Comments received during February 2006.
From Emily
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: Great article, im glad
its not just me who is concerned about this issue that has become accepted as
normal and part of our culture.
From Malgosia Brunsz-Steane
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: How refreshing was to
find that I am not isolated in my view that pornography ruins women’s chances
for true equality and respect from the world. That reinforces stereotypes of
women being in constant service to the men. Sadly we women are also
responsible for that situation. Those who sale their body, those who do not
bring their sons up to respect women and those who don’t demand higher
standards of behaviour from own husbands and other man for a sake of not being
laughed at or negatively labelled. Unfortunately those women who fight for man
by constantly pleasing them as if their life depended on it are also not
helping improving men’s attitude towards our gender. Women who snatch other
women’s husbands and are disloyal to their own gender help to proliferate
men’s ideas. We need to act in unison, just as men do, to protect our rights
and produce change. I cannot see this happening soon. Many thanks. Kind
regards
From Jake Stoyle
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: I am a 26 yr old man
living with my partner, a feminist theologian!!! Just want to say that your
article was excellent in its informed description of our society and has
helped me to understand the issues far better. Just remeber that there are
lots of men out there that agree with your points of view. infact id go
further than that, that agree with your truth. excellent article.
From Jackie Ladbroke
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: I have to say I agree
with Rachel – Lad mag culture is unbelievably degrading to women and the fact
that young kids and teenagers are absorbing this kind of shit is very
disturbing. However, whilst the aims of groups such as SWAP are certainly well
intended and admirable, I think they are misguided. Like the rise of the
reality TV show, these kinds of magazines are merely another reflection of our
‘lowest common denominator’ culture and to attempt to ban them or censor them
would be to deny the current climate that we live in. This is not to suggest
that we should grudgingly accept the status quo but we should ackowledge the
less savoury aspects of a pluralistic society and allow them to show
themselves for the tedious rubbish that they are. Similarly, I think groups
like the BNP should be allowed a platform from which to speak, so as to enable
us to hear what they have to say, regardless of how offensive it may seem to
us. Attempts to repress never work – these attitudes will not go away. Also, I
don’t think the imbalance of lads and girls magazines is quite as pronounced
as is described in the article. The concept of the girls magazine as espousing
the virtues of a loving, kind partner over and above how ‘fit’ he is, or how
well-endowed, is not strictly true.. I was ‘treated’ only the other day to a
‘torso of the week’ in More, Heat or some other trashy mag and it would not be
true to suggest that men are free of the constraints of these ‘ideals’ that
society thrusts upon us. In much the same way that women are forced to conform
to pathetic, supposedly objective beauty ideals, men can no longer escape.
Beer bellies are viewed with revulsion and you can’t open a sunday supplement
these days without being confronted with a ‘cure’ for male pattern baldness
(obviously considered a disease in much the same way as cellulite seems to
be). Much as I wish this anti-censorship stance was universally adopted, I
must of course acknowledge that it isn’t. The fact is that women’s bodies are
so routinely shown in full nudity while the depiction of the penis (or heaven
forbid, the erect penis!) is still a rarity. But I really feel that the way
forward is to campaign for an end to all censorship, rather than to attempt to
impose more restrictions on what we can and can’t see.
From S M Berg
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: Thank you, Rachel Bell.
Last night a woman told me her story of being gang raped at a college campus
by almost a dozen men (there were 8 DNA types found on/in her) and how only
one of them was convicted. It’s been haunting me since hearing it as I try to
comprehend how they couldn’t convict at least the 8 men whose DNA they found
if not every one of the men she identified.
But it’s pornography. The gang bang is a staple porn scene and I refuse to
believe the actions of these rapists wasn’t conditioned in a large way by the
normalization of pornography sold as hip and manly.
I fear for women these days like I have never feared for them before, and I
fear for them because pornography is the everyday hate speech of men using
prostitutes’ bodies to remind each other and women that women’s place is
literally beneath men. If no prostitute is around for the easy using men make
their own whore out of any nearby girl or woman. This is what rape culture
looks like.
