tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72399912448480501912024-03-14T00:09:58.150-07:00Feminist MusingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775570319289349269noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-85536014161341730022020-01-09T10:29:00.005-08:002020-01-09T10:29:46.114-08:00Open letter to Unison from women members on the announcement, without ballot of members, of the union's support for Kier Starmer<div class="aju" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: center; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; display: flex; float: none; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 80px; letter-spacing: normal; min-width: 40px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Dear "Unison",<div dir="auto">
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We women members (including any who identify as women or as none binary) wish to make clear how disappointed and unhappy we are with the union's choice to announce backing of leadership candidate Kier Starmer at this stage of the contest and in this manner. In particular we are extremely angry that we were not balloted on this hugely important issue.</div>
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As feminist, socialist working women we feel that a progressive Labour party has an absolute responsibility, amongst other things, to promote equality and diversity. We therefore take the view that to have another middle class, middle aged, white male leader now, when we are the only party who has never elected a woman and when more than 50% of our current MPs and almost 50% of our last shadow cabinet were women is insulting.</div>
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Kier Starmer looks like a leader. He looks like a leader because he is the archetypal leader we have been shown repetitively throughout our lives. The reality of that will never change whilst we continue to perpetuate it and if we expect our standards as a party or as a union <span style="font-family: sans-serif;">on equality and diversity, </span>to be taken seriously, then I think we have as much responsibility to reflect that in our leadership as we do to chose a leader that reflects our membership's political leaning. </div>
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Unison has an enormous membership. A membership that is majority women. Women who have long waited to see ourselves reflected in the Labour Party leadership in vain. </div>
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As working women members we strongly feel that our voices have not has not been accurately reflected by Unison on this occasion. It is essential that this is rectified. It is essential that we are given the chance to request the change we want to see. It is vital that women, girls, BAME and working class citizens and members are given the chance to affect the change that may allow them to see themselves represented in leadership at the highest level of our movement.</div>
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Whilst we have respect for Kier Starmer and understand that many Labour or union members may use their vote to support him, we expect to be asked, and many of us signing this letter may have other reasons not to back his leadership bid. Regardless of where we ultimately chose to place our vote however, we wish to make clear that as fee paying members seeking the solidarity and representation of Unison as our chosen trade union, we expect to be consulted in order to ensure that the backing given is reflective of the full range of views and the diversity of us the members.</div>
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We would like our comments registered as a complaint, we expect an inquiry in to the decision to make a choice and statement of this gravitas by committee rather than ballot and we request that this be overturned and a full ballot of members now be made. </div>
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Yours Sincerely </div>
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Lisa Clarke, Nottingham NUH Branch member</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-85637693936974102812016-10-09T07:14:00.000-07:002016-10-09T12:19:42.207-07:00If Nigel Farage is right about men's locker room conversation then why is he not fighting alongside feminists?<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unless you have been living in a newsless vacuum for the last couple of days you are no doubt aware by now of the seemingly surprising revelation in the Donald Trump campaign trail. Namely the unearthing of a video that reveals Trump, just over 10 years ago, discussing the fact that he can do what he likes to women because he is famous. That he doesn't have to control himself, doesn't wait, but simply kisses them or "grabs them by the pussy". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reassuringly the majority of commentators seem to have accepted that that would be sexual assault. In fact even a significant number of Republican politicians seem to appreciated that fact, and have accepted now what many of us have been aware of for some time. That a Donald Trump presidency would be a danger to their daughters and wives; as well as to the people of colour, Mexican's, Muslims and other minority groups we already knew he was a danger to. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Personally my fear of a Trump win has been growing for some time, alongside my fear of the growing hate across the world. The increase in membership of far right groups, the lack of a co-ordinated effort to help refugees (including abandoned and lone children), the increase in hate crime in the UK itself. But I have to accept that I am at least somewhat removed from the full throttle threat of Trump by the existence of the Atlantic Ocean. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I am sadly nowhere near as removed from is the existence of Nigel Farage. Apparently the man is like a bad smell that you just can't seem to shift. He keeps coming back. He has supported the Trump campaign throughout, the two seem very pally, and now he has defended Donald's sexist and misogynistic language as simply </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“...alpha-male boasting", as “..the kind of thing, if we are being honest, that men do. They sit around and have a drink and they talk like this." If this is true I appreciate his honesty, but I also expect an acknowledgement that we had better do something about it and fast. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr Farage, whether I like it or not is a popular man. A man seen, inexplicably, as everyday, as a person who says what we are all thinking, who doesn't mince his words. People like his honesty and the fact he doesn't talk like most politicians. This man has a wide influence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So is he right? Do Most men advocate sexual assault, (we have already accepted that is what grabbing somebody "by the pussy" without consent is) in conversation, in locker rooms, pubs or wherever else they may gather without women? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am not suggesting any naivety on my part, as a 42 year old woman I have heard conversations like this. I know it happens, but just how common is it? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At a rock festival this year I overheard a man speaking to his peer group. I was in a queue for food and didn't look up to see who the speaker was, but the man in question openly and loudly suggested that he was there "to get some under-age pussy", just, he said, "like every bloke there". Now I can't help thinking if I was one of the blokes in question I might not want to be included in the lighthearted suggestion that I too was at Reading Festival, not for the music and holiday atmosphere, but for the promise of statutory rape. Yet none of this chap's mates made any attempt to correct him. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously it's not the first time I've heard horrible things like this, but the reason I remember it so well is because it isn't something I hear all of the time. Perhaps I am simply not listening, clearly I am not the intended audience. But if you're telling me that it is so common, can you not see why women have every right to be both angry and fearful of that fact?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a woman when I hear a man <span style="color: #1d2129;">write off sexual assault as normal I assume he is a danger to me. Had my 14 year old daughter been with me at that festival you can bet your life I would have looked up when I heard what I heard. I would want to take a mental picture of that man's face, to label him as a predator, as somebody who was a danger to my daughter and her </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">friends, as somebody to avoid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I hear a man normalise sexual assault, I at least suspect that this is to justify his own behaviour or that of other men he knows. I dont' assume all the men in the group who don't speak out or who laugh along are also as dangerous, I cannot judge that, but I wonder if they know that their friend might be. I wonder at how many times they might have watched him shout obscenities at women in the street, how many times he might have manhandled women in bars or clubs, how often they've turned a blind eye to women's protests or ignored their efforts to escape.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What annoys me most about these comments from Nigel Farage is that I know a lot of the people who will agree with him are the same people who are likely to be against feminism. The men and women that do not appreciate that sexism still exists, or accept that anything needs to change. Those who angrily retaliate to the lived experience of #yesallwomen with #notallmen</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. They appear not to understand or appreciate why women might be angry or feel the need to fight for a better, safer world for themselves or their daughters. These people angrily insist that most men are not a danger, and yet when we hear this language used out in the open in this way they acknowledge that it is commonplace and wonder at our surprise or naivety.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nigel Farge and Donald Trump are not just any man in any private locker room, they are powerful men of influence who may be able to enforce law and who already influence our culture. When words like this are used and not acknowledged as being dangerous women are put at greater risk. Risk of assault, of rape, of not being asked for consent and not being heard when they say no. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are saying this is commonplace then why do you not understand why we need change? Why are you not angry and fearful for the 50% of society put at risk by this attitude?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You are telling me that more men, not less, are happy to advocate sexually predatory behaviour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You are telling me that my fear of sexual assualt and rape all these years is a well founded fear, s</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o why are you so angry and resistant when I share my own experiences and those of ALL of my female friends?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #1d2129;">If Mr Farage is to be believed we have a very long way to go. If he is supported in this and heralded still, as a man of the people, then it seems we are getting further away from a society safe for women not closer to it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span><span style="color: #1d2129;">It seems you know where we stand Mr Farage and it is in a dangerous place. So why aren't you fighting for something better? At the very least do not get in our way when we fight for a fairer and safer society where women will not need to be afraid simply because they are women.</span></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-26853845626405280492016-04-16T05:57:00.003-07:002016-04-16T06:33:20.585-07:00Mind, Body and AbortionI have been thinking for the last few weeks about the arguments given by the anti-choice/anti-abortion lobby, a thought process started by a demonstration outside our hospital in Nottingham and further strengthened this week by the outburst of an anti-abortionist at a House of Commons meeting about safe abortion access.<br />
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As with many extremist viewpoints, the major issues is over simplification of the issue. The anti-choicer sees a woman carrying a baby. They see it as a baby as soon as it is conceived and they see any loss of that life as a tragedy. Where choice has been a factor, they see that as malicious, as murder, as intent to harm and whilst I appreciate the temptation to see life and loss in this simplified way is a strong one, it misses so many of the inescapable facts of the matter.<br />
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When I chose to have children in my twenties it turned out to be very complicated indeed.<br />
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My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 6 weeks and I was completely devastated. I felt like my body was failing me. It turns out I was as wrong as I could possibly be about that.<br />
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After having my son approximately a year after that first spontaneous abortion, I went on to have a further two miscarriages before I discovered that I had a chromosomal abnormality and another one after that diagnosis. I have been pregnant six times in total that I know of and have only two children. The miscarriages involved varying levels of grief and feelings of inadequacy, but the difference with the last miscarriage was profound. By this point I knew that my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. It was rejecting a pregnancy that was not compatible with life.<br />
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The collection of rapidly dividing cells that can lead to a full human person is a vulnerable entity. Many things can go awry between fertilisation and birth, from genetic coding errors to misplacement and error, from accident or infection to uterine malfunction.<br />
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In many cases when things don't go to plan, the host body will reject the cells. Given the number of things that can and do lead to the rejection of a pregnancy by a woman's body it seems completely ludicrous that the woman's complete psychological aversion to hosting the pregnancy should somehow be less valid that any of these other reasons for abortion.<br />
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Thanks to medical advancement we now have ways to remove many collections of human cells that aren't where they should be or aren't doing what they're supposed to. In every case however, the ultimate choice about whether that happens lies with the human in who's body this is happening. Why on earth should pregnancy be any different?<br />
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For me half of my pregnancies will result in a unbalanced mix of chromosomes that would be unlikely to sustain human life. Luckily in every case my body has rejected the "bad eggs" as I would call them, but through some miracle of biology and mathematics, the amazing people at in Genetics were able to calculate that my affected pregnancies had about a one in ten chance of making it to term, i.e. of getting all the way through a pregnancy to birth. They couldn't really tell me what a "baby" would look like in that case but considering that the information affected involved brain and spinal development, amongst other things, it was unlikely the child would live beyond birth for long.<br />
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In my eventual sixth pregnancy I had chorionic villi sampling (similar to an amnio) and was able to check that the genetic information was balanced. After the test I waited two agonising weeks for this result. Knowing throughout that if the result was bad I would opt to abort, rather than put myself, my family and this unborn life through further pain and suffering. <br />
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For me pregnancy was psychologically bruising and the birth caused permanent physical damage, but no matter how straightforward it might be, the investment, both physical and psychological that growing a human requires is absolutely enormous. The host body will never fully recover from the event. To suggest that after a conception a woman's feelings and thoughts on the matter are not as valid as her bodies cellar acceptance of the embryo, is to try to separate body and mind in a way that fails to recognise that it is not possible to do so. As a human being with bodily autonomy, the only thing that would justify your taking that choice away from me is if you don't feel my thoughts and feelings hold enough validity or are somehow malicious.<br />
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So perhaps here in lies the truth of the matter. The vocal minority asking for an end to abortion not only don't appreciate the connection between body and mind but don't trust the minds of women. They somehow believe that women are not to be trusted to make this level of choice about anything, least of all their own body. A body that inconveniently has the power to give and to not give life.<br />
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When I confronted one male anti-choicer on social media last week about his opinion on abortion he told me that abortion was murder. If this is the language we are choosing to use about the death of all cells capable of advancing to human life, then we are faced with having to say that one in three pregnancies ends in murder of the embryo. In may case it was my physical body rather than my mind that committed that murder. Alternatively, if we only use this term to describe abortions where psychological choice and medical help are involved, then we are suggesting that <a href="http://www.1in3campaign.org/" target="_blank">one in three</a> women are committing murder in their lifetime, that they have killed a child. A ludicrous suggestion when we consider how many women who have abortions are already, or will later go on to be loving parents to children.<br />
