they’ve none at all.—Samuel Butler

Each woman is Eve throughout the ages: man grows but woman does not.—Meredith

Cunning women and witches we read ofwithout number, but wisdom never entered into the character of a woman. It is not a requisite of the sex.—Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe

It is always a woman’s fault.—Moore

Never in misfortune nor in prosperity may I share my dwelling with the tribe of women - Aeschylus

I have always been astonished that women were allowed to enter churches. What conversation can they possibly have with God? - Charles Baudelaire

Woman is a vulgar animal from whom man has created an excessively beautiful ideal - Gustave Flaubert

Whoever has trusted a woman has trusted deceivers - Hesiod

Women are all the bloody same ... you can’t love for five minutes without wanting it abolished in brats and house bloody wifery - Samuel Beckett

Like extreme feminists, there are also plenty of misogynists.

SimonG says:

02:27pm | 28/11/10

I note that all of the quotes from women here are “modern women” - that is they are notions espoused in the present.

The quotes the women use in their defence of the actions all come from a century ago or during our “less enlightened” times.

Please - if you have to dig up old quoptes from dead men who didn’t know better, then you are still fooling yourselves!

Men - of today - are enlightened to the ideas that made it wrong for men to think those things - we no longer hold to those antiquated ideas - so women who drag those ideas out of the dark ages to defend thier present cause are plainly wrong.

Women of today believe themselves still unequal - and in some ways they are - but men are beginning to feel that we also are unequal, and todays’ enightened women are being as dismissive of our feelings as we once were of thiers!

Come on - face up to reality here.

AlyssaKT says:

10:21am | 23/11/10

I agree, it surely was a stunt. But not a very well-thought out one. Ellen has no problem with men, I really don’t know why Portia would insist on appearing that she does…

Shane says:

10:36am | 23/11/10

yep, I agree, but I’ll never buy her book, nor will I allow my daughter.  I will never go see a movie of hers either.  It’s ok with me if she wants to prevent 50% of the population from contributing to her wealth.

Darren says:

10:58am | 23/11/10

JH I completly agree with you, this is nothing more than a publicity stunt to sell some more books.

Green Lantern says:

12:03pm | 23/11/10

How well did it work…...  can you name the book? 

There are over 130 comments on here and not once has the name of the book been mentioned.

rufus says:

12:48pm | 23/11/10

@Green Lantern - no, I can’t remember the name of the book but the author has been mentioned hundreds of times and her photo has appeared all over, and that’s a whole lot more mentions than would have otherwise been the case. BTW, the book’s not a News Ltd publication by any chance?

TonyInTsv says:

08:17am | 23/11/10

And when has there ever been a man in a womens change room after a game?

Tim says:

08:42am | 23/11/10

Yeah I remember the NRL footy show when Rebecca Wilson was on.
She had no idea what she was talking about and was quite useless, similar to her ravings in the Terrorgraph every week.
Is it a surprise the men were hostile to her inclusion simply for the sake of having a “woman” on the panel?

Mandy Rogers obviously believes that prejudice only goes one way.

Brent says:

10:26am | 23/11/10

Carz is right in one way, Channel 7 should have stepped in and said “no, we won’t be interviewing you on those conditions”, the same way as they would have done had a man tried to set such a condition….gutless Channel 7, simply gutless

Max Vaunted says:

10:28am | 23/11/10

My once-favourite Saturday ABC Radio Sports Grandstand (or whatever it’s called) completely lost me when it went all PC and Equal Opportunity with a female host and lots of spanky coverage of minor public interest sports like ladies netball. I’d be interested to know how many thousands of former listeners turned off with me (not that the ABC cares mind you, they get paid anyway); instead of informed action coverage of the main sports events it seems we’re now subjected mainly to interminable, droning interviews with lawn bowlers, cyclists, hurlers and lady high jumpers.

Jake says:

11:58am | 23/11/10

Since when has the most constructive response to inequality been more inequality? I certainly agree that we, as a species, have a sad history of sexism, racism and many other kinds of biggotry, but as we move forward as a society, we work to improve those things.

Why would you make the assertion that it is somehow acceptable or constructive to start excercising the same discrimination women (and many men) have fought for centuries to eliminate? This simply empowers those men who already feel like women are all man-hating “Feminazis” to retaliate with more chauvinism, rather than encouraging them to work towards equality.

Responding to one kind of unacceptable behaviour with the same is not the way forward. Your assertion is assinine.

Kika says:

03:46pm | 23/11/10

Tony - the reason why men aren’t allowed in women’s change rooms is the same reason Portia probably didn’t want men to interview her about her book. They would be focusing on 1 thing, and not the whole story. You know what I mean.

Mark says:

11:06am | 23/11/10

Could not have said this better myself. why does Koshie have to sound apologetic? The stance by her is blatantly sexist and is wrong. If Koshie brought out a book and said only white people could interview him, then there would be all hell to pay. So we substiute race for gender, and we say that it is a male being discriminated against, and apparently it is OK.

Steph says:

11:48am | 23/11/10

It’s like not telling men about things that are exclusively female - eg. the monthly cycle and childbirth and whatnot. All it does is leave the men confused and the women irritated. (irritated in certain situations - for instance a woman asking her boyfriend to pick up a pack of pads from the supermarket and hearing him go “What are those?”)

Macca says:

01:50pm | 23/11/10

@Steph, you mean those things you put under your chairs so they don’t scratch the floorboards?

dot says:

03:29pm | 23/11/10

I totally agree, jhm. It was a request, not a demand. Koch has moaned this into an issue for his own purposes.

Tom says:

08:00am | 23/11/10

Try reversing the genders in your argument Paul(ine). If women have a right to exclude men, why can’t men exclude women? Simple really.

Markus says:

08:45am | 23/11/10

Equality means she would have the same right to discriminate based on gender, sexuality or religion as men: zero.
The fact that he is concerned (note his well stated “NOT offended”) means that he knows the law in this country.

By definition all straight men think of women in a sexual way.
All straight women think of men in a sexual way too, I’m really not sure what your point is here.