From Helen Browne
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: I am a member of the
group “object” and hope that many more of your readers become more active in
ridding our society of newspaper porn, lads mags, pole dancing, lap dancing
clubs, etc… I have two teenage daughters and I feel helpless to protect them
from a society that accepts promoting women as sex objects, who are more
concerned about having large breasts than a good education, who were exposed
to porn at age eleven in school, and had to learn to accept it, or be
ridiculed as uptight or having a problem with sex. I am seeing first hand the
effects normalizing porn is having on my own daughters, and it makes my blood
boil. Those children wih unaware parents are already lost. Please complain to
retailers, MP’s, anyone who may be able to make a difference.
From zak jane keir
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: It’s a shame to see the
same tired old cliches about pornography trotted out again – especially at a
time when the Government is trying to bring in measures to restrict freedom of
expression even further. The trouble with people who campaing against
“pornogaphy” is they are campaigning against their own personal demons and
ignoring what’s actually out there. It’s simply nonsense to claim that
pornography, unlike any other kind of media, has one universal message that is
bound to be interpreted identically by every single viewer. Pornography –
sexually-explicit media for recreation rather than education – encompasses a
wide variety of narratives, many playful, consensual, affectionate as well as
impersonal. Campaign by all means for better working conditions for anyone
trafficked and exploited, but don’t forget that includes the clothing and
catering industries as well as the sex industry.
From Emily Baeza
I thought “pretending that men aren’t grown ups” was right on point
and a brillant thoughtful analysis. Like contraception, in rape the
responsibility is heaped onto women, and any unfortunate attendant
consequences are solely their fault.
I volunteer at a playgroup with autistic children, and the first rule we
ever learned was DO NOT BE ALONE with a child! Don?t even take the risk, that
allegations might occur. If there is doubt over whether a woman is consenting,
it seems the smart choice for a man to simply walk away, rather than to go
there. The responsibility is clearly a joint one, for both men and women. What
is especially unsettling in the Swansea case is that the alleged rapist was
entrusted with looking after the victim and therefore this was a double abuse
of power. Picking up the thread of an earlier article, that rape should be
re-classified as a violent crime, this would prevent some of the use of
“consent” as a defence, as it cannot be used in violent crime. It is a bizarre
reasoning that states in rape that the victim is partly responsible through
the uncertainty of her consent. Classifying rape as violent crime would remove
the insidious “consent defence” of rapists as it would be irrelevant if the
victim could not recall giving consent, as like assault and battery it would
not matter. Rape makes a mockery of our justice system and writers like the
one in the times, only add to this problem. It is very poor state of affairs,
where women?s maturity and sense of responsibility is to be used against
them.
From Rachel Bell
Re: Pretending that men aren’t grown-ups: Well done Ellery for
writing this piece – it needed saying. The culture of blame towards women for
acts of MALE violence is a dangerous one indeed. Thank you for taking the time
to write to The Times with your response too. All the best.
From Ilse
Re: Pretending that men aren’t grown-ups: I agree with you that
treating a rape victim as the moral equivalent of a drunken wife-beater is
absurd, but it’s just a particularly obvious example of the way that women are
blamed for male violence against them. Come to think of it, if a rape victim
is as culpable as the perpetrator of domestic violence, why on earth is the
legal system being so lenient towards her… maybe she even belongs in
prison!
From Michelle Wright
Re. Make Me
Perfect review. Really enjoyed reading this. Although I haven’t watched
the programme, I have heard about it. It disturbs me that programmes centred
around women having to drastically alter themselves in order to conform to
some narrow definition of mainstream beauty are treated so lightly and enter
our daytime TV schedules. I completely agree that women should learn to raise
their self-esteem from their person, not their appearance. But then a concept
like that doesn’t seem to translate to television well and it certainly
wouldn’t appeal to advertisers. Respecting yourself for who you are isn’t
something that has a monetary value attached to it. However, banishing your
wrinkles and losing weight can be ‘solved’ by consumerism, hence television’s
obsession with the physical makeover.
From Stelbee
I enjoyed the article in relation to Make Me Perfect and
have the following comments to make…It would be interesting to review in
months/years how each ‘subject’ of this programme are. I have experienced male
attention to the extent of stalking since becoming slim/trendy, with long
blonde hair. I can categorically say this does NOT make you happy when all men
ask for is a photo and speak of your looks. (Then you are told you focus on
your looks too much). I am able to state this pressure makes self esteem shaky
and ageing a pressure. Yet, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to
viewing figures…slimming, sexy clothes and aspirations… Will we ever be
taken seriously if we hold ourselves back?