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<a href="http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/general/lancet_3.pdf" target="_blank">The World Health Organisation </a>recognises access to full birth control to be the single most important step in eradicating poverty. This fact blew my mind the first time I heard it but it makes complete sense. If women cannot control when and if they have children, then they cannot control their finances at all, both in terms of ability to work and earn and in terms of the huge financial investment that a child requires. Contraception is not full proof for numerous reasons, allergy and adverse reaction to drugs, failure of barrier methods, drug interactions that invalidate the pill, human error of judgement or lack of choice in the matter in the case of rape or coercion all play a part. On top of this, in the UK <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11676846/Birth-control-services-in-Britain-Cuts-could-hit-your-contraception.html" target="_blank">contraception services are undergoing the same cuts as the rest of our health service and as a consequence are getting more difficult to access</a>. Given all of this it is absolutely inevitable that some women will become pregnant when they did not intend to.<br />
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In health care terms we have long accepted that the best care comes from seeing the full picture of a patients life. The interaction of the physical, the psychological, the socio-economic, the spiritual. If we accept that stress can contribute to cancer, if we understand that poverty can contribute to mental health issues and increase suicide, why do we not appreciate that in terms of pregnancy, whether or not we can afford a child, can accommodate them in our already existing family, can psychologically or physically get through a pregnancy, are all just as valid in deciding whether that pregnancy continues as any physiological cellular rejection of the embryo. <br />
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In our privileged, developed world medical advancements have allowed us to progress as humans, to make choices about our lives, to survive or to completely avoid infections that might have killed us, to remove rogue overgrowth of cells (cancers) and to avoid the constant pregnancies that limited our working lives, and damaged our bodies. A collection of human cells do not make a person, making a person requires the investment - physical, psychological, financial and spiritual, of the woman in who's body this is happening as well as, ideally, the wider support of her family and community. When any one of those things is not in place we are lucky enough to have choices.<br />
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The real tragedy is that here, where we have such privilege, we are still having to invest in the relentless fight to keep unhindered access to safe abortion, when what we should now be doing is fighting to extend this provision to those unlucky enough not to have it, purely by accident of geography.<br />
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Abortion has always existed, it even exists in the animal kingdom, it is a vital part of our survival, our progress and now we can do it safely we have an absolute humane responsibility to offer that choice.<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-22696186151901083992015-11-18T07:04:00.001-08:002017-09-28T22:50:25.351-07:00No man's land<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
It's no man's land, this middle ground<br />
This place between<br />
This warring ground</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
It's not a comfy place to be and yet so often here I am</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Between the father and the son<br />
Between the siblings oh so angry<br />
Between parents and the man I love<br />
Between the the step father and the son<br />
Between the son and my own partner<br />
Between the partner and the daughter</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In the middle here I stand<br />
Here I am in no mans land</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I buffer anger<br />
Take the strain<br />
I lie<br />
I cover up the pain<br />
Words spoken in annoyance, in anger<br />
Aimed at me, because here I stand</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In the middle here I stand<br />
Here I am in no man's land</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
As I think back to a childhood home<br />
To things I said<br />
To words I've thrown<br />
At my mother when meant for stepfather<br />
At my mother when meant for my father<br />
At my mother when meant for my brother</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
It's not a comfy place to be and yet so often here she stood<br />
She brought messages of other's anger, with kinder words and pain diluted</div>
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In the middle here she stands<br />
Here she stands in no man's land</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In home on home across the land<br />
She takes the strain, absorbs pain<br />
She fears that they will fall out<br />
And in her love she takes the clout</div>
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Again and again these sucker punches<br />
She keeps the peace<br />
She breathes it in<br />
In her heart she feels the pain<br />
From all directions time and again</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Men and children carry on<br />
They are unburdened of the wrong<br />
That so upset them they had to speak<br />
Not to the perpetrator of their grief, but to her</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
In the middle here we stand<br />
We women, here in no man's land</div>
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-62317544074550222252015-08-30T05:01:00.002-07:002015-10-12T12:31:18.063-07:00Kiss ChaseIt was with an expectation of anger that I opened <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/30/web-of-lies-extends-beyond-ashley-madison?CMP=soc_3155" target="_blank">Nick Cohen's article on the Ashley Madison debacle</a> when it popped up today on my news feed. In the end I was simply saddened by the missed opportunity it presented. <br />
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The whole Ashley Madison affair (sorry) was, to be honest, not of massive interest to me initially. That so many people seek affairs is not news. Relationships are challenging and difficult, people of all and any background sometimes stray or seek solace and comfort outside of the couple for a multitude of reasons. Entrance into a dating site is not a crime and I was of the opinion that this was, at least to some degree, a trespass too far on people's personal information.<br />
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It was <a href="http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2015/08/almost-none-of-the-women-in-the-ashley-madison-database-ever-used-the-site/" target="_blank">Annalee Newitz's piece in Gizmodo</a> earlier this week though, revealing the extent to which this site was a one sided fantasy land made up of millions of real men and a tiny number of women, most not real; that awakened me to the far greater and more disturbing insight this story provides, into the relationship dynamics and gendered behaviour of our culture. A status quo sadly reinforced rather than challenged by Nick's piece in the Guardian today.<br />
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Cohen, concerned that we are laughing at these naïve men, tries to entice us to more sympathy with the news that "Unless you are a stupendously handsome or famous man, or preferably both, there is nothing casual about casual sex.". "It is grindingly hard work," he tells us, "with no prospect of a grind at the end. Men must hit on dozens of women. Ignore every rejection and bound back again." ; and just in case after this, we are still determined to have no sympathy, we are reminded of the other cruel tricks such hackers play, on <strong>vulnerable</strong> women. Romance fraud - conning the desperate out of their saving, or the sharing of naked images - unscrupulous types enticing them to share intimate photographs or video that later ends up on revenge porn sites. <br />
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Cohen's concern however for the humiliation of both the men and women in these cases, misses a far deeper and more overarching issue. <br />
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As a child of the 70's I was fortunate enough that many of the toys I grew up with were non-gendered - brightly coloured Lego bricks, hand-me-down bicycles without bows or glittered logos; I am not a product of Disney princess, and I thankfully predate the divide of pink and blue aisles in toy shops. My own children have not been so lucky, and it is only on reflection I can see that my daughter's complete rejection of toys altogether, may well have been down to the narrow choices on offer to her to play mummy, housekeeper or stylist. In tern my son's ability to turn even a baby doll into a gun (using the arm as the shaft and the legs as the barrels) may in no small part have come from the swashbuckling, sword wielding, gun toting fantasies he grew up surrounded by.<br />
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Throughout life, through small and large stimuli, we force males and females into narrow gender categories. Reinforcing and rewarding vulnerability and quiet acceptance in our girls, whilst excusing and encouraging violence and outspokenness in our boys.<br />
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Through the fantasies of princesses awaiting rescue by their soldiers, knights and pirates our children grow up, playing "kiss chase" a game where boys almost universally chase the girls. They are surrounded by thousands up on thousands of images of half naked females, posed in vulnerability, in magazines, on billboards and on screen, they become the wallpaper of life and alongside them at times, the lesser seen, ripped, strong torsos of young men, ready to take action. <br />
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Over parents shoulders, in print and online in the news, stand the active, achieving and powerful men of business, politics and sport, and disbursed amongst them - the decoratively posed women, featured for their wardrobe choices or malfunctions, their bikini bodies "papped" on the beach.<br />
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By the time they reach the early stages of romantic entanglement girls are already being called "sluts" for little or no transgression, whilst school and 6th form dress codes reinforce a sense that female bodies are a dangerous temptation that must me kept in check. Boys experience sex through online porn, learning that women often start by saying no or crying, later moaning in enjoyment at a mere touch. Peer groups push boys to talk of girls as conquests whilst girls walk a tightrope of being attractive and sexy enough, without ever admitting to actually wanting or having any sexual needs of their own; and the saddest thing - is that this so often continues into adulthood.<br />
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A few years ago, as a newly single adult woman at the age of 36, keen to explore my sexuality and to gain experience and understanding of myself. I was disappointed to find that just as at age15 - I was under pressure to fulfil an expectation of chastity, to not "give myself away too cheaply" not set a bad example to my daughter. Restrictions seemed to be in place, I must be the gatekeeper of my vagina, only lowering the defences and yielding after the magic three dates and under the pressure of coercion. In contrast the men I encountered were often quick to become sexual and intimate in their language online. On dates there was an expectation that they would have to pay for dinner or drinks and a seeming need to present themselves as the financially stable rescuer that I didn't actually need.<br />
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Fresh faced and terrified in the world of singledom I had none of this insight at the time of course. It is only now, a few years into a warm and loving relationship that I am able to see the ridiculous dance I had last performed at age sixteen that I was once again engaging in, a pretence that we continue to perpetuate, that not only risks leading to our profound unhappiness but actually puts us at greater danger of real harm. <br />
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Nick Cohen was really concerned we might be laughing at "idiot men" signing up to Ashley Maddison, maybe some were. But Speaking personally as a feminist, I am not laughing at these men, I am sad for them and for their seeming need to be in constant pursuit, ready to win over and disarm any potential partner. Likewise my issue with romance fraud or with revenge porn committed largely towards women, goes far beyond my disgust at the criminals who commit these crimes and into the very background in which a woman feels a failure without a man, or must be shamed by her sexual behavior. <br />
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What was missed here and what needs far greater discussion, is the narrative of the culture we have created. One that would paint all men as macho, sex obsessed rescuers who must both romantically woo and break down the defenses of any vulnerable and needy woman, whilst simultaneously telling you that "nice" women don't actually want or like sex as much or as often as men "need" it and restricting the sexual identity of women to simple play things to whom things are done; rather than active participants seeking to receive as well as give pleasure.<br />
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Feminism, despite it's bad press, is fighting this on all fronts. Across my social media feeds I am surrounded by feminist projects seeking to redress the balance of gender stereotyping in toys, books and clothing aimed at children. I am aware of schemes in schools seeking to teach about consent and body awareness from a young age, followed later by sex and relationship education centred around mutual respect and consent. My thirteen year old daughter watches, with my blessing, the YouTube videos of <a href="http://www.lacigreen.tv/" target="_blank">Laci Green</a> , learning about sexual pleasure and enthusiastic consent, and in the mean time campaigns have successfully lobbied to remove Page 3, continue to fight for greater representation of women in sport, and are seeking to redress the balance of power in Westminster. <br />
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Women and girls, men and boys are far more the same than they are different. With increasing awareness of sex and gender identity as a fluid concept for many, and far more complex than the anatomy with which we happen to be born, perhaps we will accept that we each have our own individual needs and should feel no shame in seeking to fulfill them. Girls are strong, resilient and independent, boys vulnerable, unsure and gentle. Ultimately what many of us seek, no matter what our gender identity, is a fulfillment of closeness, warmth and sexual need to varying degrees. We are all unique and yet we share so many common goals and emotions.<br />
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It is only by questioning the narrative at every age, in every part of our society, in the media in which we swim or increasingly drown, and through the education to which we are entitled, that we can begin to dismantle the damage that is being done and to put it right. The culture that leads to men's humiliation at the hands of an unscrupulous website in the search of the none-existent women they are conditioned to seek, is the same one that sees women regularly sexually harassed, assaulted and raped by men who see women's boundaries as something to be overcome. If we can celebrate our individuality as human beings from the outset and throughout our lives then we can escape the restrictions and boundaries allowing us to "hook up" and enjoy each others company with mutual understanding or to find truthful and fulfilling relationships in which we can all feel safe.<br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-71754276277026043682015-08-23T09:50:00.000-07:002015-08-23T10:15:40.964-07:00Halt the Labour leadership election for pities sake!! <br />
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No, not because of the concerns over "entryism" or the possible culling of members and supporters who might be too socialist for the party founded by....a socialist. <br />
No, it's because they have bloody well chosen the wrong women!! At least this is <a href="http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/08/have-yvette-cooper-and-liz-kendall-got-the-looks-for-a-leadership-contest/" target="_blank">the call of Charles Moore in 1950's throwback, The Spectator this week.</a><br />
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Well...you might ponder..... as a self-respecting feminist of the 20th century the man has a point. I for one would quite like to vote for a woman leader but am disappointed that the best of them seem to be in the running for deputy or waiting for a vacancy as London Mayor. <br />
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But ladies we are barking up the wrong postman's trouser leg here. We've missed the point completely with our silly lady brains. <br />
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You see the problem is nothing at all to do with lack of vision or Tory light policies, oh no. It is all because of the frankly appalling state of candidates Cooper and Kendal, neither of whom we are told, are likely to get as much as a semi-on out of any self respecting back bencher.<br />
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Good grief, you might be thinking, what sexist bilge is this. BUT, hold on to your panty liners there for a minute, because I'm afraid they have this whole thing backed up with hard evidence. <br />
