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Family Feud sexism row: Australian gameshow under fire asks contestants 'What is a woman's job?' Answers: 'cooking and cleaning'

An Australian gameshow, Family Feud, implied that a woman’s job was cooking and cleaning

Helen Lock
Thursday 16 October 2014 12:51 BST
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TV Host Grant Denyer asks a question on the show - viewers were offended when he asked 'what is a woman's job and what is a man's job? ' on Wednesday's show
TV Host Grant Denyer asks a question on the show - viewers were offended when he asked 'what is a woman's job and what is a man's job? ' on Wednesday's show (Youtube/Family Feud)

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Australian TV network Channel Ten has apologised after a gameshow asked sexist questions that implied a woman’s job was cooking and cleaning.

Family Feud, a family-friendly quiz show, was accused of sexism by outraged viewers after airing on Wednesday night.

The host, Grant Denyer, asked contestants what people thought was a woman’s job and what people thought was a man’s job. The contestants, two families competing, have to guess the most obvious answers which are matched against a survey of 100 Australians who provide answers.

The answers came back as: "cooking, cleaning, nursing, hairdressing, domestic duties, dishes, receptionist and washing clothes." Cooking and cleaning took the lion’s share of the vote and a couple of the contestants added “ironing” and “vacuuming” to the list of suggestions.

After the showed aired on Wednesday night many viewers accused the show of sexism on social media. Some suggested that while the answers were not decided by the show, they should not have been asked the questions in the first place.

Family Feud, the family-friendly quiz show has apologised after being accused of sexism
Family Feud, the family-friendly quiz show has apologised after being accused of sexism (Youtube/Family Feud)

“The questions were ill advised and should not have been included in the show.

“The survey results are determined by 100 people and we understand they are not reflective of all Australians.”

Earlier in the show the host asked what a man’s job was, and the correct answers included building, plumbing, carpentry and mechanic.

Commentators have wondered how the questions got past the editing process, and point out that the channel is the only Australian channel with a female Head Programmer, Beverly McGarvey, and the show’s executive producer is female.

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