From Ann Merry
I totally agree for the concern of the messages promoted by the programme
This programmes rather insultingly only focuses on appearance-related lack of
confidence, which belittles womens’ role. This programme left me thinking that
women had not got all that far in fact in proving their equality with men.
Looks are not essential for women, and this thinking should be discouraged.
From Paula
I loved the article. I’m really sick of the whole “He’s just
not that into you” thing. Once again, everybody’s lumped together as if we
were all using the same brain. We’re not Borgs. We’re human beings,
individuals, with our own ways of doing things. Not all men are the same, and
neither are all women. Enough already!
From Liz Hoskings
Left Behind: A
good an honest analysis of the far left – although I have not been involved in
it for as long as Louise her article somewhat reflects my experience of the
men involved.
From Slavna Zemtsova
Thank you for a wonderful article, Sick of
Celebrity. It is so powerful with the sarcasm that made me feel so good
and strong. The nature has forced the need to be pretty on a human female. But
who said that we human females are taking it just as it is??? After all, we
are humans! Brains, soul, not just physics!
From Mark Headley
Re: Deconstructing Masculinity: In her article, Sheryl Plant
mentioned the fact that most violent crime was carried out by men. This
brought to mind the oft quoted statistic that the vast majority of crimes are
perpetrated by men. Or, to use the available facts: the male prison population
is 10 times that of the female. I’m told this proportion is mirrored in most
countries studied.
However, what fascinates me is that the number of women in American gaols,
as a proportion of the whole population, is about the same as MALE prisoners
in Japan. The question that occurred to me (though not, apparently, to the
person presenting the statistic) was what is it in America which
allows/encourages women to be as criminally minded as Japanese men? Or, to
reverse the question: what is it in Japan that prevents men being as
criminally minded as American women? If one assumes that, genetically and
hormonally, there is little difference between the Americans and Japanese, one
has to wonder about social convention being significant.
Although I am no expert, my wife is Japanese and I’ve been there quite a
few times. I was once told that it was a common sight to see men incapably
drunk in the streets, yet there is very little drunken violence. Is this due
to their age (generally over 30) or their sub-concious mind still exerting
some control over their actions?
Owing to the general overcrowding in Japanese cities, I can well understand
why social control seems to be much stronger than here in the UK. Perhaps this
is so inculcated into the Japanese mind that people are generally less likely
to break society’s rules than in America? I don’t know. But I do think it’s
worthy of investigation.
From A Bryans
Re: Every Girl Wants a Stalker: One Problem is that some women
don’t tell you if they are not interested. I’m far happier if a woman was
upfront with me and just flat out said they weren’t interested. I would
respect that. It means that your not wasting your time.
From Kelly
Re: Diet
Grrrl, An Example: I can’t believe the cheek of the reply, sending a
stock, ‘thanks for your comments’ reply to such a scathing letter. Shame on
Marie Claire. I used to buy it myself, thinking it was a more intelligent read
but have stopped for the same reasons described. Who wants to start a real
women’s magazine with me? :)
From Naomi
Re: Growing Up Or Giving In? Fantastic article….thank god
somebody knows about the things I am thinking! Thank you!
From Rosalyn Gilfillan
Re: Feminism–a short introduction by Margaret Walters…..by
ealasaid gilfillan. I enjoyed this article immensely and it has achieved what
all good book reviews should..my interest in obtaining the book for myself and
studying it in more detail..I look forward to other book reviews by the same
writer..
From Mark Risden
Hi Catherine, Just read your article [Not For Girls: Nestle & Yorkie Adverts] while eating one of
said ‘not for girls’ bars and thinking of something comical to view for my
afternoon. I am interested in your views and even I can see the short-sighted
marketing behind this particular advertising campaign. However, as with many
adverts out today, there is a certain element of tongue in cheek.
The primary objective of adverts these days is to shock, one way or the
other. Be this by having you rolling in hysterics around the floor, or
ensuring you look both ways when crossing the road to avoid the oncoming
truck. I said that this advertising campaign was short-sighted, but then
perhaps it is not… Is it not a possibility that 100 women who saw the ad
were a little peeved at the whole nestle male bravado thing (as women do
usually get when men try to act macho) and purposely went out to buy a yorkie
just to prove Nestle wrong? Of course there would have been a large market
that just thought it was ridiculous and now boycote all Nestle items.
