The " Mating Game " !

Ever since the days of "Adam and Eve " it has been the custom for males to try and introduce themselves to females, and this has been the basis for most developing relationships.  A vast terminology surrounds what is an integral part of " the mating game " !     Asking a girl for a "date " usually involved what others called "pickup lines ", but it seems that in this more feminist dominated world such an approach is now unwelcome.

This week just such an attempt happened during a game of cricket at Hobart's Blundstone Arena when Channel 10 reporter Mel McLaughlin approached Melbourne Renegades batsman Chris Gayle for an interview watched by 800,000 people.   Gayle's response was to say -  "Just to see your eyes for the first time - it's nice.  Hopefully we can win this game and have a drink after.  Don't blush baby ".

Amazingly, this resulted in a torrent of criticism because it was claimed that the comments made Mel McLaughlin feel "uncomfortable ".  Gayle was levied with a ten thousand dollar fine and the Cricket Australia chief angrily retorted that Gayle  "would be put on notice ".  Almost hysterical denunciations were flowing from the feminist movement with Gayle's approach being labelled "sexist ", an "outrage "  and a claim that McLaughlin had been "propositioned ".     Gayle offered a partial apology, which McLaughlin accepted.

Mel McLaughlin is an attractive woman and Chris Gayle is a promising sporting hero.  It is probably considered "cheeky " that Gayle should suggest that he would like to see more of McLaughlin by way of inviting her for a drink after the game - and doing it publicly before a huge viewing audience.  Would this criticism be so harsh if he had issued such an invitation privately, after the interview ?   The main objection seems to be that this was an intrusion of a personal nature on a woman dutifully doing her job as a reporter - and as such it invaded her personal space.   A lot rests on the use of the term "baby " - which many would consider demeaning.

The relationship between men and women has been undergoing change for many decades. The marriage ceremony no longer automatically means that the woman adopts her husbands name as the family surname.   In fact, marriage is no longer the precursor for having and raising children.  The  "career woman " is no longer a novelty and the pay gap between equal work done by men or women is gradually closing.  It is noticeable that the ratio of women undergoing university education is now in greater numbers than men and women are appearing in the expanding professional entities that were once male dominated.

Social protocol is now very much dominated by a form of defensive feminism.  It is evident that many women have become thin skinned and quick to take offence at anything that challenges their values.   That is very evident in the advertising world.   Depicting a bumbling male in some awkward social gaffe or making a mess of some activity is a common theme of television advertising, but to show a woman in a similar manner would provoke a tirade from the women's lobby.   It seems that many women have lost their sense of humour.

When it comes to final analysis, was that comment from Chris Gayle so terrible that it deserved a ten thousand dollar fine - which to placate women the cricket people are donating to the breast cancer appeal ?    Is it now a crime to ask a nice young woman to share a drink later in the evening ?   Could not a simple  "No " have been an adequate response - and in this day and age of slang and colloquialisms - the use of "Babe "and "Chic " are endearments in many quarters.

Surprisingly, a passing comment which may have been very tongue in cheek has dominated the news cycle for days and absorbed whole pages of newsprint.   The glitterati have labelled it offensive and the women's movement is in uproar.   There was a time when most women would be flattered to receive a compliment - and an offer of as date !