I Am Woman, Hear Me Ignore

I've always thought that sexism to its fullest extent follows the old credence "women should be seen, not heard" - Die Hard seems to have this the other way around.

Even in the 1980's, the Los Angeles Police Department was an equal opportunity employer - for better or for worse. Before the likes of Lara Croft and Sydney Bristow ushered in a new era of girl power, feminism wore a much different face, complete with concealer makeup. In fact, the female officers in Die Hard don't kick ass OR take names. Sure, they look pretty. But a fat load of good that does John McClane as he tries to send an SOS from the roof of a besieged Nataktomi Tower.

I suppose, in a pre 9/11 world, anonymous calls on emergency frequencies were no big deal - and the word "terrorist" wasn't such a hot-button. Not even when the call for help is cut short by automatic gunfire in the background do the ladies at dispatch take McClane seriously. And what does this teach us? That women can't be trusted in life-or-death situations. Any amount of professional incompetence can be overlooked - but only as long as they're hot. All I have to say is thank Christ these girls are only working dispatch, and not running around LA with guns. If you HAVE to employ women in your place of business, make sure that they're in a position with the smallest potential for screw-ups.

So, if YOU'RE ever trying to make an emergency call in a life-or-death situation, you're probably better calling a male civilian than a female cop.