Too fat to be on TV policy? What does that mean?
It’s literally as you’ve read it; a policy that says people of a certain size can’t be on television.
Or,
That certain people are too overweight to be on television.
That is ridiculous!
My point exactly.
Who is implementing such a policy?
Egypt.
Why would any country take up such a policy? And of all places, Egypt, the preeminent civilisation known to man?
Oh please. I expected you to come up with a more valid argument than that of it being the oldest civilisation. But since you brought it up, they are probably retrograding. You know like Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, they are advancing backwards.
Advancing backwards?
Yes. They got civilized too soon, and now they are “de-civilizing.” I mean what else could explain stipulating such a ludicrous policy?
So tell me, what happened exactly?
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) suspended eight of its female TV presenters and told them to go on a diet. The union then gave the women in question a month to slim down before they can go on air again with an “appropriate appearance.” Since then, there has been an uproar amongst women’s rights groups in Egypt.
What? They actually said there is an “appropriate appearance” for an individual to be on television?
Well, they did. The mere fact that they suspended these women from work is their way of saying “there’s a standard/ideal body weight/look for television, and you don’t meet it.”
That is quite offensive. How did the women respond?
I’m so glad you asked. Their response were even more ridiculous.
How so?
Well, according to the BBC, one of the affected presenters, Khadija Khattab, a host on Egypt’s Channel 2, came out to say that people should watch her most recent TV appearances and judge for themselves if she is really fat, and whether she deserves to be prevented from working.
Really? She can’t be serious. Are there other responses?
Yes. Another presenter said the situation should have been dealt with internally and not brought to public knowledge as it had upset their families.
Okay, I’m done here. I can’t believe these women…
Me neither. I am amazed at the trivial things that seem to bother them in such a sexist-laden policy. I expected them to speak up against the union, and stand up for themselves and every single woman out there, who has been harassed for the way she looks. But clearly, all they care about is their reputation and their family’s.
I’m tempted to say they deserve what is being unloaded on them, but I won’t because they don’t. And also because they might just be scared, for all we know. I mean, this is Egypt we’re talking about here, a country notorious for its culture of repression against civil society. If you speak up – you become an enemy of the state, get jailed and god help you if you come out alive.
Woah! C’mon, it can’t be that bad…
You think? Thankfully, I have a few links. Do read if you have the time:
https://venturesafrica.com/in-egypt-there-is-an-ongoing-repression-against-civil-society/
https://venturesafrica.com/the-cycle-of-brutality-trigger-happy-policemen-are-the-bane-of-egypt/
Then decide “how bad” things are in Egypt.
Okay. But what is the public’s response?
You know how I said this whole thing is several levels of sheer ridiculousness? Well, here is level three. While some Egyptians are justifiably angry at the sexist, stereotypic policy, others are all for it. Women for that matter. Some women are actually in support of this witless policy. Fatma al-Sharawi, a female journalist at one of the state-owned TV network, actually said she thinks the policy should be applied across all local TV stations. Permit me to say, al-Shawarma or whatever she’s called, is a disgrace to women and to my beloved profession for being in support of such a policy, and for daring to speak at all.
Others praised Safaa Hegazy, the head of ERTU, as a “strong woman” for coming up with such a policy and suspending the presenters.
Wait … What? A woman is behind this?
Yes. Sheer ridiculousness level four.
Credit – BBC
Hegazy, who was once a TV presenter herself, is part of the sad and unfortunate fraction of women whom society has brainwashed with the lies and foolishness of “The Thin Ideal” and that being slim is the unquestioned standard of beauty and health. These are unreasonable stereotypes, more often than not, directed at women.
Can Hegazy please tell us how the weight/size of these women affect the content of the news they are disseminating? If a TV network is having low viewer ratings, then they should improve the quality of content, not the physical appearance of the presenters.
People have a right to make decisions about their health and body, without fear, coercion, or discrimination. But this freedom is constantly tampered with and infringed upon with decisions or policies made by society and institutions like the media – ERTU. It’s a global scandal. One that needs to stop.
You are absolutely right. So what is the way forward?
People, not just women, need to speak out MORE. Women in less repressive or less-conservative societies need to speak and stand up for women stifled in countries like Egypt.
Already, a few organisations like the Women’s Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness have condemned Hegazy’s action, asking to backtrack. But the ERTU is bent on following the decision through, saying they won’t go back on it. Imagine ours became a world where a particular body size is the standard criterion for getting and keeping jobs…
