Women Take On Sexist Image in Italian Media

By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
Published: June 17, 2009
ROME — Even before the brouhaha over “Noemigate,” the scandal sparked by the nebulous liaison between Silvio Berlusconi, the septuagenarian Italian prime minister, and the teenaged Noemi Letizia, Italian women had been pondering their collective self-image.

On television, the Italian penchant for adorning soundstages with skimpily clad, surgically enhanced showgirls has radically metastasized, spilling over from game shows to all forms of entertainment, including the nightly news.

See the entire article at :
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/arts/18iht-women.html

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"Tremate, tremate, le streghe sono tornate!" - Italian feminist slogan

It's no different here in Germany. I've always objected to the use of photographs on covering letters for job applications. A first opinion should be formed on qualifications first and progressed at interview. My own boss actually rejected one job application because the applicant (female, photo) was wearing too much make-up (in his opinion), and another one because, after praising her to the heavens during interview, rejected her because she was (in his opinion) too fat. Oh no, he couldn't possibly look at that everyday. What a waste of resources and potential. Sad.

Unfortunately, institutionalized Sexism knows no borders or boundaries.

I wonder how Italian culture will respond (if at all.) Thoughts?

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"Tremate, tremate, le streghe sono tornate!" - Italian feminist slogan

Unfortunately research shows that interviewers make up their minds about applicants within the the first 30 seconds or so of an interview (both male and female applicants) - but why would anyone ask for photos with a C.V. ??? (I wouldn't apply if one was requested, and I'm gorgeous ). I have interviewed people for jobs, and whilst a "pleasing" appearance may help if everything else is equal, a polite,friendly and happy disposition will win if the qualifications are met - not looks alone. The down side of the "young and beautiful" women is that they may be thought of as "short term" because they may well leave to have children and are not worth the investment in training, and the expense of maternity leave, so the beautiful people don't always win.

[QUOTE=Markymark;25283]Unfortunately research shows that interviewers make up their minds about applicants within the the first 30 seconds or so of an interview (both male and female applicants) - but why would anyone ask for photos with a C.V. ??? (I wouldn't apply if one was requested, and I'm gorgeous ). I have interviewed people for jobs, and whilst a "pleasing" appearance may help if everything else is equal, a polite,friendly and happy disposition will win if the qualifications are met - not looks alone. The down side of the "young and beautiful" women is that they may be thought of as "short term" because they may well leave to have children and are not worth the investment in training, and the expense of maternity leave, so the beautiful people don't always win.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for posting, Marky-Mark. Miss your opinions and ideas.

Speaking of which, I agree that interviewers often quickly make up their mind, to the disadvantage of the interviewee. And yes, asking for a photo with the C.V. strikes me as odd, too...

Of course, the idea that a "young and beautiful" woman is not worth the investment of training because she can become pregnant is incredibly narrow-minded - and yet, I have known H.R.'s that think that way.

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"Tremate, tremate, le streghe sono tornate!" - Italian feminist slogan

QUOTE]

Thank you for posting, Marky-Mark. Miss your opinions and ideas.

Speaking of which, I agree that interviewers often quickly make up their mind, to the disadvantage of the interviewee. And yes, asking for a photo with the C.V. strikes me as odd, too...

Of course, the idea that a "young and beautiful" woman is not worth the investment of training because she can become pregnant is incredibly narrow-minded - and yet, I have known H.R.'s that think that way.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Stephanie. Unfortunately I have also taken that view - not because of appearance, but given a recently married young woman, or an older one with two children, or a man, who would you choose if the qualifications were equal? For me, to protect the company's profits, I would exclude the first - sexist, or just plain common sense?

I think some might might actually think the exact opposite, the woman/man with kids would take more days off as their children might be sick, have a match, or need help with their exams if they are young.
it's really annoying having women and men who don't even look alive and look like plastic dolls on t.v. having not only younger generations (not all of younger generations by the way ) but also people with low self confidence thinking that another plastic surgery to make them look better is what they need to change their monotonous lives and so if they don't look good they feel worthless thus changing them from human beings to more dolls on the shelves, all identical as they are all after the same standards, angelina's lips, salma hayek's body etc.etc....

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"you can't please all people, but you can please yourself" the great philosopher NOURAN

It's standard here. As gorgeous as you are , you wouldn't even be put on the pile of "possibles".