Germaine Greer’s recent spray about our Prime Minister’s backside got me thinking about the treatment of women in high ranking public positions. Aside from my disappointment in Greer’s comments, what still continue to surprise me is how this sort of derogatory statement about a person’s personal appearance became okay to broadcast publicly as entertainment.

Think about it.

Say you went up to a coworker and commented on the size of their rear end, in front of all your co-workers. Most people are polite and restrained enough not to, but if you did, you’d probably find yourself in front of the boss explaining yourself pretty quick. Some people can take a joke, others will just not speak to you again unless they have to, and some may fill your car boot with old fish heads.

High profile women in the media are often subjected to gender based criticism in a manner that is not often directed at men. A tongue in cheek smirk at Tony Abbott’s choice of swimwear excluded (oh come on, even he pokes fun at himself). I ask, why can’t a critical comment be made in a manner that is well... with manners?

Surely a point can be made, without having to resort to comments about a person’s bodily appearance, sexual preference, or dress sense? It’s not the most intelligent argument a person can put forward now is it? Yet this sort of stuff is seemly sought out and published, because sensationalism sells.

Back to Germaine Greer.

It could be said that her comments just added to the buckets and buckets of criticism thrown at our Prime Minister’s appearance, and that it really shouldn’t make any difference - because everybody does it, right?

But here is a perfect example of how this kind of thing can do damage to a person’s credibility. It only takes one short comment about Ms Gillard’s backside. Greer, the author of the most influential pro feminism book of our time, showed us that there is a possibility that her philosophy is a sham, that she will sell out for a moment in the spotlight once again.

It’s disappointing to say the least.

Late last week a high profile radio announcer finally had his ears pulled by the Australian Communications and Media Authority after publicly attacking a colleague on air when she dared to write a bad review about one of his shows.

I read the review, it really wasn’t that bad. If he does it again the radio station loses its licence, ouch.

Will this ruling set a precedent, and start off change before this kind of loose lipped personalised public criticism becomes indoctrinated as a way to maintain fame and notoriety, and accepted by those who watch it? We can only hope