It was and is a risky campaign but most advertising campaigns are not
usually out of the desperation that something is not selling well. Either way,
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your views and discussing them with you. I
will now return to my Yorkie and think about all the people who might not be
enjoying them as I am now, oh well, more for me! :) Kind regards,
From Sara A
This is the most wonderfully refreshing website, each and every article
written reminds me why the need for the new feminist wave is so urgent. And
that it should not simply be a wave, but a storm that never resides or submits
to any misogynist backlash. Currently, society and its constructions delude us
into believing that men and women are treated and respected as equals,
thankyou for exposing this sly, profound trick. Women need to unite and
support each other in order to live without oppression.
From A Male Reader
Hi, I’m a Male Reader, Just thought I’d add in my 2-sence; I enjoy reading
all of these articles about feminism, and I agree with much of it, how
sometimes men can treat women unfairly, and judgementally, BUT women aren’t
100 erfect, they also do many things that should not be tolerated, always
assuming men are just after a peice of ass, or assuming men are emotionless
creatures who only want sex, I’m not saying SOMETIMES that isn’t the case. But
sometimes these disagreements between gendre is brought on by the women
themselves and their own stereo-types of men, now your probrably going to get
angry for that last comment, but it IS true, women have JUST as many
stereo-types of men as men have of women, simple, end of story. I know in your
one article you said it’s wrong for men to want you to help with their rights
just becuase your helping females too, BUT I myself believe there should be no
*Women’s Rights Groups* OR *Men’s Rights groups* There should just be
*People’s Rights Groups* and all voices, men’s and women’s be heard on equal
ground. Well that was my 2-sence on these articles…
Catherine Redfern, editor of The F-Word, replies
A quick response: No-one has said that women are 100% perfect or that women
never treat men in a sexist way. Both men and women are sexist. I completely
agree with you that women have just as many stereotypes of men as vice-versa.
That is something feminists want to change. On the point about there should be
no women’s groups, the article Feminists Are
Sexist may help to explain my thoughts on this argument – Editor.
From Ricky Katz
Hello, I read your article on Sin City and the portryal of sexism it involved. I found it
very interesting as my A2 Media text is Sin City. I enjoyed reading your
article and thought it was very interesting and I put some of what you said in
my own words into my piece. I would like to add one thing though as I do agree
with most of what you said but I belive that one positive point of the way
their represented in this film is “for once the female characters arnt always
a damsel in distress” as some have more power then the male characters. Its
just my oppnion I guess but I did like your article.
From Nicole Howard
Hello, I would first like to say that i agree to what you have mostly said
about Sin City
representing women, however, i disagree with the comment about the opening
scene. what actually has happened, which we are not told is that she has hired
the salesman to kill her because her ex-boyfriend is coming after her to kill
her the worest way possible and so he knows that she is scared and needs
saving from something. so ok yes they still shouldnt have portrayed it the way
they did, but its not because she’s a woman and so she’s obviously going to
melt into his arms its because she is scared of being tortured to death and
needs someone to protect her or rather in this case ‘save’ her by killing her,
so that she died more peacefully knowing someone ‘loved’ her than being
brutally tortured to death. Also even though the film is being very sexist ect
towards women, some women still like it because its fictional and has been
written from a comic book which was made in the 90’s.
From Kori Basquez
After watching Sin
City, and yes i watched it in it’s entirety, I could not help but be
absolutely infuriated with the portrayal of women. It’s this sort of
objectification of the female sex that I feel fuels the fire of aggression
towards women. One of the more annoying aspects was the referral of the women
by all of the characters present as “girls.” Even the women who attempted to
appear powerful were practically naked; their bodies serving as an evil
enticement. I was waiting for the women to pull out their S&M accessories,
tease the men into sexual activity, and then be taken over by the powerful
male sex drive. As for Miho, the one woman the men couldn’t exploit, was
presented as a freakish, voiceless alien. As far as the best movie of the year
goes… yeah maybe to all of the rapists and other abusers of the female sex,
but then again there are a lot of them out there, which fuels my desire to
keep up with my education, to be an MD and not a “woman doctor,” to teach my
son to respect and value the opposite sex, and to continue to live my life as
an opinionated, intelligent woman that feels it’s time to start promoting the
value of the egalitarian lifestyle; and I’m not going to stop fighting this
oppression until every man I meet looks me straight in the eye and shakes my
hand rather than immediately checking out my breasts.