Nathan says:

08:51am | 23/11/10

@ Paul, I think you have completely missed the point.
I believe the point Koch is trying to make is that Portia is campaigning for equal rights but has just gone and done the same thing that she is campaigning against.
She has discriminated against someone purely based on gender.

Macca says:

09:39am | 23/11/10

@Nathan has hit the nail on the head.

Jason says:

12:06pm | 23/11/10

When people start publicly defining themselves in terms of their sexuality (gay/lesbian/whatever) then of course they are thought of in terms of sexuality before other things - eg intelligence or kindness.  Portia and all the others like her are welcome to keep it to themselves like the rest of us.

Jeff says:

12:25pm | 23/11/10

You’re drawing a pretty long bow there Paul.

“The fact that you are offended by this just shows that, as a male, you think you have a right to tell a woman what to do”

Do you have any basis for this assertion other than your own opinion? The fact that you can state this guess as though it were a certainty seems to show more about yourself than Koch. Is it not reasonable to assume that, as he stated, he simply finds this behaviour a little hypocritical coming from someone who actively campaigns for gender equality?

As for your statement about the way most straight men see lesbians, you’re correct. You wanna know the kicker? Most straight women see both men (gay *and* straight) in a sexual light also. It’s hardwired into us and part of the reason we’re such a successful species: We love to reproduce! See Leitenberg - “Sexual Fantasy”, Psychological bulletin 117(3), 1995.

Why on earth this should preclude a male from interviewing a lesbian is a mystery to me but do you wanna hear another interesting result of that study? Women’s fantasies tend to feature them in a passive role (i.e. men doing things to them) whereas mens fantasies predominantly, unsurprisingly, feature them in a dominant role (i.e. doing things to women).

Social conditioning or hardwired subconcious gender roles? You decide!

Eric says:

01:04pm | 23/11/10

So, Paul, would you support a straight man who refused to be interviewed by gay journalists, because he was worried they might have sexual thoughts about him?

Paul says:

04:30pm | 23/11/10

I love how it’s only men who have responded to my post. How funny and predictable is that. Women have been (and still are) struggling for equality. You can’t do the old switch-the-gender argument because men will always be operating from a position of (perceived) power. If women get the opportunity to dictate to men how they want things done, then I am all for that.

Tim says:

08:04am | 24/11/10

Paul,
you write a comment deliberately baiting men and then think it’s funny and predictable that only men respond?
5 gold stars to you for brilliant thinking.

Paul says:

09:57am | 24/11/10

Actually Timmy. There was no deliberate baiting what-so-ever. I was telling it exactly how I see it. Not my fault that most guys can’t deal with the truth.

Tom says:

12:15pm | 25/11/10

@ Paul, your condescending tone ain’t making it. You sound a little bit shrill.

greg says:

02:10pm | 28/11/10

Paul it is interesting that you mentioned straight men thinking of lesbians in a sexual way. Is there somthing your’e not telling us. The reason for this reply is i cannot for the life of me understand what your comments had to do with the topic at hand. I rarely watch Koshie but sounds like you have something agains him.

Paul says:

06:48am | 29/11/10

I dunno what I am supposedly not telling you Greg. Give me a clue.

Markus says:

08:49am | 23/11/10

I’m surprised at least one of the networks didn’t think to boycott even for selfish ratings reasons.
Surely refusing to interview on the claim of a moral high ground would have drummed up more ratings for a network than another hum-drum interview with a hollywood celeb that is doing the rounds on every single Aussie network?

LOUISE BUNCH says:

03:09pm | 23/11/10

Don’t take it to heart Kochie. She has a history of being difficult. She gave a difficult CLEO interview years ago, and you all might remember she was impossible at the Logies also during her “Ally McBeal” phase. She’s a bit of a diva, has admitted her first marriage was for a green card, and clearly has emotional issues.  She has put the women’s movement back 10 years with her silly demands.

HK says:

09:06am | 23/11/10

I’m with you on this one KH.  But what I find galling is the way some of my fellows are carrying on about this (insignificant in the greater scheme of things) insult to their manhood, all in the name of sexual ‘equality’.  One would hope that they are fair dinkum and fight this fight wherever such inequality may confront them (of either gender).

marley says:

07:43am | 23/11/10

She also has the right to be ignored.  The media should have walked away from the interviews.  No publicity, no sales.  Don’t blame Portia for this, blame your pusillanimous bosses for caving to her.

Tim says:

08:53am | 23/11/10

OK Evie,
Imagine if someone said they didn’t want to talk to a black person because the issue they were discussing was race specific to white people.
What would your reaction be then?

JaneS says:

08:10am | 23/11/10

I read the book. It’s not a great read, so I imagine ramping up the publicity machine is intentional.

Ferret says:

08:33am | 23/11/10

Your statement just roundly murdered the whole equality argument women throw up. You claim on one hand that everyone is equal and that everything should be equal, but then you claim that men and women can not understand one another.

I quote you “In reality, we all know there are vast differences between men and women in the scheme of things.”

So where does this equality kick in within YOUR OWN STATEMENT.

I think you simply don’t understand a male and don’t wish to. I think you have a deep seated negative perception of a gender and attempt to hide it behind a veil of half truths and redirections. Frankly I think you are the one who is pushing against equality of genders to maintain a sense of a “special place” for yourself and your kin. Why? Cause you fail to undertand the genders completely and know it.

Kevin says:

09:58am | 23/11/10

@ Ferret
Read Catherine’s post again.  Nowhere does she mention “equality”.  You accuse her of having a “deep seated negative perception of a gender” and in the same post refer to “the whole equality argument women throw up”.
When a friend of mine at school had an accident on his bike and did some damage downstairs, he spoke to his dad.  I assume that when girls start having periods, they prefer speak to their mother about it.  I don’t see anything unusual or startling about that.

Andrew Smith says:

12:21pm | 23/11/10

Catherine if you have watched his show for years then there is obviously a reason why you watch.  This isn’t about ego as you put it.  It’s about a section of the wider community wanting acceptance and it being put back by what was obviously a publicity stunt and nothing else.  You don’t have to tell men that they can’t grasp how a woman feels, god knows I am still trying to figure out my wife, despite the fact we are happily in love and have been married for five years.  Doesn’t mean that just because I don;t understand her I don;t love her nor do I not listen.  Your final question is just blatantly dumb.