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You see it seems Mrs Thatcher’s victory in 1975 was nothing to do with her terrifyingly strong leadership skills and suitably frighteningly cold, get the job done persona. Oh no! It was in fact entirely all down to the fact that "lots of older Tory backbenchers fancied her." <br />
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Now wait, if you can hold onto to your breakfast for just a minute there (you're a better woman than me) you need not worry. We can just start this whole leadership thingy all over again from scratch and put the whole debacle right because, thank goodness, Charles, bless his ironed socks, has enlightened the Labour party with all the information it needs to chose the right woman for the job.<br />
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So Labour women MPs, put down your clip board, forget about your achievements to date, about the need for charisma or any silly lady policies you might be dreaming up about social justice, equality or any such thing.<br />
If you identify yourself of the female persuasion, before you even THINK about putting yourself forward for leader, you'd better just take a minute to check whether you meet these vital requirements for the job <br />
(I have bullet pointed them in case you wanted to break them up in between all of your vital domestic chores, you can thank me later....when you've done the ironing) - <br />
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<ul>
<li>Make the "best of it" BUT, and this is vital "without obvious strain" </li>
</ul>
<em>I'm not completely certain "it" is or what this means but I think holding onto "it" might have something to do with a high fibre diet so buy in some All Bran</em><br />
<ul>
<li>Make sure you are not "disturbingly sexy" </li>
</ul>
<em>I have been thinking hard about the interpretation of this one and the last time I disturbed somebody with my sexiness was I think in 1995, when whilst tending to a patient I got something in my eye and accidentally winked at one of the senior doctors whilst bending over to pick up a bed pan. I managed to counter this unfortunate faux par by spending the rest of the shift feigning a nervous twitch. Of course the was that referral to occupational health for psychological assessment but I think you'll agree it was worth it. A woman can't be too careful!!</em><br />
<ul>
<li>Appeal "to the chivalrous instincts of the knights of the shires." </li>
</ul>
<em>I think this might be something to do with The Lord of the Rings, which none of us will of course have read because it's a man's book</em><br />
<ul>
<li>Have a long look in the mirror ladies before you consider stepping forward because there will be times when what you have to say is "so boring that one looks rather than listens". <em>You know...when your talking about lady things like domestic violence, rape or domestic policy</em>. It must be remembered that. "no leader — especially, despite the age of equality, a woman — can look grotesque on television and win a general election."</li>
</ul>
<em>I'm so glad they reminded us that it was the age of equality because I was starting to worry up until this point of the article that we might still be living in some horrifically unequal society. You know, one that sees fit to judge female politicians on their fuckability as opposed to, well.... <strong>whether or not they could run the nobbing country.</strong></em><br />
<ul>
<li>As a female candidate you will need "a touch of appealing vulnerability" </li>
</ul>
<em>Ditch the usual head and shoulders shot and consider a candidate leaflet featuring you tied to a post on a cliff top in a long frock awaiting rescue, as per Jason and The Argonaut's circa 1963</em><br />
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<ul>
<li>Be one of two physical types -</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>A "lower-middle-class version of Clare Balding" and <em>"</em>possibly lesbian" <em>only possibly though, not an actual lesbian or the actual Claire Balding, that's tool posh AND too lesbian!</em></li>
</ol>
Alternatively be...<br />
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2."more provocative and sassy" <em>like that woman off of "Hello Hello" who liked to insinuate an unexplained sexual act involving a whisk, or somebody on BBC breakfast that your old friend Charles here is so impressed with he can't even be bothered to Google her and find her ACTUAL NAME.</em><br />
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<ul>
<li>Make sure that your feminism is of the<em> "</em>Show, don’t tell’ variety" <em>No long boring debates please about tackling the unequal pay, but do feel free to pole up to PMQs in a spotted headscarf or suffragette sash </em></li>
</ul>
<em><br /></em><br />
Well there we are. The vital information all our Labour women need to put themselves forward.<br />
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Where would we be without Mr Moore's words of wisdom? <br />
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Well probably sort of where we are now really, with a leadership election focused mostly on policies and leadership skills and what's the point in that? After all, we are told Labour leadership voters seem to "prefer a man with a dull beard." so perhaps Liz and Yvette could work on one of those instead?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-69351770813919118832015-08-04T05:18:00.001-07:002015-08-04T09:34:47.158-07:00Austerity and Inequality<span sb_id="ms__id1258"></span><br />
<div align="LEFT">
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<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;">So we want to talk a little about Austerity, its a term that gets used a lot. We are told we need it in order to improve the economy but people have marched against it all over the country, so what are we actually talking about?</span></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;">Well for a starters it is probably important to point out that <strong>Britain is not a poor country</strong>. In fact the UK is the sixth richest country in the world and, before the recession, between 1993 and 2008 it saw 15 years of sustained economic growth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>In 2008 there was a global financial crisis</strong>. The banks had lent too much money to too many of the wrong people and were in debt themselves. The UK government chose to bail out British banks in order to prevent a collapse of the British banking system that would cause an even deeper depression. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">At the same time, the government also began trying to stimulate spending. They reduced VAT and spent more on schools and social housing to try and encourage people to spend and to keep the economy as strong as possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: large;">Austerity </span></span></b></span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Since 2010 the government led by the conservatives in coalition with the Liberal democrats and now the Conservatives alone, enforced austerity. This was mostly in the form of deep spending cuts with only small increases in tax. </span></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><br /></span><br />
<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><span style="font-size: small;">The stated aim of austerity was to reduce the deficit in the UK by cutting spending, to give confidence to the markets and therefore deliver growth to the economy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>BUT....<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Whilst austerity measures have had some impact on reducing the deficit, they have delivered very little growth, and public debt has risen</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: small;">Austerity policies have also had a huge impact on the poorest people in the UK. In 2010, the government announced the biggest cuts to state spending since the Second World War,</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">including big cuts to social security and the planned loss of 900,000 public sector jobs between 2011 and 2018. </span></span><br />
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<span sb_id="ms__id1258"><br /></span><br />
Since the financial crisis began the poorest and most vulnerable in our society have had their situation made far worse. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The cost of living has continued to rise, whilst cuts to social security and public services, falling incomes, and rising unemployment have created a damaging situation in which millions are struggling to make ends meet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em><strong>Tell us about it</strong>: How have you and your family been affected? Do you have less money to spend in the month now than you did 10 or more years ago? How have families around you been affected?</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Inequality</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />
The biggest impact of austerity is a huge rise in inequality.<br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cuts to public services and changes to taxes and welfare have hit the poorest the hardest. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">In fact the poorest tenth of our population have seen a 38% decrease in their net income since 2010.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">By comparison, the richest tenth have lost the least with only a 5% fall.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">There is also continuing evidence that the very richest are doing far better.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">At the very top, Britain’s richest 1,000 individuals saw their wealth increase by £138bn in real terms between 2009 and 2013.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/cs-true-cost-austerity-inequality-uk-120913-en.pdf"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/cs-true-cost-austerity-inequality-uk-120913-en.pdf</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is good for our economy if people can do well, make profit and invest but that investment needs to have a positive effect for all and not just the few. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">Instead, <strong>measures designed to stimulate the economy have resulted in significant gains for the richest, </strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><strong>while the poorest tenth are taking home even less.</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Policies that were designed to increase the share of tax paid by the rich so that all of society can benefit from economic growth have been watered down. There has been a reduction in the top rate of income tax for those earning over £150,000, from 50 to 45% and <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">a fall in Corporation tax on businesses at a time when the UK’s top companies are doing better than ever. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile 1 million people used food banks in 2014-15 and with on-going cuts those figures are set to rise <a href="http://www.trusselltrust.org/stats">http://www.trusselltrust.org/stats</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those in work, average hourly wages have fallen <a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/elmr/an-examination-of-falling-real-wages/2010-to-2013/art-an-examination-of-falling-real-wages.html">http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/elmr/an-examination-of-falling-real-wages/2010-to-2013/art-an-examination-of-falling-real-wages.html</a> and t</span><span style="font-size: small;">here has also been a change in the type of jobs available - temporary work, </span><span style="font-size: small;">part-time work, </span><span style="font-size: small;">self-employment (with no employment rights) and zero hours contracts with no guaranteed minimum income, have all increased.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: small;">As the UK returns to growth and business owners begin to see good profits and a rise in income, there are rising levels of insecure work, high unemployment and the reduction of the benefits that reduce poverty and lower inequality. On top of this t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">he latest budget announced cuts to tax credits for working families.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Housing</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Currently about 14% of the national benefit bill goes to housing benefit, most of this going straight into the pocket of private landlords, many of whom own large amounts of property. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The recent budget announced an end to housing benefits for under 25s. This makes little difference to richer families who can afford to assist their children in buying or renting property but has a huge impact on poorer families who can't afford to help and to young people who for lots of reasons cannot stay at home with their parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Meanwhile councils now struggle to offer social housing, their stock reduced by decades of the right to buy policy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is now a housing shortage in many regions which has caused rents to increase massively. The benefit caps that reduce overall payment have also meant many families can no longer afford these rents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For all of these reasons many councils are now unable to permanently rehouse families. The number of homeless families housed in B&Bs has increased by 300% in the last 5 years. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/24/homelessness-england-families-temporary-accommodation-bed-and-breakfast?CMP=share_btn_tw">http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/24/homelessness-england-families-temporary-accommodation-bed-and-breakfast?CMP=share_btn_tw</a> and homelessness overall has increased by more than 50% <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homelessness-up-more-50-per-5235998">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homelessness-up-more-50-per-5235998</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Meanwhile the recent budget reduced the tax paid by those who are inheriting expensive properties from family members - another measure that benefits families who already have wealth but of no benefit to low or middle income families who can't afford expensive property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Support for Austerity</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is some popular support for austerity. For example, lots of people feel <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">we need to balance the books and live within our means and that austerity is helping achieve this. Many also want to see welfare 'dealt with' believing that there is a culture of "something for nothing" and people choosing to live on benefits rather than working. So what about these issues?</span></span><br />
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It is easy to think that people on low incomes receiving tax credits and those on benefits are somehow choosing to remain poor or are not working hard enough and there are always plenty of stories in the newspapers (which are mostly owned by very rich individuals, some of whom pay no or very little tax in the UK) about "benefits scroungers" but in actual fact 50% of children living in poverty in the UK are from working families and as we have already pointed out it is the lowest earners who have lost the most overall due to austerity.<br />
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In the UK the welfare bill is divided like this - <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="239" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/545956_10201068815189560_1372439002_n.jpg?oh=65470dc35212a88608cc80010e61325d&oe=564831A3" style="height: 633px; width: 845px;" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Overall only 10% is paid out to those not working, the vast majority is to pensioners and a bigger chunk goes to private landlords. Perhaps if we invested more in social housing that bill would come down?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With public sector cuts, there is less support in place for adult learning and less help to find work. Perhaps with more investment there that 10% paid out to the unemployed may also reduce? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At the moment the biggest drops in income and the largest percentage of that income paid in tax is by the poorest in the UK </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11215185_10153033544273435_3142528606127572969_n.jpg?oh=6a96a59cd7bea1ee6c8510c0ae360afb&oe=56361D4E" style="height: 490px; width: 624px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the long run many would argue it is short sighted to continue to avoid taxing high earners whilst penalising low income earners, because in the end not having enough money stops people from spending. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. Continuing to ignore tax avoidance and reducing the tax paid by businesses and rich individuals whilst reducing benefits and income to the poorest will not fix this, it will make it worse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is only through increases in income for the working majority and through greater equality and security, that we will see spending and prosperity improve for everyone and not just the elite few. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
As an economic program, austerity, under recession, makes no sense. It just makes the situation worse <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/noam-chomsky-austerity-just-class-war?sc=s&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow">http://www.alternet.org/economy/noam-chomsky-austerity-just-class-war?sc=s&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-85259453083929628662015-04-12T11:31:00.004-07:002015-05-15T15:14:09.187-07:00<div class="western">
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My name is Lisa, I am an NHS nurse and I'm angry. I am so angry in fact, that for the first time in my career I have felt the need to take action, to speak out - I have become an NHS activist.<br />