From Francine Hoenderkamp
I’m utterly astounded to hear that ‘glamour model’ Jodie Marsh is an
Ambassador for the Domestic Violence organisation Refuge. Correct me if I’m
wrong but isn’t this a bit like Saddam Hussein being an Ambassador for Human
Rights?
From David Wright
Are Sexist: what a genuinely wonderfull article well said. no more sex war
i say , the only way we can succeed is by working together side by side, men
who naively attack femminsim only add to the problem as do women who naively
attack men. im a young youth work student and during my sociology modual it
became apparent to me how important and crucial femminism is to men and women.
this is why i preach it so in my men’s group. im currently writing an essay on
the social exlcusion of young fathers, the socialisation of men, gender
construction and surpession of emotion. thankyou for being a woman and making
me smile. hope my comment sounds alright.Cheers Davey. Ps. i appreciate the
sarcasim.
From Andrew Keene
After reading Megans very articulate article [Contraception and Control] , I am left with 2 deep
impressions.
1. Teenagers expect to get everything they want without the groundwork of
having to work for the skills and general knowledge required to deal with the
consequences of sexual relationships. From my perspective,having a 14 year old
daughter myself, I have observed that sex is used in her circle of friends as
very clumsy tool for recreation, validation of affection (from a female
perspective) and a way of obtaining something. With this attitude towards
clumsy sex, how the hell will the facilitation of accessible
contraception,”the get out of jail card” that Megan claims for the majority of
her peers is not the reason why it should be accessible,be justified. I admit
that effective contaception is far the better option to unwanted childbirth or
abortions but Megans views worry me so much, that I worry for the future
morals of our next generation and society in general.
2. The moral fabric in our society is eroding and that all liberals will
say that rules and constraints for the benefit for minors that we as adults
have learnt by experience (bitter or otherwise) are redundant and that the
individual should decide. This is anarchy in the making and we will reap the
bitter harvest in a generations time.
From Jane
Subvert the Dominant Pimpiarchy – Thank you for such a
blatently raw and true article.You hit the nail right on the head. Refreshing
to read everything you wrote i agree with and glad i am not alone.
From Snaitf Kenobi
On the Signs
of Ageing article, I thought of another role model. Cadsuane Meladhrin
from Wheel of Time. She’s 300 something and my favorite character from the
series. :) Other than that, great article.
From Donalda G
Re: The
Signs of Ageing: I don’t mind getting old, but I don’t like looking old as
in haggard and run-down. I acknowledge the increased confidence I’ve gained
over the years. I know how to dress to impress now, I’m not as bashful, I’m
wiser. But I have to admit, I miss the attention I used to get from men. I can
feel great all I want, but when you’re 42 and want a relationship but the fish
aren’t biting because your face looks “tired” or you’re forty pounds
overweight, then what? Are you just supposed to let yourself go? We’ve all
seen those older women on the makeover shows wearing unflattering clothes and
wearing their hair silver even if it doesn’t flatter their face because
they’ve “accepted” their age. Forget that. My feeling is if you’re ageing in a
way that makes you look weird, you should do something about that. As you get
older you just must accept that you have to do more. You have to keep your
body up, you have to wear clothes that flatter your body type, whatever. True,
all of these things will not make you young again. But taking care of your
appearance isn’t necessarily a denial of the passing years either. A good
example is Greta von Sestern on MSNBC here in America. She had an eye job.
Prior to that eye-job she was looking like a Beagle about the face, her lids
were drooping so much. She doesn’t look 19, but that wasn’t her intention. Was
she wrong to get that surgery? Is she in ageing denial because she had that
surgery?
From Mitch Winehouse
Re: Amy
Winehouse: I know you wrote this article a clong time ago but i just read
it. I want you to know that Amy and i are are not estranged. her mother and i
are divorced but we both look after Amy’s business interests. Otherwise i
really enjoyed youe article.
From BigLoveBoy
What’s up Biatch? The gig is over, feminism turning in on itself. If
something cant go on forever, it wont. later Dykes.
