Prominent national newspaper The Australian is under fire for its obituary of famed author and neurophsyiologist Colleen McCullough, who died on January 29, aged 77.
Award for worst opening lines of an obituary goes to ... #everydaysexism
The opening paragraph of the obit was immediately ridiculed online for its sexist and inappropriate language.
HOW WAS THIS APPROVED WTF RT @ashmcghee: YUCK. The @australian's Colleen McCullough obit. v/ @joanna_mcc
Worst thing about McCullough obit is it's framed as the highest compliment. "Plain and fat but men still wanted her!" PHEW.
Comparisons were also made to Bruce Courtenay's obituary in 2012, noting the stark contrast between the tone of each.
Compare w/ Bryce Courtenay's http://t.co/fyBRRTSl2O RT @JennaGuillaume: WHAAAAATTT via @sophbenj
@angelapriestley @JennaGuillaume @sophbenj "Nevertheless"? So, a woman can be witty regardless of her appearance. Well, that's a relief...
Twitter users also began writing their own obituaries mocking the paper.
McCullough was a successful writer & neurophysiologist, but "she didn't let being fat & ugly get her down" was the best they had.
“Plain of feature, and certainly overweight, she was, nevertheless, somehow able to have people like her. Even though she was a grosso”
"Hundreds have gathered weeping as news of Colley's death spread. They were overcome with sadness knowing they'd never get to kill him."
Ultimately, the stuff-up just adds to problems already recognised in the media.
Let's be honest though, this isn't a problem unique to a particular newspaper. This is a mistake often made in describing women.