Erin Andrews being treated unfairly by sexist culture

We're several days into the Erin Andrews civil trial, in which the sports TV reporter and host is suing the stalker who in September 2008 secretly filmed her while she was nude and the hotel in which it happened for $75 million in damages.

Pretty much every bit of detail that has emerged from the trial ranges from heartbreaking to disgusting — enough so to warrant a deeper reflection about the sexist culture that still very much permeates sports and the sports media. Among the lowlights:

• In the months between the leak of the video in 2009 and the arrest of Michael David Barrett, who made the video and was sentenced to 2½ years in prison, Andrews testified Monday that widespread speculation that she had somehow created the video as a publicity stunt "ripped me apart."

This was and remains sexism under the guise of skepticism.

• A defense attorney during cross-examination Tuesday suggested her career has taken off since 2009, as Andrews moved from ESPN to Fox and landed other high-profile gigs and endorsements.

On one hand, this is just a lawyer doing a job. On the other hand, the subtle insinuation here gets back into the territory of the publicity from the video somehow being "good" for Andrews. And again, that's a pretty low form of humanity.

• Andrews, who is dating the Wild's Jarret Stoll, said she was reluctant to date after the video leaked and believes it still clouds her relationship with Stoll to this day. "I feel sad because I think he would have loved the girl more who was there before this happened," Andrews testified through tears on Tuesday. "And I feel guilty about that."

These are real feelings that nobody should have to feel. These are things that very few men will experience. But we all understand this, right? I'll just check the Star Tribune comments for confirmation (note: this was before the comments on the story were smartly turned off). Ah, here's the very first one I see, from commenter "snortski":

"I hope she doesn't get a bloody nickel. An attractive lady who's been privileged every second of her life wants $75 million b/c she experienced the slightest bit of discomfort. Who cares? … She's just embarrassed b/c her body is a total meh fest, nothing special!"

The dismissive "slightest bit of discomfort," and then the objectification/shaming of her body. All in one tight paragraph.

In August 2008. Andrews was dealing with the fallout from what, in retrospect, was a much tamer story: A reporter had written about Andrews being a distraction for wearing a "low cut dress" while covering a Cubs game in the middle of summer. I reached out to her for an interview that she granted. Among the things she said:

"I'm no dummy. I'm conscious that every day I have to prove myself. Being a woman, I thought at some point we were all past this. I'm not going to change. I can't change. … I think my overall reaction is that it's really sad that in 2008 … I have people watching every single move I make."