Sexism in tennis has nothing to do with why Serena was docked a point, and it has nothing to do with why McEnroe was given unique slack that other male stars were never afforded (it was because people adored, it drew views, and made everyone more money).
It's quite brilliant. Why let society hold you responsible for your actions? Brand yourself a victim, and voila! We're spending pages talking about fucking McEnroe instead of the fact that Serena's coach was openly violating the rules, and on Serena's reaction when she was held accountable for this. If "she's not a cheater", she should be livid with her coach, not the ref.
McEnroe isn't the norm, isn't all men, isn't a stat spread; furthermore, importuning for trial by proxy (especially an exceptionalist, historical one) is a ridiculous logical defense. Yet look! It has an audience! It has already steered the conversation away from Serena's petulant misbehavior. People are suiting up as knights for poor little Serena. It's a farce. So I don't find the people upset at her to be the problem.
The problem is the astonishing lack of education that got us to a place where people fall for this crap, and ironically do so by perceiving themselves as enlightened. The war against bigotry has been appropriated by groups and individuals with varying self-interested agendas intent on other goals that has nothing to do with ending bigotry, and in fact, is simply breeding a new generation of bigots. The latter prejudge everything according to race and gender theories which excuses any crimes against those perceived as "oppressed". They do not possess the education or cleverness to separate when that is real from when that is not.
I chose Serena to demonstrate this effect, and I chose quite wisely, indeed.
