Quirky World: Lunar hootenanny goes looney on women

CHINA: China’s annual Lunar New Year variety show, which mocked unmarried women and suggested female officials provide sexual favours to get promoted, has led to online outrage and some state media to urge more attention to discrimination against women.

Sexism at the gala is nothing new. But this year, women’s rights activists have sent an open letter to broadcasting regulators demanding that reruns of the show be suspended and that the director and state broadcaster China Central Television apologise for it.

This year’s gala was directed by a woman, who hasn’t publicly commented on the criticism.