Kathryn Bigelow (pictured) is only the fourth woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best director in the event's 78 year history. The Hurt Locker director joins Lina Wertmuller (Seven Beauties, 1975), Jane Campion (The Piano, 1993) and Sophia Coppola (Lost in Translation, 2003), none of whom went on to win.
Bigelow is arguably closer to the coveted Oscar than any of her predecessors. Her victory at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) awards in January saw her become, surprise, surprise, the first female to win that award. The DGAs are a stronger precursor to the Oscars than the Golden Globes (in which Bigelow lost to Avatar director James Cameron). In its 62 year history, only six times has the DGA winner failed to follow up with an Oscar.
Bigelow, a true pioneer, is nonetheless, a prime example of the problems women face in their fight to be taken seriously in the workplace. The numerous sexist references made to Bigelow's appearance at the DGAs took much of the sheen off her success. The most grating comment came from fellow Oscar nominee and openly gay Precious director Lee Daniels (surprising given that his film is about a young girl who is taunted because of her looks), who informed Bigelow 'your film is as beautiful as your legs. You make me question my sexuality.'
Others, such as her star Jeremy Renner chimed in with 'the only thing to rival Kathryn Bigelow in a bikini is Lee Daniels in a one-piece'.
While ostensibly compliments, these remarks undermine Bigelow's achievement as they take the focus from her capabilities and place it squarely on her sex. As Andre Soares reported on the Alt Film Guide:
'Comments abounded on Bigelow's looks ... on the fact that she's a woman. Had she been a handsome guy, I wonder how many remarks would have been made about his physical attributes. And how many male directors and presenters would be publicly questioning their sexuality.'
Objectification of women's bodies has repercussions. Macquarie bank stockbroker David Kiely was lucky to keep his job when he was sprung downloading raunchy images of model Miranda Kerr on live TV. Few may think he deserved to be sacked, but as Macquarie University academic Cordelia Fine wrote in The Age, it is a mistake to think that actions such as his are harmless:
'Consider a study that showed one group of men a series of ads portraying