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Having been a nurse of 23 years, I am entirely comfortable in the world of drips, wounds, blood and medical horrors, explaining complex diagnoses and caring for my patients. Thanks to the investment of the NHS that our society has gifted me, I have developed not just clinical skills, but also skills in communication, negotiation, in the assertiveness required to advocate for my patient and to challenge poor practice or abuse. <br />
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In recent years, outside my working life I have been involved in a high profile feminist campaign and in the last few months these two previously separate areas - the professional and the political, have merged, as I have been called to join the fight to save our precious and vital NHS. An NHS that I am watching slowly and quietly die, whilst everybody is being encouraged, by our greedy, millionaire lead media, to look the other way. <br />
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When I first was asked to speak at an NHS rally in August of last year, I wasn't sure what I was going to say, what I was allowed to say without risking my job. I wanted to talk about the damage I was seeing all around me, the piecemeal selling off of services and the impact this was having on the workload of colleagues and the experience of patients.<br />
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When we are ill or hurt the vast majority of us will turn to NHS services, at least in the first instance, for medical help, but many probably don't realise how much of that care and what supports it, is already no longer in the ownership of the NHS -</div>
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<li>if we need transport to hospital this is likely to be provided by a profit making private company</li>
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<li>The hospital we stay in cleaned and maintained by a private company</li>
<li>the porters who transport us from department to department, ward to ward - now contracted by a private company </li>
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<li>The treatment centre where outpatient appointments and procedures are carried out - private</li>
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<li>The beds we lie on maintained and provided by private contract</li>
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<li>The food patients eat, that is so vital to their recovery - privately bought in and distributed by private company</li>
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<li>The home care company who bring equipment and medication to the home, so that patients can give their own treatment - private</li>
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In fact if you look at the health service UK wide, you will find many vital services now provided by private companies - Maternity, Abortion services, Mental health, Minor surgery, Bereavement, Palliative care, Sexual assault referral services and Paediatrics to name but a few. The list simply gets longer and longer. <br />
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It was with all of this in mind that in the end, when I stood up on a stage, on that August afternoon, next to local politicians and incredible campaigners, I found I actually had quite a lot to say. I was nervous, but motivated and energised by the experience. Spurred on by the organisation of this huge action by just a few people, who felt so strongly that they were walking across the nation gathering support and raising awareness. <br />
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Moved to action by the passion of others and fuelled by the emails I was receiving from 38 degrees amongst others, I might ordinarily at this stage thought about writing to my MP, but sadly it had already long since become apparent, that was entirely futile.<br />
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Anna Soubry has been my local MP since May 2010, she has just (against all logical odds) won a second term and I'm not a fan. <br />
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Now, I have been a socialist for pretty much my whole life, adult or otherwise, so I must acknowledge a bias here and when Anna replaced my really excellent and hard working Labour MP I was not at all happy. The loss of a local ally felt every bit as bitter to me as the prospect of handing a conservative government custodianship of public services, including the NHS and the education system my children were currently benefiting from.<br />
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However, I am a positive thinker and somewhat of a hippy in my middle age and so when I first became involved in No More Page 3, I did contact Anna by email to ask for her support. I wasn't expecting a response, having heard of a poor record on answering emails, but was pleasantly surprised when, within a day or two of sending I received an invitation to meet.<br />
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After an initial cold reception to the campaign, Anna offered the benefit of her wisdom and experience at recruiting MP support and I remain grateful that she shared the<br />
petition with constituents in her newsletter. When I have tried to describe this meeting to anyone I find I am unable to explain or articulate quite what it was that rattled me and why I came away with a feeling that it was not an experience I wanted to repeat. I'm not sure exactly what made me uncomfortable, but it is notable that despite this being a formal meeting (a young man was taking notes) she used the word c**t twice in the first ten minutes, with a liberal smattering of expletives throughout. Now as a 41 year old mother of teenagers, who has been described as potty mouthed herself, I was hardly offended. But despite my own penchant for a well placed swear word and the acknowledged blue air of a nursing staff room, I was more than a little taken aback that this was considered accepted language when meeting a constituent for the first time. Perhaps this was Ms Soubry's way of "breaking the ice" but it didn't really help her feel like an approachable person. This was my voice in parliament after all.<br />
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Anna's initial impressive fast response to my first correspondence was never repeated. I have contacted her on at least four occasions since on various issues (I still have the emails) and in every case, despite our previous meeting and my being on her mailing list, I receive an automated and sometimes a personal reply asking to prove that I am a constituent. <br />
My emailed pleas are often last minute, prompted by campaigns and regarding a pivotal vote happening in the next few days. I send it off hoping it is read and my view considered it in time, but replies take one to two months to come and on at least one or two occasions have not come at all. When I do receive a response it is to explain why she voted in the opposite direction and by this time of course the issue has long since become redundant and debate is futile. <br />
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As a consequence when appeals come through now asking to write to MPs to garner support and encourage debate in parliament, I know there is nothing I can add, that taking the time to write an email will be time wasted. I feel ignored, unimportant and unrepresented and that is not how our democracy should work.<br />
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Thankfully there is now some hope that this is soon to change. Ms Soubry is no longer my MP *celebratory klaxon* and whilst she is standing again, seems unlikely to win. It appears this seeming ignorance of the views of constituents has been noted by more than just me and our previous labour MP Nick Palmer is standing for Broxtowe again, back by popular demand.<br />
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Nick was the first MP I ever emailed back in the early 2000s. A concerned parent of two children with severe food allergy, I had questions and sought help regarding provision of allergy services. I sent off my heartfelt plea late at night and received an immediate reply that it would be looked into and later an offer to take up the issue in parliament and with the health secretary. <br />
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Whilst the nations allergy service provision may not have been magically fixed by that email exchange, by Nick's help or by the letter I later received from the health minister of the time, this personable approach impressed me. Nick wanted to listen, wanted to help and gave me a faith in the system and an understanding of what it can be like engaging with an MP who actually does work hard to represent and advocate for his constituents. <br />
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At the latest NHS rally I was pleased to see Nicks name next to others on a pledge to reinstate NHS services, going further than the promises of Labour party manifesto. The Bill proposes to fully restore the NHS as an accountable public service by reversing 25 years of marketization. It aims to abolish the purchaser-provider split, end contracting and re-establish public bodies and public services accountable to local communities. It is a bold plan and may go beyond what any major party currently offers but at least I know, no matter what happens nationally, if Nick gets back in I will have an ally here in Broxtowe in continuing my fight for our NHS.<br />
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It was in September of 1992 that the health service began investing in me, just as it had thousands of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals before me. The NHS has devoted it's time and our money to science and research, it has learned how to give excellent care, has developed treatments and new drugs and has advanced and invested in hospitals and people. <br />
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These developments belong to us ALL and must continue to be available to us ALL.<br />
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The NHS is ours. WE have paid for this, WE have learned this, WE must never hand it over into a system that would only gift it to those who have and neglect those who have not and no matter what happens in this general election this fight must go on. In my area I know very well which way to vote if I want to vote to save the NHS as we know it and if I want to have the open access I should to our democratic, political system. <br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-47533365783194234112015-01-11T04:41:00.001-08:002015-01-11T04:55:11.983-08:00An open letter to the free speech fightersFreedom of speech is vital they cry!! Freedom of expression is an absolute they sing!! <br />
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These are vital and must never be challenged. But when you ask me to be silent because you don't like what I say how does that work? Does your right to speech trump mine or mine yours?<br />
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If the expression is an expression of hate, of motion to war, of lies and stereotyping of another group, of my group, does your right to uphold that expression stand unchallenged and without question?<br />
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If the feature about which you are shouting solidarity, the one you uphold and protect is not yours at all but that of an obscenely rich, unimaginably powerful, white man who owns half the world's media; if that feature is not a small publication pushing the boundaries and supporting the vulnerable but a best selling newspaper selling just under 2 million copies a day, called out on lies and misrepresentation; If rather than standing up to established balances of power, it seeks to confirm them, to reinforce them, along with tired and narrow stereotypes that keep them in place, then what? <br />
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Where does this right of stereotypical and narrow and voiceless expression end and my right of speech, of protest begin?<br />
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Because when I speak up and say my truth and I stand in solidarity with those who feel this is not the truth about women you say NO!!! You want a ban, you want to end free speech, free expression you say and when I point out that I have not asked for a ban, for legislation but am instead seeking to discuss, to question, to educate you try to slap me down again with accusations that what I seek is still somehow wrong. <br />
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Does this capitalist status quo of sexism have more rights that I, than we who seek redress? Are you suggesting that in asking again and again and again for what I feel is right I have outstayed my welcome, spoken too much? How much free speech is too much free speech? Perhaps my two and a half years of protest or is it page 3's 44 years of publication? <br />
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Is this about the volume of speech? Are we too loud with our growing <a href="https://twitter.com/NoMorePage3" target="_blank">social media</a> following and our <a href="https://www.change.org/p/david-dinsmore-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3" target="_blank">petition signatures</a> and our <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/organisations-charities/" target="_blank">organisational support</a>? Perhaps you fear we might drown out this rich, powerful publication with it's 6.5 million reach? Unlikely.<br />
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So to you who told me this week that chatting to some young people in school about media sexism and it's effects on us as individuals and on society was a heinous act of promoting censorship that would make the Charlie Hebdo murderers proud I will extend this.....<br />
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Thank you for your input, I have heard you, you have exercised your right to express your view on this subject and I have listened, but I do not agree. <br />
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Your right to stand up for the perpetuation of a sexist and tired tradition does not trump my right to stand against it. Your right to try and silence me does not quash my right to seek like minds, to raise and discuss the issues that this sexism and sexual objectification causes, to keep the conversation going and growing. Your right to defend the status quo does not mean I cannot protest it and so I will continue to fight.<br />
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I will fight because ALL women deserve free speech and freedom of expression - all shapes, colours, sexualities, sizes and backgrounds. <br />
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I will fight for the representation of ALL of these women; those who fulfil the current narrow prescription of beauty and who are willing to pose naked and those who chose to express themselves differently, who achieve in areas not recognised, not heard, not seen, not celebrated as they are so readily for men. I will exercise MY freedom of speech to ask that these women are represented in media so that others can see what can be achieved and can learn what they can aspire to and what as a society we value. <br />
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I will keep speaking out because at the moment these women are censored and in all honesty I am not a fan of censorship. <br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-47748441344761437252014-11-16T07:26:00.001-08:002014-11-16T07:26:12.280-08:00Anytime, Any place, Anywhere<br />
