Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. This time on journalism’s way-back machine: an 1870’s defense attorney argues that a man can’t be held responsible for killing his estranged wife’s lover—because, let’s be honest, she was kind of a ho.

This Week In Sexist History:

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Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when recently decapitated Arabian women competed for ink with adorably mischievous train-track terriers!

This Week In Sexist History, a double billing:

followed by:

Read More “This Week In Sexist History: Decapitated Women Vs. Mischievous Terriers Edition” »

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when male reporters did not prefer their women to be dripping wet from head to toe. I know—it was a crazy, crazy, time kids. This week, our intrepid NYT columnist goes on—and on, and on, and on—about “what the fair sex wears in the surf,” insulting everyone. Pages upon pages of beach-bound misogyny, footnoted for modern readers, below.

This Week In Sexist History:

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In case you were wondering what happened to those crazy bitches picked up for “female hysteria” prior to 1900: it’s pictured.

“illustration of French pelvic douche device” via Wikipedia Commons.

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when all female behavior could be explained away simply. Sure, turn-of-the-century journos called it “insanity,” “mania,” or “hysteria,” but we know the real diagnosis: She’s a crazy bitch.

According to historical Washington Post archives, August is a banner month for crazy bitches. But there’s a quick solution for any late-summer onset of the vapors, whether it’s from the heat, a cheatin’ man, or a too-full pocket book: oh, just throw her in the insane asylum! (The therapeutic pelvic massage comes later).

Diagnosis: It’s hot.

Read More “This Week in Sexist History: Crazy Bitches Edition” »

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when men were publicly embarrassed for actin’ slutty, because women were too weak to be responsible for their own actions.

This Week in Sexist History:

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It’s been a banner week for Sexist History! First, we revisited an 1893 New York Times piece which informed us why children are the sexiest swimmers of all. Then, we wrote some Sexist History of our own and discovered why male models may inhabit sexism’s final frontier. Now, for some Sexist Art History: Why we should give a shit about Judith Leyster, some painter lady who was born like 400 years ago.

Read More “This Week In Sexist Art History: Judith Leyster And the Rapiness of Yore” »

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when beach-bound girls were sexy, confident, and refreshingly childlike!

This Week In Sexist History:

Read More “This Week In Sexist History: Bathing Beauties Edition” »

Newspaper stories from the good old days say the darndest things. So every week on the Sexist, let’s take a ride on journalism’s way-back machine, to a time when women were either too fat or too thin, but never just right. Yeah, they did that shit 100 years ago, too.

This Week in Sexist History:

Read More “This Week In Sexist History: Too Fat! Too Thin! Edition” »

Behold a common argument deployed by modern sexists:

1. Establish your concern for the women’s movement by admitting that things used to be pretty bad for chicks, back in the olden days when institutionalized sexism dictated that women couldn’t vote or hold jobs out of the home.

2. Your feminist prowress now established, assert that since women are now legally freed to pursue activities beyond babymakin’, all sexism has miraculously disappeared in the workplace, in inter-personal relationships, and in entertainment.

3. Declare anyone who says otherwise a sexist.

This sexist argument—that sexism used to exist, but no more—tends to collapse whenever vintage sexism rears its ugly head. Modern sexists, like moths drawn dangerously close to the flame, can’t help but defend the olde-tyme sexism. You know, the kind that was par for the course back when women couldn’t vote or work or take birth control or avoid being legally raped by their husbands.

Read More “Vintage Sexism Finds Modern Defenders” »