Jeopardy! Accused of Sexism Over ‘What Women Want’ Category

Last night’s Jeopardy! featured a contentious “What Women Want” category that prompted answers like “What is a vacuum cleaner?” “What is Pilates?” and “What are Levi’s?”.

Angry tweets from female viewers, including the actress and activist Sophia Bush, said the show stereotyped women as only being interested in cleaning, working out, and buying clothes:

.@Jeopardy? For a "smart" show, you just got srsly stupid RT @DJRumspringa: ARE YOU SERIOUS @Jeopardy?? pic.twitter.com/LEZcSw8K5A #SexismIsUgly

— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) September 29, 2014

Dear @Jeopardy: your "What Women Want" category tonight is the definition of sexism. how are women supposed to advance in life if (cont)

— c h i s a r a m (@chischisschissy) September 29, 2014

.@jeopardy (cont)...we're constantly reduced to drinking sleepytime tea, doing pilates, and cleaning the house? is this real life?? #howdare

— c h i s a r a m (@chischisschissy) September 29, 2014

@jeopardy Glad to see there are other viewers- women & men- equally as appalled as I over your sexist "What Women Want" category tonight

— April (@CordyQ45) September 29, 2014

It is not the first time some critics have called Jeopardy! sexist. Earlier this year, Salon argued host Alex Trebek expresses surprise when women win, but doesn’t when men do, and blamed the show’s producers for pitting one woman against two men in multiple episodes to showcase a “battle of the sexes.”

And another Salon writer pointed out more men make up answers than women after tracking every category and answer in 18 episodes for an op-ed last year.

This ongoing debate and the recent Twitter backlash could make producers reconsider whether a category like “What Women Want” is really what Jeopardy! viewers want.

[H/t Mashable]