Sexist headlines?

Question

Why does it seem that headlines regard males as the norm and must distinctly indicate sex if it is a female involved in a story? Yahoo's headline, "Female suicide bomber kills 15" is insulting, because if it had been a male suicide bomber, the headline would not have read, "Male suicide bomber kills 15" but would simply have said, "Suicide bomber kills 15". If we were to replace sex with race, would there not be an uproar? "Black suicide bomber kills 15" would be highly protested. This isn't fair to females or males, as it disregards females and paints males up to be inherently vicious. Why is this type of reporting still accepted?

Answer 1

Try an article that appeared in the London Times recently about a prominent female American banking CEO. The article felt the need to go on about how she was married to a professional wrestler.

Could you EVER imagine an article in a conservative newspaper about a male banking executive that felt the need to spend one-third of the piece discussing his wife?

Answer 2

In this case it's because usually the suicide bombers are men. Now a woman has commited suicide for the glory, and as a way of making money for her family. Ignorance is sad.

Answer 3

Chigga is right- people are far more fascinated by the deranged actions of women than by men. Think about it- men have been killing and being violent for centuries. But a woman whipping out a gun and killing a bunch of people is newsworthy because it doesn't happen as often. It's the news responding to societal reactions- they use headlines that they think will get more pizazz. Until we as readers become more colorblind when it comes to gender-biased news, they will continue to advertise their stories like that. They would never advertise a story like black suicide bomber because they would be sued and bitched at by everyone- look at Don Imus.

Answer 4

Because it is not typical for a female to be a suicide bomber, it is some thing out of the norm. Just as we mention Hillary Clinton's sex, Obama's race and Romney's religion, they are all out of the norm for presidential candidates.

Answer 5

Look for more women from that part of the world choosing to end their lives this way. That's because many have lost their husbands to war and since they live in a culture that prizes virginity, they know they will not be able to find another one. As a result, they have the choice of begging on the streets or blowing themselves up in a crowd. Which one do you think they will choose?

Answer 6

Female suicide bombers are a rarity.

Probably because their afterlife is so different.

Male suicide bombers are told they will go to paradise and be greeted by a harem.

Female suicide bombers are told they will go to paradise and be with their families.

Now THAT'S a tilted reward system.

Answer 7

Perhaps it wouldn't make a difference in the US, but in The middle east, it is just as surprising as a "Female gets involved into politics" headline.

Answer 8

The overwhelming majority of suicide bombers are male; women are rarely involved in this activity. When a suicide bomber is a female, it makes for 'bigger news' because it is so out of the ordinary.

I disagree that this has anything whatsoever to do with 'sexism'.

Answer 9

It's accepted because guys don't care that it reads "Suicide bomber kills 15" We know we're more violent than females...so what do we care? Political correctness gets carried away sometimes.

Answer 10

The media are dumbfounded by the shown fact that the human beings of this united states of america do no longer fall for his or her crap this is marvelous that they think of he may be the nominee thinking older electorate do no longer vote for him and that they are interior the regular public bear in techniques the toddler boomers? how old are they now?