Offender: Law & Order episode "Dignity"

Media Outlet: Aired 10/23/09 on NBC

Offense: Law & Order presented a physician who performs abortions as a murderer and advanced anti-reproductive rights propaganda.

NOW's Analysis: Law & Order loves to do "ripped from the headlines" stories, and this episode was clearly based on the recent assassination of Dr. George Tiller. The show outrageously implied that physicians like Dr. Tiller may be culpable in their own murders because they themselves are baby killers. The episode might have been titled "Dignity," but it did little to acknowledge the dignity of women and the service providers who risk their lives to provide safe and legal abortions.

The episode was loaded with anti-abortion sentiment and propaganda. Several of the supposedly pro-choice characters on the show were guilted into questioning their values. The plotline that included the doctor killing a baby after birth was purposely inflammatory -- an assault on Dr. Tiller's memory and quite possibly a provocation to zealots who need little encouragement to view all abortion providers as murderers.

You only need look at the comments on the NBC website to see that Law & Order hit the mark with the anti-choice crowd.

Take Action: Tell NBC what you think about the "Dignity" episode of Law & Order.

Lisa Bennett, NOW Communications Director, October 27, 2009

More offenders in : Television, Reproductive Rights, Media Hall of Shame

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Offender: One-A-Day Teen Advantage Vitamins

Media Outlet: Commercials airing nationwide and products on store shelves

The Offense: Bayer, the maker of One-A-Day Teen Advantage, is peddling sex-specific vitamins that claim to promote healthy muscle function for him (in a blue and green box) and healthy skin for her (in a pink and orange box).

NOW's Analysis: According to the One-A-Day website, among the the "top health concerns of moms and teens" are the fact that teenage girls need to have healthy (read: aesthetically pleasing) skin, while teenage boys should have healthy muscle function. In case potential consumers aren't picking up the difference, the vitamins come in color-coordinated boxes, the pills themselves have been dyed pink or blue, and "for Her" and "for Him" appear on the boxes in fonts that were clearly chosen to convey feminine or masculine vibes.

In reality, most of the actual ingredients of the two products are the same, working toward the same ends: supporting a healthy immune system, bone strength and energy. The issue here is not the contents of the pills, but rather the way in which these differences are marketed. The message sent to girls is that looks are paramount, and by contrast, their own strength is unnecessary or irrelevant. Likewise, boys are encouraged to be active and adventurous -- there's even a Major League Baseball logo on the boys' box, while the girls' box features a breast cancer awareness ribbon. But, why shouldn't girls be concerend with having healthy muscles? And surely boys would like healthy skin, too, right?

While having sex-based differences in nutrition is understandable -- women typically need more iron, for example -- the method of packaging and advertising that Bayer employs is insulting. Not to mention, promoting these sex stereotypes to girls and boys during their teenage years lays a foundation for a lifetime of buying into rigid gender roles.

Take Action: Write to One-A-Day Vitamins and Bayer and tell them what you think.

Jess Hobbs, NOW Communications Team, September 10, 2009

More offenders in : Media Activism, Advertising, Objectification of Women, Television, Internet

Rank this item with our Misogyny Meter: Currently 2.68/5 1 2 3 4 5 i

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Offender: Meredith Vieira and Andrea Mitchell on the Today Show

Media Outlet: NBC, airing on 8/11 and 8/12/09

Offense: Two mornings in a row the Today show focused on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's feisty response to a question about President Obama that reportedly was mis-translated into an inquiry about her husband's opinion on a policy matter. Anchor Meredith Vieira claimed that "some" were speculating that Clinton was either jetlagged or "jealous" of her husband, while correspondent Andrea Mitchell added that Clinton was "having a bad hair day."

NOW's Analysis: Ok, so we gave the guys at The Washington Post a hard time for their stupid beer video. Which means the folks at the Today show really deserve to be called out for their coverage of Hillary Clinton's recent trip to Africa. Rather than focus on the serious issues that Clinton was addressing on her trip -- including the use of rape as a weapon of war in Congo -- the Today show chose instead to concentrate on Clinton's response that she would be happy to speak for herself, thank you very much, because Bill Clinton isn't secretary of state.

Leave it to the mainstream media to emphasize this trivial drama and Clinton's hair over an important subject such as the ongoing epidemic of sexual violence against women in eastern Congo. Instead of doing their viewers a service by informing them about this critical issue, the powers that be at Today preferred to distract them with empty chatter.

The sad thing is, Andrea Mitchell even acknowledged that Clinton was going to be meeting with rape survivors later that day, and that she had already traveled to seven countries and given 22 speeches -- yet Mitchell just couldn't resist that "bad hair day" dig. Why exactly was it crucial to comment on Clinton's hair? We'd love to hear the reason. Vieira wrapped up the segment by saying that Clinton's response represented a "big bump in the road." Seriously?!

Plus, on the second day of trying to turn this misunderstanding into a political crisis, NBC's Ann Curry and Vieira admitted it was sad that the media were focusing on this angle of this story. Wait a minute . . . These women must have some decision-making clout at the Today show, right? Vieira is co-anchor and Curry's been there forever. They don't just do the segments the producers tell them to and read the words the writers draft, or do they? These women must have some power to help determine the news they report, and they should be capable of doing a far better job.

Take Action: Write to Meredith Vieira and urge her to cover some real news instead of jumping on any chance to bash Hillary. We've heard that other media, not surprisingly, also chose not to focus on the reason for Clinton's trip to Africa. Please write or call any media outlet you observe demonstrating sexism in its coverage of women while refusing to cover women's rights issues in depth. You can look up individual media contact info here. Finally, read about the crisis in Congo -- the story that many media outlets are ignoring in favor of meaningless "controversy" coverage.

Lisa Bennett, NOW Communications Director, August 13, 2009

More offenders in : Objectification of Women, Violence Against Women, Television, Media Hall of Shame

Rank this item with our Misogyny Meter: Currently 3.32/5 1 2 3 4 5 i

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