From Harry
Are Sexist: Are you fucking crazy or do you just not have a life… Why
don’t you join the real world and realise that adverts only wxploit women
because it is the men that make the decisions to buy things and the overall
objective of an advert is to SELL a product,, they don’t give a shit for
muppets like you….. ha ha
Catherine Redfern, editor of The F-Word, replies
Which kind of proves my point, really – Catherine
From Mark Headey
I was very heartened by Beth Anderson’s article “There is no
Groom“. Having attended or heard of a number of weddings where NOT ONE
women kept her own name, I was begining to wonder whether there were any women
out there who thought the changing of their name to his was anything but
“romantic”. One colleague defended her choice by saying “I wouldn’t feel
right.” but negleced to define what (or who) defined “right”.
I actually know of only one friend who has kept her own name on marriage.
Another kept her name until the first child arrived. What rather puzzled me
was that neither she nor her husband liked his surname, but they still use his
name rather than hers. True, he has a PhD and papers published in his name,
but why he couldn’t have continued to use his name in accademic circles but
use hers for the rest of his life, I just don’t know. After all, many women
do. Or so I’m told; I’ve never actually met one.
I have a counter to Ms Anderson’s claim that NO men ever take their wife’s
name; 2 examples. Mind you, both were Poles who came here after WW2 and
thought better of inflicting the troublesome spelling of their surnames on
their families.
I’m rather intrigued by the statement that only women can use their
marriage certificate to change their surname, as I’ve go a bank account in our
double-barrelled surname, without the necessity of a Deed Poll. However, I’ve
not yet tried getting my passport changed. If what Ms Anserson says is true,
that may be the acid test.
I’m in two minds about the idea of adding your spouse’s name to yours,
despite doing this myself. I’ve seen books authored by Jane Brown-Smith ann
John Smith, which I actually find even more distasteful than “Jane & John
Smith”. To me, it smacks of the woman stating that, although she’s an
independant woman, she’ definitely not a sad spinster who couldn’t “get” a
man. “Look at me, I’m an individual AND I’m married.” Either both shoud take
the doube name, or neither. Just one looks sad.
And the comment, “Taking his name shows that I’m committed to the
marriage.” is another statement that makes me want to heave. In all such
cases, I have a very simple test. Swap every HIS for HER, every MAN for WOMAN
and restate the case. If it sounds silly, then the original proposition
probably was silly in the first place. Thus, “Taking HER name shows I’m
committed to the marriage.” OK?
The marriage books that practically exclude the groom are another
interesting facet of the whole “wedding industry”. For a long time I’ve had my
suspicions about weddings; especially the specious idea that they are “the
most important/happiest day of a woman’s life.” Never a man’s, of course.
Perhaps men knew all along that marriage was going to be a great
disappointment to many women. All the cooking, cleaning, having babies (once a
very risky business, and still is in much of the world), and all with little
help from the husband. “Let’s fool the women into believing that the wedding
will be a fabulously romantic day. That way the feeble minded creatures won’t
be able to see past that smoke screen and realise they’ve been tricked into a
life of drudgery and misery.” Perhaps, I’m just too cynical. The trouble is,
so many women have bought into the story. Just the other week Amanda Patell
had a TV programme in which she questioned this very subject. “All too often
young women spend masses of time and thought designing their wedding and
barely giving the subsequent marriage a second thought.” Then added, with
commendible honesty, “I know I did.” What depressed me was later, in the same
programme, she attended a wedding and used the phrase “the most important day
in a woman’s life” without a hint of irony. More important than getting your
degree? Having your child? Walking to the North Pole? Climbing Everest? No,
getting married. I despair.
About 20 years ago I attended a friend’s wedding. I have a memory of them
entering the church together and walking down the side aisles, meeting in
front of the altar as equals. None of this “Who gives this women?” nonsense
(yeuch!). Sadly, I have a sneaking suspicion I imagined it.
From James BWIP
More Than Just Jam and Jerusalem: Excellent analysis! Have
put a link to this weblog today – http://blairwitch.typepad.com. All
blessings.
From Susannah
Re: Challenging the Sex Sells Cliche: I too have been concerned
about the day-to-day unwanted exposure to pornography and objectification of
women via the media (mainly TV and print).