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Tian Tian, the female panda bear also called Sweetie, looks out from her enclosure Dec. 16 as members of the public view her for the first time at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. The panda was named Wednesday as one of the 12 female faces of the year by the BBC.
The BBC's web page Wednesday showing the 2011 women's faces of the year.
The BBC's inclusion of a panda as one of the 12 "Faces of the year 2011 - the women" has caused an outrage.
The list published Wednesday included Tian Tian, also known as Sweetie, one of two giant pandas on loan from China to the Edinburgh zoo, for December. The women representing each of the other 11 months of the year are people, as are all the 12 men on the BBC's male faces list published Monday.
Freelance journalist Bob Chaundy, whose name appears at the bottom of the BBC's webpage, told the Guardian newspaper of London that he agreed the panda was an odd choice but that the selection was put together by BBC editors. He only wrote up their choices, he said.
The issue was playing out on Twitter with thousands of posts under the hashtag #pandagate.
"Here's why #pandagate matters: 3 out of 4 people in the news are men. Don't give the 1 female slot to a panda," posted Catherine Mayer.
Several Tweeters pointed out the BBC's choice was a female face "with 2 black eyes." Chaundy tweeted that's what he got from his wife over the 'pandamonium.'
The BBC's men's faces of 2011.
The BBC press office tweeted in response to the social media outrage: "Sweetie isn't the first non-human on Faces of the year list, Peppa Pig last year and Benson the carp on the 2009 male list."
The uproar was covered by news media on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Labor member of Parliament Stella Creasy told the Guardian that the broadcaster had a long way to go when it comes to representing women. "Whilst we all love a good panda story, in a year when Christine Lagarde became head of the IMF, or Helle Thorning-Schmidt became prime minister of Denmark or even the sad death of Amy Winehouse, it's frustrating the BBC couldn't think of 12 human female faces who have made the news this year."
MSNBC's The Maddow Blog challenged readers to pick a human to replace the panda.
Panda-gate appears to be just the icing on the cake frosting BBC watchers already upset that the network did not include any women on its shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year.
Members of Parliament have accused the broadcaster of "ignoring women's achievements" in sports.
Leave a Comment:
So? December's "woman" is a panda. December's man is a jerk!
Sprots personality??????
ROFL! Enma3 - I agree. Really, though: THIS is what people are outraged by? Get a grip people. There's plenty of real atrocities in the world, and besides that... Pandas are about as adorable as you can get. I don't get why people are reading drama into this, except maybe to whine a bit more with a 'what about me?' kind of attitude. Relax folks! Women who made the headlines could have included Casey freakin' Anthony.
Why anyone would need to point out that pandas have black fur around both their eyes? WTH?? Pandas do not equal or represent violence against women. Whoever came up with that needs to go back to therapy and deal with whatever issues they're going through. I can just imagine now the protesters picketing me as I buy a panda doll for my daughter, as I might be grooming her for an abusive relationship. Pschaw!
If y'all going to raise hell,put all animals for each month.....
Those who are "outraged", get over yourself. The panda doesn't give a whit about what humans do, except that their environment has almost been eliminated.
It's not like you don't have enough to whine about already? The world has serious problems. Go ahead, make something out of nothing. It means NOTHING who makes those lists. Not men or women or Panda's. Jeez I bet you women are just a bundle of joy to be around.
Pandas are cute as hell. What's the big deal. As a woman, I'm not offended in the least.
OK OK, I know how to quell the outrage... Put a bikini on Tian Tian, also known as Sweetie. Then she will be either sexy, or cute, or both, depending on your first impression. DAYyum I'm good.
My reaction to this stiry: Much like a panda, lethargic apathy.
Ahh But Ema, she is gorgeous and naturally so. No Make-up, no false or removed body parts, no special weight loss diet----in fact She IS 100% WOMAN! Why not give her a hug!
This is definitely much ado about nothing. If this is what people get upset about they really have their priorities screwed up. There are many other things going on the world that are far more upsetting than this. It is more likely nothing more than sour grapes from the people who did not see their favorite female represented on the list. All I have to say is get over it and stop sweating the small stuff. Hell, the man they picked for December is a womanizing jackass with no class who has already faded into irrelevance and you do not see men getting in an uproar about his selection. Start worrying about the real problems in the world and stop wasting time complaining about nonsense like this.
I'm not a woman. My side of humanity has always had the right to vote, the right to a fair wage comparable to others who do the same job, etc. In short, I do see how this choice would upset sensibilities.
But outrage? Really?
The giant panda is a noble creature...endangered yet continuing to survive despite the odds of low birthrates, disappearing habitats and poaching.
The panda has long been considered nearly sacred in origin. We've put them on a pedestal while continuing to exploit them for diplomatic purposes and keeping them contained.