I'm 40. I'm in a relationship and I'm a huge fan of sex. I mean a REALLY big fan. I think it's quite common so I'm not going to pretend I'm unique here, but there are sections of our society, heavily sanctioned and covered by the media, that would have you believe that we women are not supposed to like it that much, that we will make excuses and do what we can to avoid it. With an element of guilt I will say that I sort of believed that hype for a lot of my adult life, but it turns out my not wanting sex very much was more to do with being unhappy and in an unhappy relationship, rather than me not liking sex. Since leaving that relationship at 36 I have learned that I am in fact a very sexual person and that this is a very important part of who I am.<br /><br /><br /> It is for this reason that I somewhat laugh at those opposing voices to the No More Page 3 campaign who like to assume those of us fronting it to be, in some way anti sex or asexual, that we don't "get it", whatever "it" is, this human need for sex, for sexual imagery or titillation. This frankly ridiculous and completely unfounded allegation, you might be surprised to hear, comes interestingly, from both ends of the opposition - sexist men and anti-NMP3 feminists alike.<br /><br /><br /> I'm not going to make any attempt here to answer the ridiculous cries of the misogynists who presume any woman to be jealous or "not getting any" if they oppose page , frankly why would I waste my time, but I will take a little look at the other naysayers, those who suggest that No More Page 3 is a) anti sex b) anti-sex worker and/or c) slut shaming<br /><br /><br /> A. Page 3 and images like it, in no way represent my sexuality. Actually, I would also go as far as to say that they don't represent much of female sexuality as a whole certainly not that of any of the women I know, love and have had those kinds of talks with. But having grown up with this image, initially in my home and later more peripherally, I now realise that at least in some ways, I felt it was supposed to.<br /><br /><br /> For a chunk of my adult life, at least part of me felt that this posed, pouting, availability, this overt sexual readiness, was what I was supposed to present, supposed to enjoy, or more importantly provide. Don't get me wrong, my confused sexual identity, just like everyone else's is complex and cannot be blamed on page 3 alone, but I do feel that, at least to some degree, these pictures lie at the root of my sometime inability to not only ask for what I wanted sexually, but to even consider I might want something at all. In contrast, so ingrained was the idea that sexuality meant being sexy that when my relationship was struggling and my soul crying out for sexual connection, I took up pole dancing (in women only classes), I watched YouTube videos of lap dancing and perfected it, thinking this would make me the perfect sexual being.<br /><br /><br /> It didn't.<br /><br /><br /> It's a lie.<br /><br /><br /> Page 3 and its ilk lied to me about sex. They taught me that my job was to provide sexual entertainment. Sex is so much more than that. For me it is a visceral connection with myself and eventually with others that required me to know myself so much better. Sexy was and still is something I could turn on and off like a tap and whilst I have enjoyed that feeling at times, it has little or nothing to do with sex itself, which is a much bigger adventure, a journey I am still enjoying exploring.<br /><br /><br /> B. Sex workers. In all honesty the issue of prostitution and how it should be handled by the law and state is an area of feminism I have taken care to view from a distance. I have avoided engaging on it, not because I don't care but because I felt that it was so contentious and so polarising an issue, which my lack of any knowledge and experience on the subject could add nothing to. To some extent I still feel this way. I am not for one moment going to sit here, from my cross working/middle class hybrid social position, with the privilege of never having been truly, scarily poor or unemployed, with my background of a loving family home and try to tell women who have or are working in the sex trade how their area of work or their abuse (depending on how they view or feel it) should be managed.<br /><br /><br /> Having read what I've read and heard what I've heard on panels and at conferences it seems to me that every story is individual to every person. If a woman feels she was abused, coerced and raped then she was abused coerced and raped, but if she is standing in front of you telling you, with a look of total conviction, that she has chosen to do this, has given her consent to a financial transaction for sex, then who am I and who are you to take that bodily autonomy away from her. If we do that aren't we violating her ourselves? As I say, I'm not sure there are easy answers and I'm not going to debate it any further here. I will continue however to read, to listen and to learn. Some of what I mention from here on however, considers a position where sex work might be legalised.<br /><br /><br /> I don't know where the "sex worker" label begins and ends, but much like any other label, it would seem to me it should only be bestowed by the person themselves. If a woman working on a telephone chat line identifies as a sex worker then I'm happy to consider her as such, but another, self-employed as an escort, or indeed a survivor, is not happy with that label and I'm certainly not going to give it to her. <br /><br /><br /> Do page 3 models consider themselves sex-workers? Has anybody asked them?<br /><br /><br /> Whatever laws may or may not be in place regarding prostitution and whatever we decide is the best way to manage it, I would never suggest sex workers be prosecuted for their part and likewise I would not suggest that glamour modelling, whether it is or isn't sex work, should be made illegal in any sense. NMP3 have been very clear about not directing the campaign at the models or suggesting glamour modelling is in itself inherently wrong.<br /><br /><br /> It seems to me the crux here though, in both cases, would be context. Be it glamour or sex work, surely there has to be some sensibility about where this exchange happens? Whether it is the consensual exchange of sex acts for money or the consensual display of sexy pictures I would suggest both should be private affairs. Whatever changes were implemented, if we were to legalise brothels then surely we would never tolerate their being advertised in news media or in the middle of the <st1:time hour="10" minute="0">10 O'clock</st1:time> news. The line would surely be drawn before leaflet dropping outside school playgrounds or advertising billboards on city high streets. Likewise it would seem fair to suggest that sexual images, soft porn or "glamour" shots not be featured in news media.<br /><br /><br /> There are many trades with which we set limits for many reasons, limits about when and where they should take place (the selling of alcoholic drinks and gambling to name two examples) and it would seem a fairly distinct line that sexual images and services, like sex itself, remain largely private. The alternative exposes those not wishing to consume these services whether they liked it or not and makes it impossible to protect children from the overt sexualisation that we know to be damaging. Not being clear about this line perpetuates the notion that all women are open to sexual comment or are sexually available and puts other women at risk. Blurring this line in media risks trivialising serious and at times horrific news with titillating images that undermine the seriousness.<br /><br /><br /> So all of this brings me to C - slut shaming. I am going to assume that this stems from the notion, backed up by research, which shows that exposure to sexualised images can change the attitude of men towards women, can lead to them viewing women as objects rather than people and that this can then in turn, lead to them treating women as less than human.<br /><br /><br /> In terms of "objectification" Page 3 has special significance. Whilst sexualised images of women may, as we have acknowledged, have a place (such as adult, top shelf publications or specialist websites) having them in a newspaper changes the context and meaning completely. Instead of having to seek out an image for sexual titillation because that is what you want, it is placed in a news media as though the provision of a woman for sexual titillation is a given, akin to a crossword, it is a normal thing to expect to have with your news, your breakfast, in a café, on a bus etc. and a normal thing to expect those around you to accept and accommodate no matter where you chose to open that page.<br /><br /><br /> As a consequence for many people our exposure to page 3 occurs often at work, as children or teens in our own homes and in other public places. It is such a potent image that it also gets used to bully women, as a <a data-mce-href="http://page3stories.org/" href="http://page3stories.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">tool for sexual </span><span aria-haspopup="true" id=":z.219" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">harassment</span></span></a> and can lead young girls to see the glamour industry as the easiest path to success and fame.<br /><br /><br /> In terms of the connection between Page 3 and rape and sexual assault, this is not a direct connection and the campaign has never made any claims that it is. There is no suggestion that Page 3 models or Page 3 pictures cause the rape of other women. Page three does not cause rape; rapists cause rape, they and they alone. Sexual images of women in mainstream media however, are a contributing factor to a society which allows women to be yelled at and harassed on the street, assaulted in bars and clubs and raped and assaulted as often as they are.<br /><br /><br /> One of the major stumbling blocks to understanding this connection is the misapprehension that rape is committed by men with twisted, dark minds who are psychopathic strangers lurking in alleyways. These select "others" are evil and have no connection to the people we know. Sadly the truth is that rape, in most cases, occurs within relationships. In 90% of rapes the rapist is known to the victim/survivor.<br /><br /><br /> If we accept rape as exactly what it is - <strong>sexual acts committed without consent </strong>then it is easier to see that it is a crime which doesn't necessarily require a psychopathic mind, all it requires is the ability to dismiss the choice and voice of the woman (or indeed the man) and to exercise the control that some men may feel is their right. This right is reinforced daily by images of women in our environment that paint them as passive sex objects, voiceless, penetrable, and defenceless and ready for you to act upon. Unless there is a firm message elsewhere in a man's upbringing, peer group etc. this message may have a profound affect for some.<br /><br /><br /> Very few men would name themselves as a rapist but ask the right question and you <a data-mce-href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.upworthy.com%2Fwhoa-4-questions-that-got-120-rapists-to-admit-they-were-rapists-5%3Fc%3Dufb1&h=AAQHFwBfI" href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.upworthy.com%2Fwhoa-4-questions-that-got-120-rapists-to-admit-they-were-rapists-5%3Fc%3Dufb1&h=AAQHFwBfI" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">some will admit to rape </span><span aria-haspopup="true" id=":z.352" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">accidentally</span></span></a>.<br /><br /><br /> I absolutely understand why so many take issue with any connection between Page 3 and rape and why so many cling to the concept of a daemon rapist. The reason we still see public campaigns directed at women, suggesting they change their behaviour, the reason we ask what she was wearing, is because it is somehow far easier to attribute some blame to the victim than to think so many men could commit such an unthinkable act. When so few of us know such a daemon how can this happen? Very few of us, men or women would admit to having a friend who could be a rapist but if you consider more pointed questions - "Have you ever witnessed a friend approach a woman for sex because he knew she was really drunk/under the influence of some substance", "have you ever had a friend tell you they got into bed with or had sexual relations with a woman who was sleeping or passed out", "Have you ever witnessed a friend deliberately try to get a woman drunk in order to have sex with her", "Have you ever seen a friend touch a woman in a sexual way after she has asked him not to or without invitation" how many would say yes?<br /><br /><br /> I hope that for the majority the answer would still be no but I know some men and women, for whom, when thinking of friends they've had it would be yes.<br /><br /><br /> Some time ago I wrote <span style="color: blue;">this blog</span> about the response some men felt comfortable, not just verbalising but committing to type on the Star's page 3 page. The comments were all removed in the same week the blog came out and the ability to comment was disabled. I realise all that was written there was words, but these words illustrate very clearly a sense of ownership, of privilege over women's bodies that is being reinforced and supported for some, by the accessibility if these images in such a mainstream way.<br /><br /><br /> The No More Page 3 campaign is about the way women are seen, the way they are portrayed, day-to-day, in the most prolific and mainstream media outlets, in the most mainstream shops and supermarkets. The campaign seeks to level the playing field of media coverage for women by starting with a tiny but significant bit. The ripples of the campaign reach into many areas of feminism and beyond. They have never sought to affect women identifying as sex workers or as models but no doubt they do to some degree as they seek to remove one of the most prolific and obvious springboards for glamour models. This particular springboard however, should never have been provided in the first place. This was never the right place to present women for consumption. There may well be a time and a place for everything but this isn't and never was it.<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-62933210847557175162014-11-16T04:52:00.001-08:002014-11-16T07:28:44.682-08:00Grandad's last journey: When full time care provides so much more than care<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);"><span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">My Granddad was a big tall, handsome man. He was
opinionated and loved an argument, so much so that some avoided him in the pub,
he would argue black was white and would never relent even when presented with
factual evidence to the contrary.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">They say the bigger they are the harder they
fall and this intelligent, infinitely caring and generous man was first
diagnosed with dementia in 2008 and slowly but surely slipped away from us.
"Bunt", as he was always known to friends, didn't have the more
commonly talked about Alzheimer's, he instead had vascular dementia, caused by
problems in the supply of blood to the brain. The condition often follows a
'stepped' progression, with symptoms remaining at a constant level for a time
and then suddenly deteriorating and this was certainly our experience as a
family. We would just grow used to a new set of circumstances, only to have
that change suddenly and a whole new set of problems present themselves. You
can read more about vascular dementia <a href="http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200171&documentID=161&gclid=Cj0KEQiA-PGiBRDRz4jH9o39yZwBEiQAWCBZNZAt0VAIw8H_59QAUmHerv_hwyqIAnXboJj4eU_6sLYaAmAb8P8HAQ" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">As a daughter and granddaughter it was truly
horrible watching this man being slowly lost and getting more and more frustrated
and less aware of his limitations. Perhaps the only thing more difficult was
watching my Mother, his main carer, endeavouring to cope with an increasingly
unreasonable, depressed and at times aggressive man, who haunted her every
waking and sleeping moment, occupying the body of her father. It would be
impossible in a few short words here to fully describe the horror and weight of
the situation as it ended up, in Granddad's last few weeks and months at home
or the burden that this placed on Mum; but suffice to say there was not a
moment in which she could rest, not an hour of sleep that wouldn't be disturbed
by rumblings, shoutings, cleaning up of urine and excrement and the need to
call out an emergency plumber to another blocked toilet filled with used
incontinence pads.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">In the end so relentless and thankless was it
that he would often break into verbal and sometimes physical abuse of her,
particularly at night when "end of tether" had long been exceeded. My
mother's mental health and that of my step-father were suffering irreparably
and yet despite growing physical frailty Granddad was still essentially
physically fit and able.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Care from community carers
(private) and district nurses offered minimal assistance but nowhere near
enough to ease the relentless 24/7 burden <span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black;">of care. Event</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="color: black;">ually, after an attempt at emergency
respite ended after 4 hours - a care home with full staff being so unable to
cope that they saw fit to send Bunt home once again to the care of my exhausted
and distressed mother - I stepped in. A </span><span style="color: #141823;">consultant
and social worker visited the following day and arranged an urgent slot on
Bestwood ward at City Hospital, so that Granddad could be properly assessed in
a fully equipped psychiatric care environment.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">It was clear from very early on in his stay
that Bunt's needs were such he could not be cared for in a home environment or
even in an average care home or nursing home. He eventually received a
"Section 3" meaning his full care should be provided for under
continuing care and paid for by the state. A place was found at Landermeads
care home in Chilwell.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">Landermeads was originally a small nursing
home like many others and I had worked there myself for a short period as a
care assistant in the early 90's. It was my experience there that had led me to
train as a nurse, but since this time Landermeads had become far more. It is
now a series of homes, each offering unique care, and it was The Meads, the
home's specialist dementia wing, which found a spot for Bunt. He had visited
the home one or two afternoons per week for some time before his hospital stay
and had "hit it off" immediately with owner Rob, developing an immediate
respect for him. When the time came for Granddad to move there permanently many
of the staff knew him already and he was given the warmest of welcomes.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">I think many families and those of advancing
age are understandably fearful of placing a loved one "into a home"
and often feel it is somehow a failure or a form of neglect in itself. This is
wrong. Nobody can provide care on their own for 24 hours a day, relentlessly
and indefinitely to anyone. W</span></span><span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">hen
the subject of that care is often unreasonable, unwilling to help you or
themselves, bigger than you, aggressive, violent and a stranger to you in every
respect apart from their appearance, the task becomes all the more
insurmountable. How will you care when you have not slept, how will you care
when you cannot even meet your own basic needs without having to leave them
alone for a short while, how will you cope with your resentment of this
stranger in your relative’s body who </span><span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">has been evil to you almost incessantly for
hours of days of months? What will you do when you are on your knees with
emotional and physical exhaustion?</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">Landermeads didn't just "look after"
Granddad, they gave him something that none of us could have come close to. 24
hour care. Care that allowed him to stay up all night if he was determined,
care that indulged his mood there and then with activities and cheekiness and
the relentless energy that only a full, shift-changing team of innovatively
trained care home staff could provide.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">I often describe Landermeads as like a toddler
group for people with dementia, perhaps that sounds insulting, but once you've
seen it in action it is quite something. The rooms are individually decorated,
they each contain chairs, dining tables and familiar items from various eras.
