By Jos Truitt • @jostruitt • 12 years ago

Weinergate apparently the most important thing happening in politics

Anthony WeinerThe Women’s Media Center has put together a great statement following Rep. Anthony Weiner’s admission that he tweeted a wiener shot to a follower:

In light of the breaking news surrounding Rep. Anthony Weiner’s admission of having online extramarital relationships, the Women’s Media Center urges media to focus on productive stories that do not focus on outing lurid details of women involved in this issue, nor excessively focus on Rep. Weiner’s personal life. Stories of assault, adultery, and sexual misconduct from high profile male politicians such as Schwarzenegger and Strauss-Kahn have garnered much coverage in the past weeks, and the women involved have borne the brunt of media coverage on the wrondgoings of male leaders. As the latest news about Rep. Weiner surfaces, we urge media to cover this story in a fair and balanced fashion. Of more substance, media should be concerned about a cultural and political climate where some high powered male leaders use their positions of power to access women sexually, and encourage media to ditch harmful, irrelevant personal details.

What they said.

It’s a pretty disturbing time as far as news about powerful men is concerned. It’s hard not to get essentialist and say all men in positions of power take advantage of that using their crotch brain. Of course, Weiner’s probably the least good current example, and the one it seems we’re gonna read about the most, despite the fact that it’s not so relevant.

I like Paul Waldman’s idea at The Prospect: media should have to lead their reports on the Weiner story with “It’s important because…” If only. Sure would cut a lot of this chatter out so they could focus on what’s actually happening in government.

Boston, MA

Jos Truitt is Executive Director of Development at Feministing. She joined the team in July 2009, became an Editor in August 2011, and Executive Director in September 2013. She writes about a range of topics including transgender issues, abortion access, and media representation. Jos first got involved with organizing when she led a walk out against the Iraq war at her high school, the Boston Arts Academy. She was introduced to the reproductive justice movement while at Hampshire College, where she organized the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program’s annual reproductive justice conference. She has worked on the National Abortion Federation’s hotline, was a Field Organizer at Choice USA, and has volunteered as a Pro-Choice Clinic Escort. Jos has written for publications including The Guardian, Bilerico, RH Reality Check, Metro Weekly, and the Columbia Journalism Review. She has spoken and trained at numerous national conferences and college campuses about trans issues, reproductive justice, blogging, feminism, and grassroots organizing. Jos completed her MFA in Printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute in Spring 2013. In her "spare time" she likes to bake and work on projects about mermaids.

Jos Truitt is an Executive Director of Feministing in charge of Development.

Read more about Jos

Join the Conversation