Steph says:

12:24pm | 23/11/10

First off, she shouldn’t dictate who does the interviewing. If she has an objection to redheads and a redhead was her interviewing candidate, she should suck it up. Does she or does she not want the interview?

Second off, it’s not a gossip session, it’s an interview. Okay, so women might understand what she has to say better than men, but a set of questions like “Why did you decide to write a book?” and “Have you found any challenges along the way that has hindered your literary career?” aren’t gender specific. I doubt questions like “What does this here in your book mean?” would pop up. The interview questions would be thoroughly examined before being aired and stupid or insensetive questions would be left out. Also, nor is it a counselling session. She’s not going onto TV to spill about her feelings as a female, she’s going on for an interview. Many, MANY women have been interviewed by men (and vice versa) and come out mentally and physically unscathed - Portia is just using her fame and position as a lesbian to make stupid demands.

Third, by stating that “only women get women”, you’re putting a whole gender down, effectively calling it the lesser gender. Would you say the same kind of thing about adults interviewing kids? Shouldn’t kids interview kids, since they “get each other”? Sure, we were all kids once, but then we grew up, and can’t really relate to them any more. What about the elderly? After all, only they know what it’s like to be old. Should we have elderly only interviewers for the aged? Perhaps we can move past age discrimination. What about race? What about having only Spanish reporters interview people from Spain? Or people from Belgium having their own reporter? Perhaps they should talk in their native language - after all, that’s whats most comfortable to them - and we read subtitles. Can you see how ridiculous the argument is?
Guys do try and understand how women feel. Maybe Portia should give them a chance, like she wants the rest of the world to give her.

Mark says:

01:19pm | 23/11/10

“Men really cannot grasp how women think and feel”? I find anyone who says that a whole gender is unable to understand women at all breathtakingly sexist - gosh Catherine W - I guess that all the male social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists are frauds? It’s ridiculous comments like yours that refuse to acknowledge that empathy does not reside with one gender and perhaps you should consider that a range of people are deeper than you suggest. Some of my female friends actually say that they have got more useful feedback and insights on emotional issues from male friends as their female friends pre-judge or apply stereotype filters to their responses.  However, I’m not suggesting this is the norm - it’s just the proof that sexist stereotypes of who can deal with emotional issues is just a stereotype.

If talking about sensitive issues that are gender specific - then clearly people will gravitate to their gender for privacy and a range of other reasons - but how does that apply to a book put out to publicise the problems and discrimination that the author allegedly faced - to supposedly help others not have the same problems?

StefanR says:

08:28am | 23/11/10

Bravo. But sadly you are wasting your time preaching that particular lesson here. This place is overrun by people of extreme privilege who have the temerity to claim that they are the ones who suffer disadvantage from their (dominant) gender/race/etc.

Tim says:

10:50am | 23/11/10

So it’s only discrimination if it’s men doing it to women or white people doing it to black people or straights to gays because of some sort of inate “privilege”?

Maybe you should “check your sexism” because this kind of argument is so hypocritical it hurts.

Geoff says:

11:22am | 23/11/10

What male privelge? the only privelges i see are for women. “women only scholarships, ladies night, cheap drinks for women, fernwood” They even want a 40% women board members quota for ASX listed companies.

Heck not 5 years ago the entire QUT student council got stripped of its scholarship role due to having 9/12 scholarships as “women’s excellence” and the female equality minister got fired for saying “equality does not mean treating everyone equal, boys”
 
Do you “wear red for women’s heart disease” dispite all humans being able to get heart disease?

Now back to koshie, do you really think homosexuality and body image problems are female spercific?

Steve says:

11:27am | 23/11/10

Cloud Strife, I suggest you get off your self preserving sexist pedestal and start exploring this wonderous “male privelge” you speak of. How about I sign you up in the ADF for a free all expenses paid trip to the middle east in patriarchal Afghanistan where you can share this wonderful experience of being male while liberating the women of that country? Didn’t think so. Every morning you look in the mirror, a sexist looks back at you, bitter girl.

StefanR says:

11:43am | 23/11/10

Tim: It’s discrimination all the time, but what makes discrimination a problem is when there is an institutionalised power structure to support it. Without this power structure, it is not sexism/racism etc.

StefanR says:

12:07pm | 23/11/10

Geoff: Your male privilege manifests itself in many ways, one of which is being able to pretend it doesn’t exist.

Cloud Strife says:

12:41pm | 23/11/10

@geoff
Nice derailement there.

“Now back to koshie, do you really think homosexuality and body image problems are female spercific?”

No, and that’s not what I said. I said *lesbianism* is female specific, and that eating disorders are *mainly* women’s issues.

Eric says:

01:10pm | 23/11/10

StefanR: The institutionalised power structure in this country, right now, favours women over men.

Portia is trying to take advantage of her female privilege, and in this she is supported by members of the ruling class such as yourself.

Tim says:

01:32pm | 23/11/10

Stefan,
can you not see that you are enforcing what you’ve called the “institutionalised power structure” by assuming that ALL men or ALL white people are somehow superior or advantaged just because of who they are?

Why don’t you go down to your local homeless shelter to tell all the homeless white guys how advantaged they are by the “intitutionalised power structure”
Tell them that it’s OK for a millionaire holywood star to discriminate based on gender simply because she’s a gay woman and must have had an extremely tough life.

Comments like yours and CloudStrife’s simply exacerbate discrimination and inequality rather than reduce it.

Mark says:

01:52pm | 23/11/10

StefanR

How would you know anything about the people in ‘this place”?  Please don’t tell me you are suffering from the same gross assuming virus that has stuck down Portia…. just because someone has their name listed as Mark or Geoff, they are a white privileged male? Yeah I can see the logic! Hmmmm.

As for dominance, the only form of such, even remotely connected to this story is the complete dominance of choice that has been utilised by the gay white female over 50% of the population.

