A BBC Commentator Is Catching Some Flak For Playing To Casually Sexist Stereotypes During The Broadcast

Metro- She became Britain’s most successful female Olympian of all-time after winning her fourth gold in Rio but Laura Trott was still subjected to casual sexism after her fiance, Jason Kenny, won his sixth gold medal.

Kenny, 28, drew level with Sir Chris Hoy on six golds after a sensational ride in the keirin final at the velodrome.

Trott, 24, made history earlier by becoming the first female Briton to win four gold medals at the Olympics and watched on as fiance Kenny equaled Hoy’s record.

However, Chris Boardman, who won a pursuit gold for Great Britain at the 1992 Olympics, sparked outrage in the aftermath of Kenny’s win, saying: ‘She’s [Trott] doing all the emotion for him – he’s [Kenny] looking at her wondering what’s for tea!’​

Just to clarify, "what's for tea?" is often I question asks me! It's nothing to do with gender!!

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) August 16, 2016

@salihughes As his wife, I can tell you he never asks me to make tea, It's like saying what's on TV?

— Sally Boardman (@Sally_Boardman) August 16, 2016

You know what is truly "casually sexist"? Assuming that the British equivalent of the question "what's for dinner?" is sexist just because it's directed at a woman. I personally find it sexist that certain outspoken cycling viewers believe that the implication that someone should be cooking is specific to a certain gender. Jeez ladies, men can make their way around a kitchen for reasons other than eating too, ya know? After all, it is 2016 and oft-used innocuous inquiries can no longer be considered marginalizing dependent of who they are being asked.

You want to live in an inclusive society in which all people - regardless of their reproductive organs - are treated equally? Me too, that's why stereotypes that were once rooted in truth are no longer relevant. I don't know why Chris Boardman brought up food when two members of an engaged couple were both celebrating something as admirable as Olympic Gold. The timing of that seems a little odd. I don't know why he thinks the way in which he and his wife talk to each other is common of the entire viewing audience. That feels a bit narcissistic. I don't even know why he believes one of the people celebrating a victory that required a massive amount of physical exertion is hungrier than the other. I'm sure Laura Trott's appetite got worked up just as much as her emotions. So yeah, he surely could have done a better job choosing his words given the circumstances. However, if asking your future life partner to make you a sandwich is no longer demeaning - because we live in a society in which everyone is on lunch duty at one point or another - then making inferences that someone is thinking such isn't either.