Think back to a time, if you will, when sexist comments made against women were all too common (and widely accepted as the ‘norm’). Suggestions that women belong in the kitchen as opposed to the workplace, or that access to basic reproductive rights, were—and at this point, still is—up to the discretion of men in power, were often just ignored.
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way on the equality front and these said comments are no longer commonplace. Instead, they’re called out and reprimanded as soon as they leave someone’s lips. Of those doing the calling out are the Ernie Awards, or ‘Ernies’ for short, an Australian awards ceremony for comments deemed misogynistic.
Held annually, the awards are named after former Australian Workers’ Union secretary Ernie Ecob, who was known for his misogynistic remarks, one of which claimed: “Women aren’t welcome in the shearing sheds. They’re only after the sex.”
Now in its 28th year, the annual ceremony has released its 2020 nominations for the most sexist and misogynistic comments made so far this year—from politics to the media—and the results are truly shocking to see.
Below, some standout nominations from the Ernie Awards (being held October 1st).
Silver Ernie – Industrial
Among those nominated is Neil Scott, a Perth night club owner who said in response to a woman’s complaint about drink spiking: “She’s not a particularly attractive girl. It’s just implausible to imagine that she had her drink spiked…She’s just a very plain Jane type of girl.”
Another is Jayson Westbury, CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, who objected to Tracey Grimshaw’s reporting of a travel industry refund scandal, saying: “She needs to be given a firm uppercut or a slap across the face”.
Silver Ernie – Political
Josh Frydenberg has been nominated after declaring in Parliament: “The gender pay gap has closed”. Just an FYI, Josh, Australia’s current gender pay gap still sits at 14 per cent.
Senator Malcolm Roberts, who was speaking on Australia’s current family law system, stated: “When you’re a father, and you can’t get access to your kids, and you can’t get access to the legal system properly, what else is there to do other than check out or hurt the other person?”
Silver Ernie – Judicial
Queensland Det Insp Mark Thompson earned a nomination after stating police were “keeping an open mind” following the tragic murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children after they were set alight by her estranged husband. He said, “Is it an instance of a husband being driven too far by issues he’s suffered by certain circumstances into committing acts of this form?”
Silver Ernie – Media
Michael Leunig earned a nod for his cartoon and poem entitled Mummy Was Busy. “Mummy was busy on Instagram. When beautiful bubby fell out of the pram. And lay on the path unseen and alone. Wishing that he was loved like a phone.”
Steve Price also appeared on the media nominations list for claiming he “wouldn’t cross the road to watch women’s football.”
The Fred Ernie – Celebrity
Collectively nominated are the 2020 Shore schoolboys for their ‘Triwizard Shorenament’, a muck-up day challenge that urged classmates to have sex with “a woman over 80kgs; aged over 40; or who is deemed to be a ‘3/10 or lower’.”
Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney, also landed a nominated for referring to the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill as the “Kill Bill.”
The Warney – For Sport
Israel Folau, who claimed “bushfires crippling Australia were God’s punishment for legalising abortion and same-sex marriage”, made it on this year’s nomination list.
Jeff Kennett, president of Hawthorn Football Club, did too, for his response to the AFL being renamed to AFLM to avoid discrimination for the women’s code (AFLW). He called the potential decision: “embarrassing”, “thoughtless” and “unprofessional.”
It’s not all bad, though. The event does hand out nominations and the Good Ernie award for those who have made a significant impact by calling out such behaviour.
The Good Ernie
Actor Sam Neill earned a nomination, stating: “I actually think it would be better if men just shut up for a while… Resist the urge to shout over the top of women. Stop being boofheads. And bullies… And when someone says “You’re not the boss of me” you better believe it. You’re just a guy that messes up the house or the office.”
Andrew Hornery also appeared on the list, for pointing out the double standards that vintage male and female celebrities have to comply with to compete for Instagram ‘likes’. The women are scantily clad while the men are fully clothed.
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