One room has a kitchen area where residents, known as "the family",
can assist in cleaning up, cooking, baking, making drinks. There is a beautiful
colourful secure but accessible garden. There are laundry items, old and new
books, telephones not wired up, dolls in highchairs and pushchairs. Old ladies
carry teddies and bestow love like it were their child, old men carry toy tool
kits and sit fiddling with bits of piping and spanners. Music from many eras
plays loudly in one room and staff and patients sing or spontaneously break
into dance. Craft activities or baking will be happening in one area, the TV
showing an old comedy show in another. Staff don't wear uniform, they eat with
the residents and at night some wear pyjamas.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">In this extraordinary environment I have
rarely seen a patient distressed and if they are then instant comfort or
distraction is provided. There is an overriding sense of ownership from staff
and a true sense of family. When I went to make myself a coffee on one of my
last visits, as visitors are encouraged to do from day one, I was struggling to
find a mug; one of the staff helped saying "oh there's never any mugs in
our house". It took me a moment to realise she was referring to this
house, this home, this amazing place that had transformed a man distressed and
sad and frightened to one who smiled, who laughed, who cheekily flirted with
young carers - a home which allowed my Mum to once again be the daughter she
had once been when she came to see her Dad.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">In his last days and hours we all provided a
vigil at Granddad's bedside, my Mum, her brother, my step-father, myself, my
brother, my children, we were all there. Barely an hour would pass without
staff coming in to offer supplies to us or provide physical care but more
commonly just to check on "Bunty", to say a few words, to give him a
kiss and stroke his hand. When he died, we cried and they cried with us. The
version of Bunt they lost was different to the one that we had known. That big,
strong, intelligent and relentlessly generous man, they only saw a little of
what he had been, but they loved and respected the man they knew to the very
end and were all so sorry to lose him, just as we were.<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248);">Dementia is cruel, it robs us of the very
thing that makes us recognise and love our loved ones; it makes caring such a
terrible burden that we are scared to admit. It can be truly awful and never
ending, but, if we are really lucky, sometimes we may find a solution, a way
to, not just cope with, but to cherish those last few weeks, months, years.
That's what Landermeads gave to my family and I will always be hugely grateful
for that.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-45646015799541447742014-08-30T04:36:00.000-07:002014-08-30T04:36:12.857-07:00Local activist and campaigner Lisa Clarke is running the Robin Hood marathon for Nottingham Forest Ladies FC.<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Lisa is a local volunteer for No More Page 3 which is asking the editor of the Sun to drop its daily soft porn feature. The campaign are proud sponsors of the local team thanks to funds raised last year from crowd sourcing.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Lisa is a strong supporter of the partnership having lived in </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Nottingham</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> all her life and now wants to help all she can to fund the teams 2014-2015 season.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">She said – “Women’s’ sport gets only 5% of the coverage of men’s sport in the </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">UK</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> and this is letting down women and girls badly. Because of the poor coverage it is far more difficult to find sponsorship and funds. If we want to encourage young girls to be active we have to see more women’s sport in our press and we have to support women’s sport far more than we do. That is why I am running for Nottingham Forest Ladies FC. I want to do all I can. It makes me really cross that they struggle so much for funding when they play so well and are doing so well as a team.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Nottingham Forest</span><span style="color: black;"> Ladies FC </span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Club Operations Manager Steven Gray adds "It's great to see that the NMP3 campaign has been so positive in wanting to increase the publicity of women's sport and running the Robin Hood Marathon to help Forest Ladies raise some much needed and funding only helps us do that with every member of the club bring a volunteer and players all paying subs, every penny raised via sponsorship/fundraising counts and is genuinely appreciated by everybody at the club and we can only hope to repay that on match days."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Please sponsor Lisa and </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Nottingham</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Forest Ladies FC so that they can enjoy another successful season and continue to train and inspire the next generation of local girls to take up the national game.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Please contact - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Steven Gray </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Club Operations Manager</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Nottingham Forest Ladies FC</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Tel: <span class="skype_c2c_text_span">07870 156 937</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:steven.gray@nottinghamforestladies.co.uk" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">steven.gray@<wbr></wbr></span>nottinghamforestladies.co.uk</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Twitter: @stevegray87 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lisa Clarke</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No More Page 3 team member</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tel - 07951 923436</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">email - <a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com">NMP3lisa</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmal.com"></a><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmial.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"></a><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmal.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"></a><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:NMP3lisa@gmail.com">@gmail.com</a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></span></div>
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Twitter: @LisaLouClarkey and @nomorepage3</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-8349959295114460732014-07-21T12:09:00.000-07:002014-07-21T12:09:08.401-07:00Do you want sauce with that?<br />
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<span id="goog_1517448883"><a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=bei5w63ZYLYYRM&tbnid=yxy6yXmBYvlrrM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_kw%3Dinflatable%2Blips&ei=al7NU9a1HoWMO7bggKAO&bvm=bv.71198958,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNGJcIi7G0ECyxQcaaw0igvVT0VC8g&ust=1406054329477087" id="irc_mil" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o90/balloon-artistry/Hen%20Night/c09060.jpg" height="200" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a></span></div>
Dear Mr Wainright,<br />
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I am writing to you again as head of customer relations as frankly I am feeling increasingly disturbed by the nature of your marketing strategy front of shop, which is ensuring that increasingly I don't feel very comfortable in my local Supermarket.<br />
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Now let me be clear Mr Wainright on one thing, I am a woman of the world, I have been (how can I put this) around the block and at my age I find not much shocks me any more. I have for example wandered into Ann Summers on more than one occasion having forgotten my specs and mistaken the underweared window display for Jessops. Thankfully I recovered from the initial confusion in the "toy department" soon enough to avoid buying a highly inappropriate present for a work colleague's baby shower and was able to quite enjoy the experience, mesmerised as I was by the sheer number of multi-coloured, multi-sized, phalluses before me, who knew.<br />
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No Mr W, I am no prude and I will not have it said that I am but what I am not able to cope with is the regularity with which I now see items for.....shall we say.. "private use" marketed on offer just inside the door of your otherwise welcoming store.<br />
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Frankly it confuses me, it really does, given that in every other respect I can see a lot of thought has gone into the presentation of your shops. The layout is such that on entering, no matter for what small item I may be "popping in", I can be instantly distracted by...for example, the latest book releases, a comfy looking fleecy blanket and slippers or seasonally perhaps sunglasses and flip flops. You will then draw me in further to other "must haves" and I confess I am not immune to the charms of a nice wine, a new picnic set or even a couple of lovely puddings. But Sir, there is a limit!<br />
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I realise Mr Wainright that I am what you might now class as middle aged but that does not mean I am out of touch and I honestly think some things just aren't right for a supermarket and frankly I am somewhat tired of having to complain in your store. I am therefore writing to you a second time, appealing to your senses, as I'm afraid this weeks prominent display of a <em>free dental dam with the chardonnay</em> frankly took the biscuit!<br />
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Now I am a forgiving person and I can see how these things might slip through the net from time to time. <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Your customer services representative was as always very understanding and promptly moved the eyesore to the back of shop but it perturbs me sir that I have to keep pointing out the inappropriateness of this. So frequent is the problem that last week I spent a full 10 minutes of my shopping time discussing with a young man why it really wasn't a good idea to have "blow up dolls" with the waterwings by the door even if it was "Summer FUN Time"a<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">nd only last month I had to explain to a lovely middle aged and somewhat confused shop assistant that the "Rampant Rabbits" weren't good shelf fellows with the Easter eggs as a<em> cheeky Easter extra even if they were on BOGOF</em>. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">I had originally presumed this to perhaps be a local issue that could be remedied by some focused training of store staff but sadly I have found that this is not the case. It appears that the issue is national as I realised to my cost when on visiting a friend in Leicester I nipped into your store and they attempted to entice me with some <em>free lube with my kumquats?!</em> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">I'm sorry Mr Wainright, I am generally not one for writing letters at all but to be frank your first reply was woefully inadequate. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Whilst I accept that decisions about freebies and contents are, as you put it "decided by the manufacturers and producers of these products" I will not be, as you suggested "taking up my issue with them" as I have no intention of buying their goods. I am however Mr W shopping in <strong>your</strong> store and as a regular customer and whilst you may have your market reasons for stocking these things I find it difficult to understand your justification for giving such inappropriate items pride of place at front of shop. Surely this tactic risks alienating a sizeable number of your customers, particularly those with young families in tow? </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">So Mr Wainright rest assured this will be my final letter. I hope to goodness you will see sense and act on mine and others complaints (I happen to know that there are many others who, equally confused and disturbed ,have also spoken out on this matter). I am now sadly giving some serious thought to taking my custom elsewhere but am sending this in the vain hope that in the future I and others will be able to enter your stores without fear of ever being invited again to purchase a<em> strap-on with a bath bomb.<strong> </strong></em></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Yours Sincerely and Hopefully,</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Mrs A Noyed</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Dear reader - Clearly the above is fictitious but I would suggest it is equally inappropriate and none family friendly to display newspapers which regularly portray women inside and often on the front cover as sexual fodder for men on a sponsored and conspicuous stand in clear view and reach of children in our supermarkets week on week?</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
What's more when asked a direct question, repeptitively by customers about the supermarket's policy of displaying these pornpapers in such an endorsed fashion they dismiss concerns or continually refer customers back to the editor of the paper as you can see <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/not-so-super-responses/" target="_blank">here</a>. I don't think that covers it, do you? <br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-reactid=".39.1:3:1:$comment512767715536582_512802818866405:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".39.1:3:1:$comment512767715536582_512802818866405:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".39.1:3:1:$comment512767715536582_512802818866405:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511778525635501:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".4h.1:3:1:$comment511773422302678_511779118968775:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></span></span></span></span></span></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-60342848030876139062014-06-02T01:09:00.001-07:002014-06-02T01:09:19.896-07:00Page 3 LionsIt's coming soon<br />
It's coming soon<br />
Oh page 3's<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br />End is coming soon<br />(x4)<br /><br />Been here so long it's such a bore<br />We've seen it all before<br />Boobs aren't news<br />And we're sure<br /><br />That Murdoch's gonna<br />Throw it away<br />Say that it cannot stay<br />Cos society say<br />The time has come now...<br /><br />We've all got the shirt<br />We've even bought the team in<br />40 Years of hurt<br />Never stopped us dreaming<br /><br />So many jokes, so many jeers (Shouts of get you're tits out love)<br />Familiar to our ears<br />Wear you down<br />Through the years<br /><br />And we can see that<br />Porn in the news<br />Women shown as just boobs<br />Reinforces the mood<br />Of street harassment<br /><br />We've all got the shirt<br />We've even bought the team in<br />40 Years of hurt<br />Never stopped us dreaming<br /><br />(4 Bars here of music with no vocals and background footy commentary - we could have the teams playing and one of us commentating saying what a shame none of this great play will ever reach the papers tomorrow)<br /><br />It wasn't right then<br />Never will be again<br /><br />It's coming soon<br />It's coming soon<br />Oh page 3's<br />End is coming soon<br />(x4)<br /><br />We've all got the shirt<br />We've even bought the team in<br />40 Years of hurt<br />Never stopped us dreaming<br />(repeat to fade)</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-11866460869978983262014-05-30T09:21:00.001-07:002014-05-30T09:21:45.078-07:00Women make the news just like men doThere's a new world somewhere<br />
They call The Promised Land<br />
And we'll be there some day<br />
If you will understand<br />
We need you to recognise us<br />
For all we say and do<br />
Be-cause women make the news just like men do<br />
<br /><br />
Each of us is someone<br />
With so much more to say<br />
And you could show that we are someone<br />
Each and every day<br />
Perhaps we could keep our clothes on<br />
You'll find we mostly do<br />
You see women make the news just like men do<br />
<br /><br />
Been a long, long journey<br />
<span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">Since 19 70</span><br />
When we've come so far<br />
Why still page 3, WHY PAGE 3?<br />
<br /><br />
Sun please keep this up now<br />
And Please don't drop the ball<br />
If we lose this change tomorrow<br />
We make no progress at all<br />
But if you could feature women<br />
For all they say and do<br />
For I know women make news just like men do<br />
[Instrumental Interlude]<br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Just like men do, just like men doLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-61687619115320626052014-04-27T06:50:00.001-07:002014-05-09T15:15:48.195-07:00Co-op motion Thank you fellow co-op ,Members for allowing me to bring this motion today.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Co-op lead the way once again this time to reduce objectification of women and protect children.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
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 <strong>ASDA</strong> stores<br />
<br />
<br />
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<strong> </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
Normalising the presentation of women as sexual objects for consumption next to news stories.<br />
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.<br />
Supported with the advertising revenue of ethical and family friendly companies including co-op.<br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
I am, as you may have noticed a 40 year old woman of the world,<br />
I have seen lots and lots of breasts,<br />
I even have my own believe it or not, <br />
