Although, I ended my affair with the radio station by day I continued to listen to LoveLine at night. Loveline is a nightly show that is still going strong after 20 something years of being on the air. 6 nights a week Dr. Drew Pinksy (sigh, so dreamy) and co-hosts (for quite some time the co-host was Adam Corolla however now a permanent co-host has yet to be in place) take in calls from young and old who are struggling with issues of love, sex, sexual and emotional health. I have always found the show quite interesting as well as entertaining.
In the mornings I listen to the Kevin and Bean show.
I admit that the Kevin and Bean show is a guilty pleasure for me. One that I will be terminating now.
Kevin and Bean are mildy entertaining. I think that they are good interviewers and can often be quite clever in their delivery.
My issue is that Kevin and Bean are also quite sexist and homophobic. Often I hear these men refer to something as "so gay". I also hear these men refer to women they dislike in the media as "broads" or "bitches".
If that weren't enough, every Christmas season they hold a contest entitled "Miss Double December."
The contest is based on the physical appearance of a woman. It is a beauty contest that focuses on a woman's breasts.
Ok, why did I listen to this show?
I'm not sure what it is that I have been telling myself. I suppose the sexism and homophobia has been infrequent enough that I have let it slide. I know that should be no excuse. As a feminist I need to practice what I preach.
Kevin and Bean - Miss Double D-Cember Pageant 2009
I suppose it was this Double D-Cember pageant that finally did it for me. It saddens me that these men so enthusiastically promote sexism and exploitation. What's even more disappointing of course, is that these women willingly participate in such a humiliating exercise.
Well, Kevin and Bean we had some good times. You took me through many years of adolescence and young adulthood. I'm sure you'll do fine without me. I think I'll be doing even better without you.
i appreciated reading your perspective but am surprised that as a feminist you would not support the right of the women participating willingly to do as they choose rather than conform to your views of what a woman should do.
ReplyDeleteon the other hand, our show's target audience is young people and you are not the first person i have heard who grows out of the show.
thanks for your support in years past and i hope you will continue to enjoy the kevin and bean show for the many more things that we do that do not offend you than for the few we do that do.
best,
Dear Bean,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback. I'm curious as to how you came across my blog.
:)
You say that you are surprised that as a feminist I do not support women participating in exploiting activities (yes, I know you didn't use the word exploit) being that they are doing so by their own volition. I find that this is a common argument among those who support such activities.
You see, I feel that just because these women are willing to partake in the Double D-Cember pageant, that does not mean what they are doing is healthy.
If a racist individual feels that their views are appropriate does that mean we should support them?
If a murderer wants to go on killing should we support that choice?
The reason that the answer is no to both of these questions is because there is evidence that supports the fact that there are dire consequences to racism and murder.
There is also evidence that sexism/patriarchy has consequences.
If a woman willingly and even happily engages in exploitative activities I question why. I of course have not obtained the opinions of the Double D-Cember participants however, I question why they want the attention. Do you ever ask yourself(I am not meaning to sound harsh here) why these women care to reveal their body parts and accept whooping and hollering of men and women?
Why does any woman wish to appear in Playboy, porn, Girls Gone Wild etc.? Fame? Money? Attention? Validation?
I find it depressing that some women feel the way to obtain their desires is through taking their clothes off or at the very least wearing revealing ones.
I feel that the Double D-Cember pageant perpetuates the myth that a woman's job is to arouse others.
Additionally, I also mentioned that I do not agree with the homophobic attitudes that are often presented on the Kevin & Bean show. I often hear you and your colleagues align perceived male weakness and homosexuality. But of course when the idea of two women is brought up their is a sophomoric uproar in the studio.
You also mentioned that the show is geared towards a young audience. Is this to suggest that a young audience wants to hear Kevin and yourself speak in derogatory tones? I would find that disappointing.
I am assuming that we will have to agree to disagree on this one ay?
Even so I thank you for your feedback.
Yes, we will have to agree to disagree. Equating enjoying ones body to racism or murder is sad but it is your right.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog because I have a Google Alert on KROQ.
Best, Bean
I think you misunderstand me. I was not equating enjoying one's body to racism or murder. I was exemplifying a concept.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to convey that there are certain socio-political issues that present consequences. Sexism is one of those.
Thank you so much for your post on this topic. I too have been a listener of Kevin and Bean in the morning for quite some time but now feel that their show is overwhelmingly sexist. You are the first person I've come across who shares my views on their show. I not only stopped listening 2 them butI feel it's really important that I find like minded people to spread the word about this. In our day and age such blatant sexist ideas should not be reinforced and I think it's really important to raise awareness.
DeleteEN,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. I wrote this post in 2009 and as I now re-read my response to Bean -- I see how my mention of racism and murder, was not appropriate or as sensical as I had hoped it would be. Since starting this blog, I see how my writing has changed/bettered over time. I'm glad that it does.
It's unfortunate that Kevin and Bean maintain their sexist and homophobic views because they are both great interviewers and they deliver much of their material with humor and wit.
I'm glad that you got something from this post, EN. Be well.