StefanR says:

02:46pm | 23/11/10

Tim: That bad things happen to white men does not negate that they have inherent advantages from being white and male. Your point about homeless white men is an attempt to derail the conversation.

Highlighting that inequality exists is not the same as exacerbating it. Many people aren’t as lucky as you and can’t simply pretend that these inequalities don’t exist simply because they don’t suffer its ill effects.

Markus says:

04:04pm | 23/11/10

“That bad things happen to white men does not negate that they have inherent advantages from being white and male”

That these bad things happen to men at a rate much higher than that at which they happen to women does raise legitimate question over the claim of male privilege though, does it not?

Tim says:

04:26pm | 23/11/10

Stefan,
I wish someone could explain what these mythical advantages are that being white and male are.
And what are these inherent disadvantages of being born female or non-white?
Maybe you could enlighten me.
The only discrimination i’ve ever seen in my life has been of the “positive” kind.
Somehow designed to help people who for some reason were deemed to be disadvantaged because of their race or gender etc.

Surely we should base our social policies on actual need rather than old fashioned sexism and racism.

Rara says:

05:44pm | 23/11/10

get over yourself Cloud Strife, the only way to get others to learn about issues is to discuss it with them… surely we want everyone to understand these issues, not just women. Eating disorders and homosexuality are not only women’s issues!!!

seb says:

12:59pm | 23/11/10

My wife for years has said the same thing regarding commercials and tv shows. why is it ok to portray men as fat over weight goofs on cartoons/ tv shows?? but as soon as a theres a men only anything the womaniser go off and have a cry. its should be consistant for both sexes. but in hindsite i am not offended by much, what offends me is that others can sit on there high horse and be offended by stupid insignificant things.  if everyone looked stopped taking themselves to seriouse and realised there are faults in all of us, they world would be a better place. sexiscm, racism, all the ‘sims’ are based on people who think they are better than the other. go get a life and remember, there are far worse things in life than hating someone because of there sex. like the 7 year old girl who wont see christmas because she has a rare cancer. now thats somthing worth getting behind and upset about.

Markus says:

09:04am | 23/11/10

And if her choice was not ‘no men’ in the interviews, but no black people? Or anyone Jewish? Would you still be saying leave her be?

Sarah says:

01:42pm | 23/11/10

She is a lesbian because she doesnt feel comfortable talking to men?! Being a lesbian has nothing to do with being comfortable around men.

T - Cup says:

08:22am | 23/11/10

But, lots of men still vote for Labor and the Greens even though it’s against their interest. Very weird….

Eric says:

01:13pm | 23/11/10

Indeed, T-Cup. This discrimination is the main reason I stopped supporting the ALP and other left-wing causes.

I think other white, heterosexual men will catch on, in time. Some, like Kochie, might need a little shock before they realise what’s going on.

Lee says:

02:55pm | 23/11/10

It works both ways, many workers vote liberal when it is against their best interests. Strange indeed.

NEFFA says:

03:55pm | 23/11/10

UM, Why dont you join a men only gym?

Peter says:

08:40am | 24/11/10

NEFFA,
Where would I find one of them in Australia?

Amy says:

09:34am | 23/11/10

It’s a bit of a leap to go from not wanting to be interviewed by a man to saying she (and other ‘equal rights’ campaigners) thinks men are scum. Who’s the drama queen now, boys?

While it is most certainly not correct to say that her book contains exclusively female issues (because it doesn’t), it is definitely written from a female perspective with an intended audience of other females.

It is not that anyone is saying men won’t understand what Portia is talking about. Not by a long shot. What is being said is that men won’t understand in the same way as the target audience for Portia and her book - other women - because of the inherent differences in how each gender processes experiences such as she has had.

John Dark says:

01:03pm | 23/11/10

“What is being said is that men won’t understand in the same way as the target audience for Portia and her book - other women - because of the inherent differences in how each gender processes experiences such as she has had. “
Amy, if a man said that about women processing differently and therefore unable to understand us males, he would be vilified. You just can’t state scientific fact as a male and expect to be listened to without prejudice. Which is the whole point of most of the opinion in these comments. Please, think before you put finger to keyboard next time.

Eric says:

01:17pm | 23/11/10

“Who’s the drama queen now, boys?”

What a lovely misandrist comment. It sums up the issue perfectly.

Women are equal rights campaigners, men are “boys” and “drama queens”.

Caz says:

09:43am | 23/11/10

@Z - what women think about prostate cancer is irrelevant because any time I’ve ever seen anything televised about men’s health it’s discussed between a male doctor and a male reporter. They’re very careful to make it a chat between two men so as to attract the male viewers.

EM says:

09:44am | 23/11/10

You’re taking pleasure from people being excluded based on their gender? Wow, what a bitter and twisted person you are; you’re rotten on the inside and I feel sorry for you and your unfortunate family…

In this instance Kochie (the tosser that he is) is trying to be part of the solution to the equality issue, you are just part of the problem.

Richard says:

12:46pm | 23/11/10

Middle aged white guys do have all the breaks, I’ll admit it.

Pretty much, men born in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s have had advantages in their lives that women never had.

The 70’s was a sweet spot, both men and woment born in the 70’s recieved equal status and favour.

But ever since 1980 it was like a pole-reversal. Every male born from 1980 onwards has had to battle against female favouritism every day of his life.

Women under 30 just don’t appreciate how hard it was for previous generations of women, because they’ve just never been discriminated against. Rather, it is the men of this generation who have always been discriminated against.

Macca says:

08:33am | 23/11/10

Rubbish, she’s utilising the show for her own fame, the presenters on the show can make any comment that they like

A bloke says:

02:25pm | 23/11/10

It is her fame to utilise. The show and it’s presenters didn’t have to interview her. And yes the presenters “can” make any comment that they like. Just because they “can” make any comment that they like does not make it right. I mean how well does David really know Portia and the reason’s behind her request. Comments are baseless and pointless. He is assuming way to much without really knowing the reasons behind her decision.

