To be fair to Redmond and RTE, citing statistics was probably the only acceptable response when the real truth was largely unsayable: sexism is actually an integral part of the appeal of shows like Dancing with the Stars. The dancers themselves play up the flirtation and traditional roles of the sexes - the women coquettish, the men protective and powerful. It's all princes and princesses and, in fact, these tropes mirror the appeal of amateur ballroom dancing. This is not sexism that DWTS, Strictly or any of the other shows invented. Dancing shows may serve up the sexism, but it's us who eat it up.

Source: Irish Independent March 18, 2018 18:00 UTC