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Curb Your Enthusiasm has a sexism problem, even as it tackles #MeToo this season

  • The way Larry David acted in the Season 10 premiere minimized the "horribleness of doing things like grabbing a woman’s shirt or otherwise invading her personal space, which in turn makes the women complaining seem unreasonable," says Lauren Hakimi. She adds: "By portraying women as hysterical here, especially in jest, Curb feeds into a popular, false stereotype that prevents women from confronting men who do things like grab their shirts, reach into their plates, and, in the new season’s second episode, hold their wrists so they can’t get away. And it’s not confined to just this one episode. Sexism is a problem Curb has had for awhile now. We are made to yearn for the hilarious moments when Larry acts pettily—oh, how we wish we could be like him and say what was really on our minds! But Larry’s trademark impoliteness that makes Curb funny constantly comes at the expense of its female characters, the stereotypical killjoy old-balls-and-chains who have to be portrayed as unreasonable to trigger the amusing sensibilities of Larry David and his posse of bros."

    TOPICS: Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO, Larry David