Me and my Chevy says:

08:03am | 23/11/10

How is she popular? Until this I didn’t know de Generes had a “wife” if you’ll excuse the humour. If it’s such a world altering book, it wouldn’t need early morning interviews in front of over-stressed mums trying to get their off-spring ready for school etc.
Bottom line is, an author gets an opportunity to push the book, they take it as it is offered, not respond by making rules under which they are to be interviewed. I bet it was them asked Sunrise for the spot, not the other way around, in which case, they should have been told to grow up. More importantly, Koch, you should have manned up and said “no”.

@Erin - twaddle. You’re making excuses for Hypocrisy among the Sisterhood.

Calm down says:

01:35pm | 23/11/10

Me and my Chevy - you’ve obviously published a lot of books, either that or you are making assumptions regarding the process for promoting a product on a morning show. If she wasnt popular, Sunrise would not have wanted to interview her in the first place. Celebrities (whether you know Portia or not is irrelevant - others do) make demands regarding interviews all the time - from location, food that is provided and even what questions are allowed.

It would have been nice for a male to interview her, White Ribbon Day is an excellent example of how powerful it is for men to support women’s issues. However we don’t know her side of the story, I don’t think we should make assumptions that she is a “man hater” or sexist unless we know the motivations behind the request.

Mark says:

09:31am | 23/11/10

T.Chong, first time I have ever agreed with you. It makes her look very petty. Its one thing to prefer not to be interviewed by someone for a various of reasons but to refuse on the basis of sex is the very discrimination she is highlighting in her book. Go Figure. There may be no such thing as bad publicity but will it sell more books? Judging by the comments here, not in the straight community.

T.Chong says:

09:53am | 23/11/10

MarK.  I’m sure we also agree South West Rocks, just up the road from yur place, has to be heaven on earth. ?
I,m still in culture shock after 3 wks there, to be back at my regular stomping grounds, nice and all, but too many hundreds of Ks west of South West.  That part of the coast (Pt Mac to Nambucca) must have been the original garden of Eden.

fairsfair says:

12:12pm | 23/11/10

@T.Chong. I hope you are sitting down…

The absence of the capital K indicates that this in fact is a different Mark.

I’m sorry, but what you thought just happened there, didn’t.

commonsense says:

09:49am | 23/11/10

Wow… I was going to write “Look at all the males coming out saying stupid things to back up the male!”, but David, you have hit the nail right on the head! De Rossi excluded people like Hamish & Andy, what are they known for? Stupid stunts and stupid comments. And I’m sorry Kochie, but one of the things that you are known for is stupid comments too… sorry, but you are… I think she had every right to do what she did. It has nothing to do with being gay, it had everything to do with her being comfortable about the people she was being interviewed by about a very sensitive topic. Kochie, I take my hat off to you for the work you do for White Ribbon, but this time you need to leave this alone… you are only making friends amongst people already like you.

Reg says:

12:12pm | 23/11/10

Far too easy “commonsense.” Sometimes it takes an idiot remark to bring down to earth some of the people who are so far up themselves that daylight never dawns.

What you are saying is that the “talent” has the right to control the interview. In politics I believe this is often the case but in most lightweight interviews they are there as guests of the organisation and being offered an opportunity of publicity in exchange for an opportunity for the public to create a perception of what they are really like. In other-words they agree to be vulnerable. If they elect to place themselves on a pedestal, as this woman has, then they are fair game. If they are treated with disrespect by the interviewer they are expected to have the poise to handle the situation.

This woman merely flashed her audience. Gauche in the extreme.

Eric says:

01:25pm | 23/11/10

So you’re saying male interviewers can’t ask intelligent questions?

That’s very sexist.

Tripper Smurf says:

07:53pm | 23/11/10

If her motivations was to avoid funny and often tasteless questions, she could of done better than to go onto such shows as the Hamish and Andy Show, the 7pm Report and Sunrise.

You mate, need to think before you comment, and unfortuantley you are proof that both genders have their fools.

Reg says:

05:35pm | 23/11/10

That is a despicable thing to write. I was once not a fan of Koshie but I have grown to see his sincerity even if sometimes his need to ride the rail means he looks a bit bobble-headed.  You will notice, I suppose, that his female compatriots hold the show together while he is frequently the fall guy. The choice by this person, not to have a clown present at her unfrocking is merely one clown upstaging another. That said, there is only one other show I avoid with greater resolve and that is The Nanny.

Steph says:

08:00pm | 23/11/10

People like you should be put out of your misery. Seriously. How much more heartless can you be? I’m not sure I want to know….

AliceC says:

10:38am | 23/11/10

That is interesting, funny how little details tend to be left out…

Eric says:

01:22pm | 23/11/10

So if a white man said IF POSSIBLE he would like a white male interviewer only, you’d be fine with that?

AliceC says:

08:28am | 24/11/10

@Eric

Portia did not mention race, only gender.

And if a man said he’d prefer a male interviewer, I’d support that in plenty of circumstances.

For example, a woman would not be able to understand what it is like to suffer from prostate cancer, or be trapped in a mine (not sure if there are any female miners to be honest, but if there are I apologise), so for those types of topics, a male interviewer would most likely be preferbale. A woman may have an inkling, but no true understanding.

Reg says:

09:34am | 24/11/10

AliceC the world is at least bi-gender, what happen to the male or female almost always effects the other. The major thing we tend to over-look is that male and female are far more similar than they are different. Why do we highlight the differences rather than celebrate the similarity? I am male but have no comprehension of prostate conditions because I have never had it, but I do understand the horror and fear of uterine cancer or breast cancer.

DH says:

09:06am | 23/11/10

Nope, he’s actually a guy who had an opinion and wrote a pretty balanced article around his view of the subject, where it was then published on an opinion-related website, for people to come and read and comment and discuss.  If you can’t understand that, what are you doing here?

Steve says:

11:35am | 23/11/10

It is not a balanced piece if he leaves out the bit about her ‘requesting’ a female interviewer ‘if possible’. Not balanced at all.

And good to see Mr Koch doesn’t miss an opportunity for self promotion regarding his ambassadorial role with the White Ribbon foundation. Never miss a chance, Kochie.

