Co-op motion

Thank you fellow co-op ,Members for allowing me to bring this motion today.

I have been a member of the co-operative for approximately 15 years. I joined when my children were little because I saw that Co-op lead the way on ethical issues - the fair trade the employment of staff with disabilities. The local co-op felt like a real community I liked the feeling of being part of that with my family.


As my children began to grow and ask questions I noticed with increasing disquiet the sexualisation of the world around them and the way it represented women.





It's a strange thing that so many don't notice but once you start to notice it it is quite horrifying - In many shops and supermarkets soft porn was at child head height. Graphic sexualised images of women staring at us as we chose a magazine or grabbed some milk. Even In my local Co-op - the Sport and Star were prominently displayed at pushchair height often opposite children's magazines, Easter eggs or advent calendars.

That has changed now and I really, really want to thank you co-op for last year recognising this issue for the important one it is and stopping the display of lads mags and the awful Sport


Co-op lead the way once again this time to reduce objectification of women and protect children.


In doing this you have addressed an issue most retailers refuse to acknowledge and having done so  I am here today to ask you, at a difficult time I know, to please consider taking a step further


Campaigns to change this situation are growing and gaining in support from groups like Mumsnet, girlguides and many more, over 45 are listed on their website.


If you look at recent covers of The Star and Sun covers are increasingly not dissimilar to those that appeared on Nuts and other lads mags. Unlike lads mags however The Sun is heavily endorsed with promotional stands and prominent display in many stores.


Increasingly there are challenges - many consumers are directly asking store managers to remove or turn papers around, the recent Page 3 v. Breast cancer cover was removed from the shelves in many ASDA stores


No matter however what the front page may display - just inside, the biggest image of a woman is one of her not for her contribution to the news but standing in her pants for the sexual gratification of men 


This image of a very young woman is not in the context of a pornographic magazine but, I would argue far more damagingly out of context.
 Normalising the presentation of women as sexual objects for consumption next to news stories.
Sold, not  discreetly like an adult publication but in a family newspaper with full display and endorsement, very prominently in family stores, supermarkets and shops daily.
Supported with the advertising revenue of ethical and family friendly companies including co-op.


I understand the draw if this big audience - a wide reaching newspaper. But next to it's news of crime, politics, sport and images of men in suits and sportswear featured for their contribution to the news, is a huge image of a voiceless, young topless woman.


What does this say about attitudes to women's place in society and what does it say to customers about the attitudes of retailers who continue to market it or market themselves in association with it?

I am, as you may have noticed a 40 year old woman of the world,
I have seen lots and lots of breasts,
I even have my own believe it or not,
I am not offended by bare breasts or afraid of my children seeing them. I am not shy about nudity.


But coop I am offended and angry that my gender, 50% of the population, are being presented  as sexualized fodder for the other 50% in a news publication. That this has been accepted and fiscally displayed by retailers and supported by the money I spend on feeding my family. Would a racist or homophobic feature be so accepted?


There is now a wealth of evidence of the harmful effects of sexualised and stereotypical images of women in the media. Of the connections between this and the ongoing harassment, violence and rape. The EU has recognised this enough to write a commission document, signed by our uk government calling for urgent change.
  

The figures on violence against women in the uk today are damning 


Co-op members I have so little time to ask for your help


and I know that we the Co-operative face so many challenges at present that need to take priority,


I don't wish in anyway to undermine the importance of that. But I would also hate if in all of that struggle the Co-op lost the thing that sold it to me and so many others in the first place.


I trust you Co-op to lead the way.


Please stop associating the Co-op's name and brand with The Sun and page 3. Please stop supporting the sexism with your/ our money and please place this clearly adult content on a top shelf

Let's be the change we want to see in the world.


Thank you.