I am not offended by bare breasts or afraid of my children seeing them. I am not shy about nudity.<br />
<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>There is now a wealth of</b> 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.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>The figures on violence against women in the uk today are damning </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Co-op members I have so little time to ask for your help <br />
<br />
<br />
and I know that we the Co-operative face so many challenges at present that need to take priority, <br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
I trust you Co-op to lead the way.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Let's be the change we want to see in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-17123609484809892632014-04-03T09:08:00.000-07:002014-04-03T12:29:24.782-07:00No More Page 3 and Class War<br />
<em>The below is one of my favourite blogs ever to come from NMP3HQ, written by HQer Jo Cheetham it was originally shared by Vagenda in 2013. The link to that now appears not to be working so in the interests of never ever losing this masterpiece I am sharing it here.</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
<em>Ladies and gentlemen I give you Jo's reply to ex-deputy editor of The Sun Neil Wallis :)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh, Neil. Neil 'The Wolfman' Wallis. I want to be angry with you, I really do, but I just can't be. You see, you remind me of my Uncle Mick, the one who does horrifically inappropriate, embarrassing things like calling nurses 'dolly birds' and asking women in Argos if they need a man to put up their shelves. You just constantly put your foot in it.<br />
<br />
For example, on <a href="http://www.channel5.com/shows/5-news/features-archived/girl-guides-add-voice-to-page-3-girl-opposition" target="_blank">Channel 5 news</a>, you stubbornly denied that Page Three could in any way damage the self-esteem of young girls, and weirdly referred to the Girlguides as 'middle class, politically correct women' whilst constantly talking over Becky Hewitt and Emma Crosby about the guides' 'lovely website' being full of 'flower meadows and cakes.' And when the No More Page 3 campaign started, you made <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/neil-wallis/page-3-should-not-be-banned_b_1908751.html" target="_blank">a series of uneducated, sweeping statements about class distinctions and bizarrely wrote that we were 'scrapping furiously for the nation's attention' with badgers</a>. It was just weird, Neil. See, I can't help but think you're a decent bloke really, who's just lost the plot a bit. I'm worried about the people you've been hanging around with. I fear that you've lost touch with reality. Let me help you, Neil.<br />
<br />
Firstly, describing the <a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-dinsmore-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3" target="_blank">184,493 No More Page 3 supporters</a> as 'overwhelmingly white, middle-class, aged late 20s-late 30s, university educated' and insisting that they 'work in academia, meejah, public services, know what macrobiotic means and how to use a fondue set, don't watch X Factor, go to Greece on their holidays, read the Guardian and watch Channel 4 News, suffer serious sense of humour loss at certain times' was staggeringly ignorant and way off the mark. Firstly, our supporters are extremely diverse - via the wizardry of social media I've encountered a real mix of them, including: young men who are ashamed of 'lad culture,' teenage girls who attend comprehensive schools, lorry drivers, dads concerned that their children will grow up to think that seeing a teenager's breasts in a newspaper is normal, Sun readers who find Page Three an embarrassment but otherwise like the paper, vicars, teachers (I could go on, but I won't, in case you become restless and start shouting at the computer about badgers again).<br />
<br />
Secondly, don't you realise that by regarding the above traits as 'middle class' you're presuming that 'working class' Sun readers ('The Sun is a largely working-class newspaper') are the antithesis: uneducated, reality TV aficionados who lack the sophistication required to pierce a bit of bread with a fork and dip it into some cheese? Really, Neil, you're going with that? (NB: I'm not sure the middle classes have 'done' fondue since the 'Abigail's Party' era, but perhaps I'm moving in the wrong circles).<br />
<br />
Oh! But you don't leave it there, Neil! You go on to hint that working class women don't worry about Page Three! No! They have more pressing matters at hand: 'they worry about their kids' health, the rent, putting food on the table, work, their relationship, benefits scroungers, immigration, the telly, and a drink at the weekend.' WOW! The way you get inside the heads of these working class women is staggering, Neil: William Beveridge meets Cosmo. It's good to know that the poor are too busy wiping babies' arses and opening tins of spaghetti hoops to think about 'issues.' They're too busy slagging off immigrants down the pub to worry about a silly little thing like sexism! Except that's a massive load of steaming crap, Neil. You see, the thing is, I'm working class. I was brought up on a council estate in an over-crowed, damp house. We were so poor that my dad had to <i>make</i> a settee. I went to an abysmal comprehensive school, where the careers advisor encouraged my bilingual sister to be a dog handler and my English teacher told me that Icarus flew too close to the sun, turned into a sausage and fell into the sea. Every house I went to as a child had a copy of The Sun on the dining table. I know what The Sun is; I was brought up with it. I bet I've known more Sun readers than you have, Neil.<br />
<br />
Let me share a few experiences of The Sun from when I was growing up:<br />
<br />
1) 1986 on holiday. I'm six. My mum and I were forced to eat our sandwiches on the wall outside the Haven holiday camp café, because two men at the next table were holding up Page Three and loudly talking about how they wanted to 'do that.' <br />
2) 1992 at school. I ran home in tears after a group of builders taunted me by saying 'you'll be on Page Three when you're older and your tits get bigger.' <br />
3) 1998 at work. A group of men in a pub I worked in compared my breasts to those of the model on Page Three, saying 'it's difficult to tell - let's give 'em a feel, then we'll know how big they are' before trying to grab my breasts while I was serving a customer. <br />
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Just because my family were poor and struggled to pay the council tax, doesn't mean that I wasn't upset, angry, embarrassed and frightened on these occasions. I doubt you've ever felt threatened by someone double your age, weight, height and strength Neil but, let me tell you, worrying that you'll never be able to afford purple sprouting broccoli really doesn't enter your head while you're terrified that somebody the size and bulk of a bus is going to assault you. Stop patronising the Girlguides by dismissing their concerns. Stop insulting us by telling us to focus on 'bigger issues.' Stop pretending that this is a class war: it's not. It's an issue of respect, empathy and understanding and, to understand the issues that affect half of the population, you need to listen to women's voices. Their actual voices, not just the ones you invent in your head as a result of too much Coronation street and Jeremy Kyle. We have nothing against glamour models. We don't object to people looking at top shelf magazines. We object to semi-naked images of very young women (printed purely for the sexual gratification of men) appearing in a 'family' newspaper alongside pictures of clothed men of all ages, shown to be actively doing things, achieving things. We object to these images appearing in newspapers that are seen on buses and trains, in workplaces, in public libraries, in schools. I can't be bothered to respond to your comment about us denying a woman 'stuck behind the bread counter at Tesco' the opportunity to find 'a new glamorous life via Page Three.' I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a biro than read that sickeningly patronising paragraph ever again.<br />
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Oh, but there is one more thing Neil: the name. I know you like going by 'The Wolfman' moniker but I've been thinking about it, and would like to suggest an alternative: 'The Shih Tzu.' You see, my friend Paul used to have a very stubborn Shih Tzu named Tinker who was tiresome, embarrassing and a bit 'yappy' and used to hide under the bed whenever it heard a woman's voice. It has a nice ring to it - Neil 'The Shih Tzu' Wallis. You're welcome.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-15157054243829983082014-03-06T03:19:00.000-08:002014-03-06T06:10:38.587-08:00Hello, my name is Lisa Clarke and I am a member of the No More Page 3 Campaign team. <br />
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I still love saying that and have a little laugh to myself, a small pinch me reality check every time I do. You see I'm not some high achieving academic feminist, not a politician, not a middle class busy body I am instead a Nottingham born and bred mother of 2, a nurse of 20 years from a working class background and a marathon runner (I know that's not relevant and I've actually only run one marathon but I'm rather proud of it and like to get it in wherever I can) and quite frankly I have no idea how I've ended up involved in all of this or why anybody thought I'd be any good at it.<br />
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The No More Page 3 Campaign was started in August of 2012 by Actress and Author Lucy-Anne Holmes. It was during the London 2012 Olympics that Lucy bought a copy of The Sun following ‘Super Saturday’ when lots of gold medals were won many by female athletes, she picked that particular paper because of its’ reputation for sports coverage. Whilst leafing through it she discovered that Page three wasn’t there and instead the page had been taken up by pictures of sporting achievements. Thinking the feature had been dropped as a sign of respect to the Olympians she was later dismayed to find it on page 11. The page 3 image was still the largest image of a woman in the paper that day, larger than the image of Jessica Ennis who had just won gold for her country. Lucy describes that moment as being a ‘huge slap in the face. A reminder that it’s a man’s world’. She wrote to the then editor Dominic Mohan, who never responded, and so she decided to start a petition and a twitter and Facebook page. <br />
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It was in the September that I signed the petition (link - <a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-dinsmore-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3">http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-dinsmore-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3</a>) myself. I can't actually remember where I saw it or who shared it but having had my own feminist awakening about 6 months before that I was in the habit of following many feminist twitter accounts and was reading and learning with a hunger, all I could on the subject.<br />
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I signed quickly and then followed the accounts on twitter and Facebook, immediately getting involved in heated debates both on the campaign's page and on my own wall. I was amazed at how controversial an issue this was, at how hard some people would argue for the right to keep this topless, sexy picture where they could access it easily with their morning toast or in their break at work. Despite this confusion about who it was that owned the boobs thee days I found many like minded friends locally and in the Autumn of 2012 we organised local demonstrations in Beeston and Nottingham town centre collecting over 600 signatures.<br />
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Although I lamented the fact that I was so far from London where so much of the action seemed to be happening, I had never particularly considered getting more involved or thought that I had anything to offer, until in January of 2013 I received the email from Lucy which invited myself along with 5 others to join her in running the campaign. Considering how overwhelming it can be I still marvel at how Lucy managed to sustain NMP3 for so long with minimal help but for the first 6 months she did exactly that. By December she was burning out very badly and the campaign went very quiet. Her invitation to join her was from the heart, from a woman that had such passion but could no longer sustain it alone. As well as being bemused as to why she had chosen somebody like me with so little to recommend me, I was also struck by how easily this inspiring woman shared selflessly what must have very much felt like her baby, so completely, with people she mostly didn't know at all, but share it she did and No More Page 3 HQ was born. We immediately began sharing the load of running the twitter account and Facebook page between us, we discussed strategy and lobbying and were alive with ideas. It was clear right from the outset that I had joined a team of women that were multi-skilled, filled with passion and who were going to completely change my life and change it they did. <br />
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Over the last 14 months I have had some amazing experiences I have driven cars overloaded with campaigners and a giant cardboard cut-out Lego page 3 girl from London to Windsor, I have chatted online and in real life with celebrity supporters, I have used skills I had no idea I could transfer from my day job and have learnt many new ones. <br />
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My years of nursing have allowed me to speak with compassion and understanding to supporters who are slowly dismantling their own experiences of sexism, sharing the unhappiness with their body or sadly sometimes sharing experiences of abuse connected with or influenced in some way by page 3. The teaching and speaking I have done at nursing study days and conferences has been swapped for standing up in a debate and talking with passion about why this icon of the sexist 70's needs to go. <br />
Strangely a dance class I used to be involved in teaching coupled with teen years spent in acting and drama lessons has set me up beautifully to concoct crazy 1970's flash mob songs and dances, re-writing lyrics and highlighting the absurdity that this feature still exists. I have joined team members and fabulously enthusiastic supporters from all walks of life to perform outside Sun HQ and on a west end stage to huge applause and fits of nervous laughter.<br />
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I have added to this the joy of finding in myself a writer that I never knew was there. I have written several pieces for Metro, including this one about the campaign not being against nudity or breasts but against the objectification (link - <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/22/no-more-page-3-its-not-about-the-nudity-4156908/">http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/22/no-more-page-3-its-not-about-the-nudity-4156908/</a> ). I typed with raging fire in the belly this blog for Huff Post about the comments found below Page 3 pictures on The Star's website (link - <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-clarke/page-three-mostly-harmless-i-beg-to-differ_b_3034030.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-clarke/page-three-mostly-harmless-i-beg-to-differ_b_3034030.html</a> ) and was utterly taken aback when within a few days of this being published the Star disabled the ability to comment below models pictures and deleted all the comments that were there. I believe it was at this point I realised how extra-ordinary people power could be. That a nurse from Nottingham, an inexperienced writer, could blog about these disgusting comments that reduce women to fodder to be owned, used and acted upon and that having been shared entirely through social networks of supporters this could actually bring about a real change.<br />
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The campaign's momentum could so easily have been exhausted by now but thanks to the numbers of supporters growing daily, the growth too of HQ to a team now numbering 20, filled with diversity and skill and the conviction from all of us that what we are doing is important, long overdue and right we have instead blossomed. <br />
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NMP3 is now a force to be reckoned with, it has the strong support of a huge number of groups, charities and organisations all of whom have their own reasons for wanting to see an end to page 3 (link - <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/orgsupport/">http://nomorepage3.org/orgsupport/</a> ) , it has the backing of over 150 cross party MPs (link - <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/letter-to-the-editor-signed-by-mps/">http://nomorepage3.org/letter-to-the-editor-signed-by-mps/</a> ) and an increasing number of celebrities. There is a sense of a mood change in society, that people are beginning to see the sea of sexual imagery, particularly of women, that we face in our daily lives. Our campaign has been riding a wave of feminist resurgence that dominates the newspapers on a weekly basis. Successful people power campaigns have ensured a woman will stay on bank notes, that female genital mutilation will be discussed and looked out for in UK schools. The Co-operative has been persuaded to stop selling lads mags which lack modesty covers, HMV have stopped putting sexualized soft porn images alongside boy band and Peppa Pig posters and pop stars are writing open letters to one another lamenting the overt sexualisation of female singers in the music industry. <br />
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Whilst still at times being perplexing and frustrating it is such an exciting time to be a woman in the UK. Page 3 may to this day remain in place but the number of days it is absent is increasing, rumours have been circulating of a redesign of the page , Ireland have dropped it already and an attempt this week to link page 3 with a breast cancer charity has faced a backlash of negative comments from other newspapers, bloggers, other breast cancer charities and survivors themselves. <br />