Steph says:

12:26pm | 23/11/10

Actually, she is a woman, promoting herself. Are you telling me that only females run the Breast Cancer foundation? After all, it only affects women.

StefanR says:

09:00am | 23/11/10

It’s a nice little derail you’ve tried here, but bringing it back to the actual topic at hand:

If a black person had written a book about how expectations from a white dominated society had led to a life threatening condition, they would be perfectly justified in requesting black interviewers.

Jodie says:

11:58pm | 26/11/10

You have got to be kidding me. Female genital mutilation, women being stoned to death for being raped, sex trafficking, girls being sold into marriage before they’ve gone through puberty, women still being judged on their bodies more than their minds, women being sexually assaulted in developing countries by the law enforcement officers that are supposed to protect them, women still making less money than men despite performing better academically… You really think that men are oppressed?

Eric says:

01:28pm | 23/11/10

So if a male author refused to be interviewed by women, you’d be okay with it as long as he was marketing his book to men?

What if a male shopkeeper refused to sell his goods to women, on the grounds that he was marketing to men? Would you still be okay with it?

AliceC says:

08:49am | 24/11/10

She didn’t say who the book could or could not be sold to, only requested that the interviewer be female (a request, not a downright refusal).

Tara says:

09:25am | 24/11/10

Portia hasn’t stopped men from buying the book. She just requested a female interviewer in this particular instance. That’s it. I’ve dealt with plenty of celebrities, and believe me - in dealing with neurosis and weird requests, this isn’t so strange.

However, I don’t believe Portia’s request was a strange celebrity quirk (I’ve seen her interviewed by men before). I really do think it was more about creating an atmosphere for conversation and appealing to a certain market (I have a girlfriend who prefer to see a woman doctor, for instance. Doesn’t mean she thinks a male doctor isn’t good enough… she’s just nervous to open up around men, no matter the situation).

I agree with the broader ethos of Kochie’s piece, I just think he’s used a bad example to springboard the conversation. And it really isn’t fair to the individual (Portia). But that’s just my opinion.

By the way, I think anyone (male or female) would be offended if a shopkeeper refused to sell him/her their goods. In fact, I would be more than offended, I would be horrified. But that’s not what happened here.  I’m sure if you wanted to purchase Portia’s book, you’d be able to walk into a store and purchase it.

Julie says:

09:56am | 23/11/10

I cannot see anything odd about it at all.  I think all the male egos have been ever so deflated by her decision.  LOL - poor blokes - sob sob.

Mark says:

11:09am | 23/11/10

... and Julie’s comment sums up the attitude females have towards equal rights. if it benefits women, it is all go. If it benefits men, then there is all hell to pay!!! Julie, you are a hypocrite.

Reg says:

03:11pm | 23/11/10

I’d go along with that Mark but I think she’s just dense.

Reg says:

08:54pm | 23/11/10

Danny boy, you haven’t been reading closely enough if you’ve missed the line of depressed faux Liberals fighting for a place at the bridge rail.  Now we have fair Portia kicking them in the balls as they fall. Still I suppose that would feel better that the perpetual suffering their whinging reveals.

Steve says:

11:14am | 23/11/10

Well “gg”, a persons health, wellbeing and longevity is the ultimate expression of power surely??? And which gender has this power and over whom? Which gender lives the longest while the other dies young? Now ask yourself which gender enjoys more success in life? Which gender risks their health and longevity to reach the pinnacle of power? Women still refuse to accept guilt for their own self preserving choices and use feminism as a weapon to blame men. HA!

N says:

11:46am | 23/11/10

Frank; You’ll have to excuse me when I query the idea that female interviewers were requested as a “preference”. I would say that is very loosely termed given the media outlets who interviewed de Rossi all used female interviewers, to the point where the Hamish and Andy show brought in Fifi Box, just for this sole purpose.

If it had of been a one off example (like on Sunrise), then I would agree that it was just a preference thing, when it happens three times, it borders on a requirement. Seems to me “preference for a female interviewer” is just an appeasement line being trotted out so Portia can appear impartial.

Ruth says:

10:23am | 23/11/10

well said Carrie

Vicki PS says:

12:07pm | 23/11/10

Sam, do you really believe that she would discuss the “deepest, most personal parts of herself” on television?  If this is true, the silly woman has much bigger psychological issues than body image!  She has written a book, for god’s sake.  It will be read by anyone who chooses to read it.  She is doing a publicity tour touting the book, which is about her and her issues (which are all to do with her self-obsession).  Insisting on a girls-only interview is pretentious nonsense.

BR says:

11:36am | 23/11/10

Yet more than happy to appear on national media outlets talking about it to an audience 50% male… Specious reasoning I say.

E says:

12:45pm | 23/11/10

I agree. It doesn’t mean a man - like Kochie’s example of a single dad - can’t buy the book if they’re truly interested. How many guys who’ve made negative comments on here really wanted to buy the book or even listen to her interviews? I’d guess none of you! So why do you care? And remember how well Kyle Sandilands discussed issues of female sexuality recently, or Stephen Fry? Fair enough that she’d prefer to talk about her body and sexuality with another woman. Some of the men on here seem to suggest that having male & female changerooms is sexist! Should we all have unisex public toilets for the sake of true equality? Poor discriminated against men would love that!

Steph says:

12:47pm | 23/11/10

Sad, isn’t it? Feminism run amok. I guess they’re trying to make up for generations of being the underdog, but gee, what’s wrong with equal rights? You’d think being able to be recognised as having equal opportunities as men would suffice. Sadly, it does not, apparently. Soon, we’ll be reversing the roles, and men will be asking to be recognised as equal again.

Tim says:

04:06pm | 23/11/10

St Michael,
I can’t remember Biddulf saying that only men should read his book, can you?
And I can’t rember the Footy Show or The Circle outrightly banning panel members of the opposite sex either.
Hmm, maybe that’s the difference?

Chris Johnson says:

03:34pm | 23/11/10

Well said!
Nice to hear a voice of reason and compassion, rather than judgemental diatribes.