Sound familiar?
I understand the plight of women in history. I respect it and urge others to learn from it. But I also respect the likes of Tian Tian.
And from a broader perspective, she earned her place on that list.
It is amazing what people will lower themselves to just trying to be a victim. What a silly bunch of crap. I think the panda looks pretty hot. At least she doesn't have fish lips full of botox. What a turnoff that is.
Emma3, would you please translate "sprots" for me? lol
I'm American and "a female face with two black eyes" is right. Can't tell you how many people from the UK have told me "Oh, no big deal. Everyone beats their wife."
Koalas are much cuter.
And November's woman is famous for asking Justin Timberlake on a date.
So much drama I can bearly stand it
I envy these people for having the energy to care so much about something as meaningless as a list in a magazine
Reminds me of the "war on Christmas".
"Does this bamboo tree make my ass look fat?"
Look at it this way: What woman would want to be paired with the male choice? LMAO!
What's the fuss? She's black, white, asian, , animal. female and round. How many more minority categories could some human fill?
'Cause I'm a Wooo-man/P-A-N-D-A!!! (LOL!)
Every group is always fighting for their right to call themselves a victim at every turn so they can get some real or perceived benefit somehow. This is so boring. Imagine if people stopped working so hard to claim they are a victim and instead spent their time being productive? I think the last few decades in America will be know in the future as the age of "victimhood".
PETA will be after her next. She's wearing a fur coat.
@Iamatthebeach--I was quoting the article -- if you read to the end, it said "sprots" - however, they may have corrected it by then.
Get a life.
She definitely is the best looking female in the UK.
lolllllllllllllllllll
nicest teeth, anyhow.
LMAO!!!
Bazinga!
No wonder they're all jealous.
And what kind of animal is that Duchess of Alba thing?
hahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha
Some women need to get a life! Seriously? It's just a panda.. you draw your own effed up conclusions on what it represents, that's your problem.. People need to stop being such over-sensitized wimps.
amen, amen. I asked my wife if she was offended. She is. She's offended that people (women in this particular case) cause such an uproar over NOTHING. While my "important thing" is getting our troops out of Afghanistan, her's is starving kids in Somalia. Neither of us feel that a panda on a list for either male or females is worthy of a top 100 snivel.
At least it wouldn't take dinner and three martinis to get Sweetie to come home with me, just a nice stalk of juicy bamboo... ;)
I am perfectly happy to see a Panda on that there list. Quite frankly, she has better looks than any of the women who were chosen to have their pictures posted there. And thank GOD no one picked either of the obamas for this shoot.
You rock, TianTian (Sweetie).
Its a year end list based upon some one's opinion. Who cares!
Robert: Why on Earth would your wife want to starve kids in Somalia?????
Matilda, I see what you did there.
How is it that the BBC doesn't include their new Duchess of Cambridge in the top 12?? She was kind of a big deal this year, to say the least.
She's no Jessica Ennis by any stretch of the imagination; Ennis is only the best looking woman in the UK besides being the best heptathalete on the planet. For the 2012 Olympics, the BBC is going to have to change its name to the Jessica Ennis television network.
Okay, so what the heck do I know, right? I start searching the web for pictures of Jessica Ennis........saw about 25 before I found one where I could say that she's even cute.
Really? Forget Kate Middleton-----------next thing to plain.
Excuse me while I step outside to wave my American flag.
lolllllllllllllllll
That panda looks hot.
You are obviously a citizen of the UK.
I have to say,she is the best looking of the bunch!!!!!
Well they DO look just like my ex!
Much ado about nothing.
What is a sprot? lol
You know! Weren't you ever a kid? Didn't Mom make you eat your brussell sprots? Never had bean sprots in a salad?
I'd already asked about "sprot". Having gotten no response, I googled it and my best guess is "sport". Then again, I thought Comment 1 was posted by Emma, not Enma, which makes all this even funnier.
Isn't it "sprout"?
Yep, that was insensitive.
Why is Gabriel Giffords on the list? I thought it was UK women. Anyway, she's the only one on the list that I even recognize!
'Cause she's a heroine. That makes her worthy.
Gabriel Giffords is simply luckier than some that nutcase shot. She's not a heroine. She did nothing heroic. She got lucky and survived which is very good news but it doesn't make her or anyone else in that situation a heroine. Get real.
I get a little angry whenever people start blathering about Giffords. What about the people that died that day? What about the little girl that died? Giffords got shot in the head, big deal. She survived. (That sounds really insensitive, but I feel worse for those that lost their lives.)
CaptBrngDwn, don't feel sorry for the dead... the dead feel no pain. Feel for those left behind. And getting shot in the head is...a PRETTY big deal. Just saying...
