Slap on a bit of make-up then lose weight... how Ruth was told to get on at the Beeb
BBC Scotland in sexism row over Tory leader’s claims
BBC Scotland is today at the centre of a new sexism row after Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson revealed she was told to lose weight and wear more make-up in order to get on TV.
Miss Davidson, who worked as a BBC radio journalist until 2009, was given the advice by a female ‘friend’ who was a TV reporter and is now an on-screen correspondent.
She claims nobody at the BBC cares about male staff ageing or putting on weight, yet there was concern about the appearance of female presenters and reporters.
It is the latest in a series of damaging claims that Corporation chiefs are sexist and ageist, while trade union leaders also confirmed that ‘a number of people’ in TV roles at BBC Scotland have raised concerns about sexism in recent years.
Miss Davidson, at 35 Scotland’s youngest political leader, worked for BBC Radio Scotland from 2002 until 2009. She said: ‘Some of my TV news colleagues felt much greater pressure to be seen in a certain way than their male colleagues.
‘Some complained bosses
‘Insidious bullying is unacceptable’
didn’t seem to notice, or care, about weight gain or advancing years in the on-screen men, but women worried that their opportunities might be limited in similar circumstances.
‘I worked for BBC Radio and a good friend told me if I wanted to do more television – which I didn’t – I should think of losing a few pounds and wear more make-up. I paid no attention.’
Paul Holleran, Scottish organiser of the National Union of Journalists, said there had been numerous allegations of sexism from BBC staff, ‘but none has pursued it to grievance case, which has been frustrating.
‘A lot of it is down to the attitude that if you complain it takes you back further.
‘Certain people on screen have had comments about their hair or their clothing from managers. A number have raised that.
‘That insidious bullying is unacceptable. Tony Hall [BBC Director-General] says he wants to stamp that out but that requires management training and there’s a sad lack of that at the BBC.’
In 2011, sacked Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly won an age discrimination case against the BBC and former newsreader Anna Ford has also attacked Corporation bosses for not doing enough to put older women on screen.
But public claims have not previously emerged about a culture of sexism at the BBC north of the Border.
Emma Ritch, executive director of equality group Engender, said: ‘Women on-screen in TV seem to be held to a different standard from men when it comes to conventional physical attractiveness and grooming.
‘Even women who appear on screen because they are experts, like Professor Mary Beard, are subject to vicious commentary on their appearance. It’s time for broadcasters and the public to reconcile themselves to the fact female presenters and experts come with lots of different looks.’
Alastair Pringle, Scotland director of the Equality & Human Rights Commission, said: ‘The negative impact of gender stereotyping remains an issue and we have seen a number of examples.
‘Our own research into modern apprenticeships in Scotland also suggests that gender segregation is common among some apprenticeship opportunities, with the majority of apprentices in engineering and construction being men, and the majority of care-focused apprentices being women.
‘Such stereotyping has the effect of excluding women from opportunities purely because of perceptions of their ability based on their gender.’
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: ‘No one should ever feel pressurised to change their physical appearance to suit a particular prejudice.’
A BBC Scotland spokesman said: ‘The BBC is committed to providing equal opportunities across the organisation.
‘We take very seriously claims of bullying and are leading the industry in how we treat such claims.
‘We refute the NUJ’s claim of insidious bullying.’