Tim says:

04:11pm | 23/11/10

She wrote a book FFS. It’s selling in bookstores around the country
If she’s so precious about her past then why would you put it out in the public sphere?
Sexism, Plain and simple.

David says:

07:55am | 27/11/10

Her book and what’s it’s about is a moot point when compared to her actions and her attitude.  I can write a book, too, but if I were to act like an ass in the public eye, then that’s what I would be remembered for.  And there lies the problem: for someone wanting equality, she certainly was quick to refuse the interviewer based on gender, and that hypocritical fact has been made public knowledge.  It’s not her book that many detest but her actions.  However, if we’re going to play up her ability to get a book published then let us look at the situation as we would any other: she published a book and thus is now a figure in the public eye; as with all people of such status, she is scrutinised and observed; when she does something that many find controversial, she must accept the criticism that comes with it.

Eric says:

01:32pm | 23/11/10

Fine.

I suppose then that you will be okay with it if men refuse to discuss sensitive issues with women? If males exclude females from men-only spaces? Because, after all, these issues are specifically from their perspective as heterosexual men.

R says:

02:34pm | 23/11/10

Yes Eric, yes. That’s the whole point.

JVB says:

09:56pm | 29/11/10

Waaaahhhh! It’s reverse sexism!

The world is full of men-only spaces. LITERAL boys’ clubs exist everywhere. If my partner wants to discuss his male-specific medical problems with his male doctor, of COURSE this is okay, and not sexism.

*YAWN*.

Jane says:

12:27pm | 23/11/10

Well said. I agree with this completely.
It wasn’t about her “hating” men or seeing them as incompetent. It was purely her own comfort. The issues she raises in the book are highly sensitive and personal and SHE would have felt more comfortable and at ease with a woman interviewing her. That is all it is, she is not doubting that Kochie would understand or implying that males could not understand, Portia just felt for her to really talk about the depths of the book she had to feel at ease, and if it takes a woman interview to make that happen then so be it. But that is sad for her.

R says:

12:48pm | 23/11/10

“Firstly, there’s been a fairly impressive outcry in this instance where a woman has refused to be itnerviewed by a man - so we’re approaching par on that one. “
Touche!

Markus says:

02:20pm | 23/11/10

“Firstly, there’s been a fairly impressive outcry in this instance where a woman has refused to be itnerviewed by a man - so we’re approaching par on that one.”
A single opinion piece in one newspaper is a far cry from the sheer vitriol witnessed across all major newpapers and tabloids any time a prominent male figure says anything that could (and will) be construed as sexist.
Remember the villification of Abbott after he said he would prefer his daughters to abstain until marriage?

Chris Johnson says:

03:29pm | 23/11/10

Very well said.  Can’t agree with Lola, Jane or R more.

John Dark says:

05:41pm | 23/11/10

“Preaching inclusion by practicing exclusion is doomed to failure.”
I don’t know about it being doomed to failure (although I wish it were so in every case) as it seems to have worked pretty well for women in this country since 1980, but I heartily agree with the sentiment. Perhaps more accurate to say “Preaching inclusion by practicing exclusion is both hypocritical and discriminatory.”

Markus says:

02:42pm | 23/11/10

Journalism is a high stress, cut throat industry. Why should employers be forced to offer ‘flexible’ workplaces when there are dozens of other hopefuls (men and women) waiting in the wings for an opportunity who are willing to work wherever, whenever and for whomever just to get a shot?
Perhaps those women could instead make the same horrible choice to sacrifice their family life for their careers as men have been forced to do for decades.

B says:

03:43pm | 23/11/10

Hey LT whats “winging”? could stop frothing at the mouth long enough to check your spelling? And how is it “whinging” to point out discrimination? I thought feminists were all anti discrimination….)

Its either discrimination to say “no i won’t be interviewed by a [insert sex, race, religion]” or its not. Discrimination is an absolute. If De Rossi can do it, then any male is equally within his rights to say “no, I don’t want to be interviewed by a woman” (I can imagine the uproar if Tony Abbott or Kevin Rudd said this).

Unfortunately what this behaviour from Ms De Rossi has simply highlighted the worst aspects of the equality industry. They don’t want everyone to accept their wises but they don’t have to treat anyone else the same way.

Now go and choke on your hypocracy.

Pavlo says:

04:00pm | 23/11/10

So what you are really saying is that it’s ok to be sexist, as long as sexism is directed towards males? That’ll bring true gender equality closer to realisation…  Some people are just so dumb.

John Dark says:

05:45pm | 23/11/10

B, I agree with what you are saying, but before you have a go at someone over their spelling, you might want to check your own ...

MK says:

03:55pm | 27/11/10

B…..
Critisising somone else’s spelling….
and then miss spelling hypocrisy!
HA!

Eric says:

01:36pm | 23/11/10

Would you say the same about a male celebrity who refused to give interviews to female journalists?

Brittany says:

04:09pm | 23/11/10

If it was regarding such an issue then yes Eric, I would.

Steph says:

04:03pm | 24/11/10

Sweet, I think perhaps you should leave the thinking to the rest of us. At least the typing - it’s “intelligent”, not “intellignet”. You’re not helping the cause, dear, you’re actually showing why Feminism is swinging dangerously toward its own form of discrimination. Kochie doesn’t think he should interview whomever he wants. Nowhere was that mentioned above. He said it’s the first time he’s been requested to step aside because of his gender. He doesn’t say he’s hurt, or offended, but he does query Portia’s motives - after all, isn’t she lobbying for equality for all?
Also, sweet (Gosh, with your outburst above, it seems wrong to call you that), I’d much prefer to look at Hamish and Andy than Fifi. I’d much prefer them to do the interview. And I do not believe Carrie could spout anything intelligent if it wasn’t written down for her to say first.
You go back to your Feministic - if that’s what you can call them - rants about the little men and big women, and the rest of us will continue on with intelligent conversation.

BK says:

05:07pm | 23/11/10

The question here is why aren’t the women in your life allowed to tell you to toughen up as well? Why are women expected to offer sympathy to people who don’t deserve it?