CaptBrngDwn:: What about the people who died that day? What about the little girl that died? If you really want to know, you can go to wherever and ask them. I figure that since they died they would have no comment. The ones who died actually have it better than Gabby Giffords. They are not having to live through hell. They feel no pain, they are whole and getting along. Gabby is having to undergo therapy to learn things she used to know and how to do things she used to could do without giving it a second thought.
Yes, she survived-- but what is her quality of life at the present?
@Paul Banta - she's not a heroine. She's a woman who was unlucky enough to get shot but lucky enough to survive (and I'm sure some of that is because she is a politician and received care that a regular person on the street wouldn't have received). Up until that day, I had barely heard of her. Tell me what she did to deserve the title heroine.
I've seen them in Shanghai and Beijing, and I've never met a panda I didn't like. I've hung out for hours, just watching them interact. In Mandarin, they're called "xiong mao" which literally means "bear-cat". They eat almost continuously throughout the day, because bamboo leaves contain very little nourishment. The world needs to protect these incredible animals.
gratuitous plug for my Asia blog: http://justlooklikefrog.wordpress.com
Really???? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... Sob Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... Get over it, there's a plethora of more pressing issues to be concerned about people.
I am p.o.'ed about Benson the Carps inclusion on the mens list however. Why a carp? There are many deserving flounder and tuna that have never been recognized. Why a carp?
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
the title should have been the top females not women... but seriously, at first glance i thought miss october was a capuchin monkey till i notice the profusion of hair. so i was thinking what's the big fuss about a cute panda when they have a cute capuchin...
I only know of two people on the list, and both for reasons they shouldn't even be on the list in the first place. Jan is only famous because she got shot. Yep now thats a way to get famous. Until she was shot, the vast majority of the US never heard of her. Incidentally, I am still waiting for the news media to report on ALL THE OTHER victims that day, they seem to be forgotten about these days, yet I know she has a book coming out, how nice. July is only known because of who she married, which I never cared about it the first place.
Mike:: You have our permission to be the one who interviews ALL THE OTHER victims that day. If they want people to respect their privacy and you went to interview them, you would be invading their privacy. They are probably not forgotten-- they want privacy.
Those who were killed would probably say to you "NO COMMENT".
Good Lord, is this what comes of the politically correct pampering of people? Ewwww, they are insulted because of this. Those that have nothing more important than this to be outraged about have a serious condition called cranial rectal inversion. I'm not sure it can be cured.
The world is going to &^^%$^&* in a handbasket and this is what they worry about? The panda should be insulted.
Who is supposed to be proofreading this inane story anyway? Hello, "Sprots Personality of the Year"?!?!?!
dumbest controversey ever
Stupid choice for December -- or any month, for that matter! Lumping together women with animals -- BBC needs to wake up and join the 21st century. Who cares if they used an animal on the men's list before; the point is that women are under-reported and -represented in the news already, we don't need this garbage taking up space.
maybe your frustration would be better suited towards the women on the list who are simple part of a royal family, who were born into their position instead of earning it
Oh so it's OK to put animals on the men's list but not on the women's list? You into equality much? I bet you really hate men don't you?
So putting animals on the men's list is okay, but it's not okay for the women's list?
I'm a woman. I want equal rights for women. Not special rights.
Katina, there really aren't any better women to top this list. I find the panda to be an apt choice.
Talk about first world problems..
Katina1, under-reported and -represented? I understand that in the UK a teenager can sign a waiver and legally pose topless on the front of one of their trashy tabloids. You can that under-reported?
Since the BBC's done the same thing on male lists in the past I don't think theirs anything wrong or sexist about it, I think people might be overreacting a little.
No, really?
I enjoyed reading the reactions on this Newsvine thread about the adorable panda, and I've noticed the really cute expression on her face.
Since I actually do not know the other 11 ladies shown above, I must admit, not only do I think the panda is a perfectly legitimate choice, but the breed, at least in my experience, has for decades been represented as a lovable critter, and there have even been stuffed animals copying the panda, created as a cuddler for young children.
Shoot, the panda is the best looker in the bunch. I wonder if that is the reason those ladies have been protesting and whining about it?
Seriously? Come on people - get a clue on reality. There's ALWAYS something to complain about what that's all you look for.
Good grief...
Sexist twits picking an animal. This is sexist in that the selection shows no regard for women, expecially the other selected. gabbie giffords is an odd duck pick to, why? She went to a mall and got shot, so unfortunately did many other folks this year, especially in Bahgdad or Kabul....
Some people might be prone to believe that this is proof that women truly do just like to complain and 100% in keeping of their mature It and that it does not seem to matter the degree of pettiness of an offence or if it real or imagined, the opportunity to complain for any reason seems to give them reason to draw their next breath.