Facepalm: Top 10 Anti-Feminist Gaffes of 2014

Get ready to facepalm, people! In no particular order, here are the top anti-feminist gaffes of 2014:

“It’s not really about asking for the raise but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along. And that I think might be one of the additional superpowers that quite frankly women who don’t ask for raises have. Because that’s good karma, that’ll come back.”

–Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during a panel at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference

“Let’s be honest. Does anyone not believe that Congressman Annie Kuster is as ugly as sin? And I hope I haven’t offended sin.”

–New Hampshire state Rep. Steve Vaillancourt in a blog post about U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH)

“You have nothing against feminism itself, but when did it become a thing that every celebrity had to state their position on whether this word applies to them, like some politician declaring a party? Let’s stick to the issues and quit throwing this label around like ticker tape at a Susan B. Anthony parade.”

TIME correspondent Katy Steinmetz in the magazine’s controversial “worst words” poll

“It’s the same reason why young women on juries are not a good idea. They don’t get it! [They don’t have the] life experience of paying the bills, doing the mortgage, kids, community, crime, education, health care. They’re healthy and hot and running around without a care in the world. … [They should be excused] so they can go back on Tinder or Match.com.”

–Fox News co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle on why young women shouldn’t vote

“A few days ago you called me a rapist, in the [capitol building]. And I said I wouldn’t rape you because you’re not worthy of it.”

–Brazilian Congressman Jair Bolsonaro on the floor of the national legislature to colleague Maria do Rosário after she denounced the human rights violations of a former Brazilian regime that Bolsonaro supported

“Hillary Clinton needs the single ladies’ vote. I call them ‘The Beyoncé Voters’—the single ladies. … They depend on government because they’re not depending on their husbands.”

–Fox News host Jesse Watters during a news segment on the Hobby Lobby decision

“I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re part of the First Family, try showing a little class. … Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”

–Elizabeth Lauten, former communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN), referring to outfits worn by the First Daughters to the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony

“We also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation. Not that there’s real provocation, but the elements of provocation, you got to make sure that you address them, because we’ve got to do is do what we can to try to prevent the situation from happening in any way.”

–ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith in the aftermath of the Ray Rice elevator video

“I didn’t want to offend any athlete with my words. I regret that this joke has garnered so much attention. I don’t think this incident deserves so much fuss.”

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev after he referred to Serena and Venus Williams as “the Williams brothers” on a talk show

“The bottom line is this, ladies: You would not care if all these guys were hot. They would be bolstering your self-esteem, bolstering your ego. There is nothing more that a woman loves to hear than how pretty she is.”

–Steve Santagati, career mansplainer, during a CNN segment on Hollaback’s viral street harassment video

To sum up feminists’ collective response to these *headdesk* moments, we look to the epic shade fellow CNN guest Amanda Seale threw at Santagati during that interview:

“Ugh” graphic and photos of Satya Nadella, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Elizabeth Lauten courtesy of Flickr users Topher McCulloch, OFFICIAL LEWEB PHOTOS, puffydown and Ballon Stretch, all licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.

 

About

Associate editor of Ms. magazine