Topic: Gender Bias

The Association for National Advertisers is promoting the "GEM" (Gender Equality Measure) score to identify gender bias in media. Similar to ESG scores, high GEM scores are claimed to drive purchase intent and brand reputation. Major corporations like Citibank, Ford, and Unilever are utilizing these metrics in their advertising campaigns to target female consumers and demonstrate social alignment.

Dr. Francis Collins appeared on NPR to discuss his refusal to participate in all-male speaking panels, which he referred to as "manels." He argued that implicit bias in the scientific community leads to the exclusion of women and diverse researchers from workshops and symposia. Collins vowed to boycott events that do not fairly represent the diverse scientific workforce.

The Apple Card, backed by Goldman Sachs, faced allegations of gender bias after high-profile users like Steve Wozniak reported their wives received significantly lower credit limits despite shared assets. Tech commentator Kara Swisher attributed the bias to the lack of diversity among the programmers who write the algorithms. The hosts dispute this, suggesting the code is likely written by a diverse global workforce and that the issue is more about the "black box" nature of automated financial decisions.

The hosts critique MSNBC's coverage of the YouTube shooting, noting the network's quick pivot to labeling the event a domestic dispute because the shooter was not a "crazy old white guy." YouTube announced plans to increase security at all global offices following the incident. A news clip is analyzed for a slip-of-the-tongue where a reporter refers to the female shooter as "he," suggesting a media bias toward male perpetrators.

The hosts exchange personal anecdotes about workplace behavior, discussing the line between compliments and harassment. They recall stories from a California air pollution district involving former Senator Barbara Boxer allegedly making inappropriate advances toward male staff. The conversation highlights perceived double standards in how male and female workplace misconduct is reported.

NPR reports on a Northwestern University study claiming male Supreme Court justices interrupt female justices three times more often than their male colleagues. The study highlights Justice Sonia Sotomayor being interrupted during an affirmative action case. The hosts argue that interruptions are a matter of power dynamics and conversational style rather than purely gender-based bias.

Berkeley professor Robin Lakoff published an article in Time Magazine characterizing the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails as a "bitch hunt" rooted in sexism. Lakoff argues that Clinton is being punished for "speaking while female" and that a male candidate would not face similar scrutiny for administrative carelessness.

The aggressive questioning of female CEOs like Heather Bresch is compared to the treatment of male executives, such as those from Wells Fargo. While some observers look for signs of gender bias in how lawmakers conduct these hearings, others focus on the "robotic" and rehearsed nature of executive testimony. The timing of these public rebukes of wealthy individuals is noted for its potential political impact during an election year.

The hosts analyze news segments from CBS and PBS, accusing reporters of promoting sexist tropes that portray male sexuality as simplistic and mechanical while framing female desire as complex and emotional. They dispute the comparison between Viagra, which addresses blood flow, and Addyi, which alters brain chemistry. The discussion suggests the drug functions more as a sedative than a libido enhancer.

A Washington Post article highlights complaints that office air conditioning is set to temperatures that favor men in suits while freezing women in summer attire. This transitions into a review of Rianne Eisler's book, "The Chalice and the Blade," which examines human history through "partnership" versus "dominator" models. The hosts speculate on the rise of female political leadership, citing Elizabeth Warren.

A BBC news clip featuring a man reacting hysterically to a tree falling on a car is used to argue that the American male is being feminized. The segment suggests the BBC intentionally selected this footage to insult American masculinity. The emotional reaction of the man in the video is contrasted with traditional expectations of male composure during a disaster.