Not just creepy, totally inappropriate

FeministLawProfessor brought my attention to ABC news journalist Martin Bashir's recent sexist remarks while addressing the Asian American Journalists Association.

Bashir told the audience, ”I’m happy to be in the midst of so many Asian babes. In fact, I’m happy that the podium covers me from the waist down.” He also said a speech should be “like a dress on a beautiful woman — long enough to cover the important parts and short enough to keep your interest — like my colleague Juju’s,” referring to Juju Chang (below right), his Emmy award-winning colleague at ABC. Bashir (above left) has reportedly apologized to his hosts for his remarks.

Did he actually write that joke into his speech????

Bloggers at Degrasian comment on Bashir’s gaffe here:

We’re ladies. And we’re genetically programmed to love compliments. We like it when you notice our hair, our clothes, our shoes, our skin, our bods, our earrings, our eye makeup, our cute moles, our weird cowlicks etc. and say really nice things about them. Nice respectfulthings (wolf-whistling, cat-calling, and yelling out your car window–need we say it even?–don’t count).

What also doesn’t count as a compliment is telling us that looking at us gives you a ragin’ boner. * * * Furthermore, we Asian ladies … are sick of being seen–even appreciated–en masse. We don’t want to be viewed only as a group. That makes us feel interchangeable and un-special. We want you to see my cute mole, her weird cowlick, and that chick-over-there’s uniquely fine ass. We want, basically, for people to tell us apart.

I love this response, because it's so honest. The fact that Bashir said such a sexist thing (even if you aren't an Asian woman, it's not right), especially during a speech, really makes me want to flare my nostrils in disgust, but it takes the edge off a statement that makes me scowl.