Reg says:

10:09am | 24/11/10

Goodness BK, blind acceptance of another’s judgment of whether a person needs toughening up or even whether they deserve sympathy or not. You missed an exalted career back in Germany of the late1930s.

Make room for me Eric.

Kika says:

04:25pm | 24/11/10

Of course they are. But a woman generally can listen to something personal without audibly passing judgement. We all judge, I’m not going to deny that. But sometimes venting to someone is all you want to do.  For example - if I spoke to my husband about my constant worry about eating and getting fat he would just either fob it off, tell me to get over it, or ignore it. There’s nothing wrong in doing so, in fact telling me to get over it is probably justifiable. But I don’t want to hear that. I just want someone to listen and empathise with me and understand the reasons ‘why’ - not just ‘what’

Women are different creatures to men. We communicate differently

Reg says:

04:13pm | 24/11/10

I go to a lady GP, a lady endochronologist, a lady lung function tester and a lady physiotheripist and along with a male cardiologist and a male neurologist had to explain to all of them, certain brain related functions that occurred at orgasm. The lady physiotherapist was so impressed that she expressed the wish that all her patients be as open and honest rather than hide their concern behind some charade

. To be really honest, I did choose a male urologist tho.   Are there female urologists?  Serious stuff should be treated seriously.

R says:

04:09pm | 23/11/10

“...no-one bats an eyelid”... seriously? What do you call this?

Markus says:

09:46pm | 23/11/10

@R, I call this a single opinion piece.
Note that unlike the uproar that occurs every time a prominent male says something discriminatory, not a single other newspiece has even mentioned this.

Jodie says:

02:02am | 27/11/10

“...she has never had to deal with ‘body image’ issues as she is amazingly attractive and her gay relationship has probably been amazingly beneficial to her career.”

This ignorant comment proves how little you understand about what it’s like to suffer from an eating disorder OR be a lesbian.

And yes, I’ve experienced both.

Woza says:

10:35am | 28/11/10

What a croc..  “Oh my god I had to look good to get roles on American television shows which forced me to be overly conscious of my weight”

  Boohoo.  She could always have chosen to not go into acting and work at Wallmart instead and been a more ‘healthy’ weight with a more ‘healthy’ lifestyle.  If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen.

  Men across the western world put attractive lesbians on pedestals.  If you pick up any mens magazine and read the bios of the women in them they will almost all say they’re at least bisexual.  Men are attracted to it, don’t ask me why, I’ve never particularly understood it.  However, it’s not in the same universe as what gay men have to go through.  Anyone who even pretends to think that it is is probably Portia…...... which is a wanky stage name by the way, crafted for career benefit.  See a patern there?

Look Jodie, you may be a lesbian battling weight issues and if that’s caused you issues then I feel for you but if you are then there’s no way you can relate to this woman, and if you can then perhaps you should get into television, I’m sure there’s plenty of cash in it for you.

Reg says:

10:24am | 24/11/10

Maybe they’re not pretending, maybe it’s a recessive gene. Perhaps they are forever seeking something to hide behind, the same negativity that attracts the undesirable. All these people seek to show themselves in a good light and attract the support of their audience just as any car salesperson does. Look at all the crap about football or cricket players and pop singers that finds its way into print, someone must read it and have the intended perceptions reinforced, rather than come to their own decision.

Fiddlesticks says:

08:02am | 27/11/10

Conservative? No.

Patronisingly simplistic, sure.

Koch’s game is to provide a “lead”. He’s a journo - not a very good one - who’s become a “personality” with an opinion to peddle. It’s what he does. Poorly, I agree, but what he’s after is what’s called “colour” -  to say anything, and offensively enough to get a response. Any response.

Eric, the resident Punch troll, is another, and obligingly takes the bait in an all too tediously predictable way. Thanks to the arcane rules of Punch “moderation”, that otherwise snip many of us off even when we’re replying politely to total trolling, Eric gets a lot of quite offensive posts up, for much the same reason. Colour.

Seems to me, most ordinary men with a bit of heart and a touch of common sense like most ordinary women with a bit of heart and a touch of common sense.

Far more likely than your simplistic stereotyping and finger wagging, anyway.

Fox says:

08:16am | 27/11/10

Jane, by asserting that Australian men don’t like women very much, you’re not as much being conservative as making a generalisation.  As for the way many have reacted, well let’s remember that many comments are posted by trolls and should be disregarded anyway.  The rest, may simply be their opinions and thoughts on the matter.  Can you honestly say that there would be any less of an uproar if the gender roles had been switched?

Fiddlesticks says:

10:12am | 28/11/10

Thanks for the thoughtful reply ( though I think Koch is a dill).

As for the foul-mouthed P-A, above, pfffft. Read and learn, thanks. Opinions - we all have ‘em. Larding them with filth makes them less worth, not more.

Jodie says:

02:57pm | 28/11/10

What coco said.

I’m a femme lesbian (i.e. I don’t fit the butch stereotype- I have long hair, I wear make-up etc) and receive a fair bit of attention from straight men. A lot of them really just don’t get it.

They don’t get that it’s not witty or amusing to me when I hear a jokey “can I watch?” for the MILLIONTH time.

Get this, guys, and get it good- what we have and do is NOT FOR YOU. You’re not part of it and it’s not for your entertainment, so back off. Unfortunately we live in era where bimbos in clubs and music videos will pash each other to titillate men, so men think it’s their right to ogle or comment.

I was kissing a girl in a bar once (just normal kissing, like REGULAR COUPLES do) and we looked up to see a *crowd* of meathead rugby types staring at us as if we were putting on a show for their benefit. It was disgusting.

This is the sort of crap that women like Portia will have been putting up with for years. Add to that an eating disorder largely caused by her issues with her sexuality. What part of this aren’t you guys getting?

Edward James says:

09:24pm | 29/11/10

@ Cynic you are right about marketing tool, its like influence peddling. There is no need for money to change hands. Davis Koch is on record parroting a print media attack handed to him in the Telegraph. No checking just parroted garbage promulgated in the News Limited Telegraph, lies and all ! Edward James 0243419140