Moments ago at this posting, Matthews said in his "Let Me Finish" segment: "Men are particularly sensitive to humiliation." Huh? Is he really sure about that? What is the implication? That you don't have to feel as bad about humiliating women than about humiliating men? Does it mean that women are so devalued anyway, that it's harder to humiliate them?
Since he brought the subject up in the context of unemployment, he seemed to be saying that not having a job is more humiliating for men than it is for women (in which case, saying that men are more "sensitive" to humiliation was an inexact way to express that sentiment.) But that, of course, ignores the many families that rely on women's salaries, especially single parent families.
This goes along with Matthews' previous joke about women being paid for making their husbands' dinners, or his gratuitous comment that it's "weird" for husbands to make dinner for their wives. I've got to wonder: What does his wife think about all this? Why is he obsessed with dinner?
His discomfort with women's public and private roles is evident every time he reflexively says the generic "guys," and then catches himself and adds "and women." Somehow, the addition doesn't seem to take away from the easy "boys' club" familiarity of "guys."
In any case: If Matthews is going to persist in these decades old stereotypes, shouldn't he at least hold himself up to the same standard he holds his guests to, and try to provide some evidence for his thoughtless assertions?
