Oddly enough, the biggest problem I have with some programmes (incl. Stargate, which I actually like!) is not so much that they are deliberately racist or sexist, but the fact that they are rabidly trying to not offend their viewers and end up being *accidentally* racist and/or sexist. Regrettably, the perception of the viewing demographic is set by the concept of a white, middle-class male American audience with a large disposable income. Appealing to this group often means *leaving out* women, non-Americans, the aged, the too-young (or at least, the not-allowed-to-drink), non-Whites, or non-middle-class. And the not-unattached. Anyone who might be an uncomfortable topic to highlight, in fact. If any of the above show up in an alien society, said society or individual will be placed in a position somehow inferior to that of the watching demographic. (Sometimes technologically, sometimes morally). Thus, the audience will not have their delicate little sensibilities bruised by a challenging topic, and the television producers may continue to make money. The same logic shows up in non-sff too, and occasionally obtrudes enough that I cannot watch a show at all.

*Sigh*. It bugs me on a nit-picking, OCD level to have demographics messed with (ask me my biggest bug-bear re: the Matrix).