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Popular culture is questioning, the next generation are listening and campaigning themselves for the world they want to live in as adults to be different to the one they have been forced to grow up in. <br />
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No More Page 3 has inspired me, it has inspired young and old alike and has even allowed crowd sourcing of funds to financially sponsor 2 women's football teams including our own Nottingham Forest Ladies who now play with "No More page 3" on their chests promoting what women's bodies can do and not just what can be done to them. <br />
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I am honoured to be a tiny part of something really quite amazing that is happening so forgive me while I pinch myself again and, having recently spent my 40th birthday watching 3 plays in London inspired by the campaign, I wonder what new experiences the year ahead will bring, about how I will keep finding time to do my day job and if not about quite what I'm going to do with myself next. <br />
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I would like to share the secret here that I am nobody special, I am just a Nottingham lass with a bee in her bonnet. I want to tell you that you too can make a difference in whatever it is you feel passionate about, go for it, try, because you just don't know what you are capable of.<br />
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I have no idea what is coming next and I love that, I am open to all ideas though because it seems if I put my mind to it I can do just about anything, who knew. </div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-3155088661206625082014-02-20T14:15:00.000-08:002014-02-21T05:12:43.793-08:00<strong>We ask that Co-operative food do not advertise in publications which objectify and belittle women; t</strong><strong>hat it stop all advertisements, marketing of or links to The Sun Newspaper whilst it has Page 3, and that in line with the Co-operative's approach on "lad's Mags" tabloid newspapers which contain inappropriate adult content be moved out of reach of children or not sold in store.</strong> <br />
<strong>We propose that the Co-operative back the No More Page 3 campaign lobbying for an end to page 3.</strong><br />
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We believe this proposal is in fitting with the Co-operatives ethos of fighting for the good of members and customers. it's aim to be the most socially responsible business in the UK, offering "members and customers not only value, but values."<br />
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<strong>The 6 co-operative values include -</strong> <br />
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<strong>Democracy</strong> – "giving members a say in the way we run our businesses" we the members ask the Co-operative to no longer endorse exploitation of women, sexism and degradation in a news publication with advertising revenue generated by us the members and customers.<br />
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<strong>Equality</strong> – no matter how much money a member invests in their share account, they still have one vote. We are exercising our vote to ask for equal representation in the media and ask that Co-op disassociate itself with publications which promote the opposite. <br />
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<strong>Equity</strong> – we carry out our business in a way that is fair and unbiased. Page 3 is not fair, there is no male equivalent. <br />
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<strong>Co-op's ethical responsibilities include -</strong> <br />
<strong>Social responsibility</strong> – we encourage people to take responsibility for their own community, and work together to improve it. We are taking responsibility in lobbying for a greater equality in UK media and better representation for women.<br />
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<strong>Caring for others</strong> – we ask Co-op to care for the young people of the UK who are affected by sexualised images they see in everyday life. NMP3 is backed by the British Youth Council, Girl Guides and Girls Brigade<br />
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<strong>Co-op's Principles include -</strong> <br />
<strong>Education, training and information</strong> – co-operatives educate and develop their members as well as their staff but what are the young people of the UK educated to believe when the biggest single image of a woman in the UK's best selling paper is one of her standing in her pants for men's sexual gratification and what are they to make of the Co-operatives endorsement of putting its advertisements in the same publication?<br />
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<strong>Concern for community</strong> – co-operatives also work to improve and develop the community, both locally and internationally. We ask that it extend this to seeing it's responsibility in associating itself with the publication which offers women up as a sexual feature as part of the daily news.<br />
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<strong>Background information and evidence -</strong> <br />
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The No More Page3 Campaign has been gathering support from individuals and organisations over the last year and a half.<br />
Supportive organisations include - <br />
<span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$2:0">• Girlguiding UK (over 500,000 young members)</span><br />
<span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">• Mumsnet (Mumsnet is the UK's largest website for parents, with 4.3 million monthly unique visitors)</span><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0"><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$1:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$2:0">• The British Youth Council (over 220 youth organisations)</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$3:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$4:0">• UK Youth (working with approx. 1 million young people, and 11,000 youth clubs</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$5:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$6:0">• Members of the Girls’ Brigade England and Wales (just under 20,000 members)</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$7:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$8:0">• The NUT, NASUWT, ATL, NAHT (combining over 780,000 teachers, lecturers and Head Teachers) </span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$9:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$10:0">• Unison (our largest union, 1.3 million members)</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$11:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$12:0">• The National Assembly of Wales</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$13:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$14:0">• The Scottish Parliament</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$15:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$16:0">• The Royal College of Midwives</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$17:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$18:0">• The Royal College of Nursing</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$19:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$20:0">• 28 universities and 6 Oxford University Colleges have voted to stop selling The Sun until it drops the page 3 topless images</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$21:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$22:0">• Rape Crisis</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$23:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$24:0">• Woman’s Aid</span><br data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$25:0" /><span data-reactid=".7j.1:3:1:$comment582111628547205_582180648540303:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$26:0">• End Violence Against Women’s Coalition</span></span></span> (full list available here - <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/orgsupport/">http://nomorepage3.org/orgsupport/</a>)<br />
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There has been a palpable change in public mood over the mainstreaming of soft porn in public spaces and The Co-operative have been part of this movement in being the first major supermarket retailer, once again, to step up and make the ethical choice to stop sale of Lads Mags that refused to cover up their objectifying front pages.<br />
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Growing evidence is showing us that this passive, sexualised image, and its unrestricted placement, is problematic for both female and male readers of all ages and society as a whole. <br />
Page 3: <br />
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<li>Derails equality and limits the aspirations and achievements of women and girls </li>
<li>Legitimises objectification of women as sexual beings and distorts body image </li>
<li>Fuels a disrespectful perception and sense of entitlement towards women, underpinning sexual violence </li>
<li>Undermines responsible parenting and makes a nonsense of child protection policies</li>
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Evidence to support these claims is available here - <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Research-doc-I-Effects-of-_Page-3_-type-images-on-men-1.doc">http://nomorepage3.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Research-doc-I-Effects-of-_Page-3_-type-images-on-men-1.doc</a><br />
and here <a href="http://nomorepage3.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Research-doc-II-Effect-and-Impact-of-Page-3-on-Women-1.doc">http://nomorepage3.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Research-doc-II-Effect-and-Impact-of-Page-3-on-Women-1.doc</a><br />
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<strong>We feel Co-op should remove Sun advertising until Page 3 goes because -</strong> <br />
As a campaign we are not seeking legislation or a ban, we are lobbying the editorial team of The Sun for a voluntary removal of an image which is so harmful to so many women, and damaging to the idea of equality. <br />
Part of that lobbying involves ethical companies recognising the damage being done to their brand by association with Page 3. We are looking to the co-op to take the lead once again on equality and equity.<br />
At present our supporters tell us that many of them are Co-operative customers because of the organisation's ethics. They are disappointed that Co-op are choosing to associate themselves with the Sun and putting the potential profit of reaching sun readers before the potential damage caused by these sexist and degrading images in a news publication. <br />
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<strong>We propose tabloid newspapers which contain inappropriate adult content be moved out of reach of children or not sold in store because -</strong> <br />
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Whilst these images are available to children at child height it makes parents job in protecting their child from these images difficult if not impossible. The sale of the Sun and Star at child height effectively condones the promotion of soft porn where children can see it. <br />
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Workplace equality. The Equality Act 2010 states that conditions in the workplace should not be offensive to either men or women. Women now have the right to complain about demeaning images visible at work, but many still find this difficult because of the real or perceived risk of ridicule or anger. Co-operative employees and customers should not have to tolerate customers potentially picking up and opening these publications in store.<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-52163246875274792272014-02-09T04:24:00.000-08:002014-02-09T04:37:48.866-08:00An Ode to my 30'sI entered you in silent protest, with trepidation born from a feeling of inadequacy. I was scared that I would be discovered, aware as I was that I wasn't worthy of the level of maturity that you would expect of me. <br />
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I knew I could play it OK, I felt I had spent much of my 20's playing at being a grown up but had been increasingly aware of the duplicity of it. As a teenager I had played grown up in a way which more thoroughly convinced myself but through my 20's I was, despite the throws of a stressful and responsible job and the parenting of two children, increasingly aware that I had not yet discovered who I was, what I wanted, where I was going or most importantly how to sustain any level of contentment at all.<br />
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At the turn of 30 I was married to a man I had been with since the child pretending to be oh so grown up me had met him at 16. I loved him in the way that familiarity and pattern allows you to love somebody who has been so much part of who you have become, but in my heart I knew that the biggest part of my disquiet with entering a new decade was the awareness, increasingly emerging, that I could not be the me I needed to be, could not fly, grow or be free of fear whilst I was in that relationship. I knew too that at that time I did not have the bravery to make that move. I was right. It took another 6 years. <br />
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And so we started our time together 30's with me unhappy but I felt your hand guiding me - into career changes and explorations of my sexual being, my need for expression, my abilities and strengths. I began to lay a foundation of independence that I would need to make the moves I needed. I passed my driving test, I made a network of friends who were supportive and strong. I stood up for myself at work and fought for promotions and changes. <br />
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The challenges that my parenting had given me in having children with severe allergy led me into supporting other parents in the same position and eventually into a change of direction in my nursing career. There was a reaffirmation of my academic ability and challenges faced when work colleagues became bullies but you knew exactly what you were doing - my facing of those challenges in my working life made me finally take note of the way things were at home and at 35 you had given me the strength to say the words "I wouldn't let anybody else speak to me that way so why do I put up with it from you" words born too from more lessons you had shown me about the fragility of life and the need to take our own path as I watched my mother battle cancer and lost a young friend to it for the first time. Life is too precious you said, to live so much of it unhappy and in the wrong place. <br />
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It was another year before I found the strength to end my marriage.<br />
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I may mock my less aware 20's but they had given me experience with grief and made me resilient. You, my wonderful 30's had added strength, a support network and the anger I needed to get through what I was about to do. I had to be strong and for the first time in my life I had to be quite quite cold. I felt your hand at my back pushing me through, showing me a light ahead to keep me moving forward.<br />
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I finally collapsed through the door of my new home just before Christmas into an unknown adult single life. I was scared and lonely but excited and inquisitive. <br />
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You showed me quickly that despite the new found passions of a 30 something divorcee I could not separate love from sexual intimacy. I felt a little lost and frightened that despite my bravery I would still not be complete. I was scared again, this time that you, having given me the strength to make the move which had so torn me and others apart, having torn me from the familiarity that I needed to lose you had placed me somewhat lost in a new place and left me quite alone.<br />
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I was wrong, next you did the most amazing thing of all - You opened up my heart. <br />
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You showed me wonderful 30's what you had known all this time. You showed me the thing that had carried me through all of my teenage angst, my grief ridden childbearing and my unhappy and bullied marriage and family, my mother's illness - you showed me me!<br />
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I finally saw it and felt it for the first time in earnest - a core strength, a love that I simply had to look for to find. All I had to do was hold it, know it and trust it and I was free to be all I could be, to be truly content, to be happy. <br />
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You had given so much and I would have been happy had you left it there yet you had not finished - in having finally embraced my true self, having opened my ears, my eyes, my sense of being at one with the universe, I was able to follow the signals that I must have spent so much of my life ignoring. In trusting the universe and trusting myself the last few years of our time together has been a whirlwind of light, of action, of love and fulfilment that I would never have dared to dream of before. <br />
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I found the love of a man who met me where I stood, who made me his centre and who loves and supports me for who I am every day that he gives me. <br />
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I explored again the fun and wonder of acting and in so doing built again the strength to perform. I found a passion and an awareness of feminism and with it friendships built on sisterhood, on shared values and on truth with women who were, like me, lighting up with the wonder of self-awareness and strength. <br />
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I cannot place a value on the things I have in my life now, they are amazing each and every one. I am linked in love and wonder with so many beautiful people, I am taking a path that meanders and twists and touches places and people where I see history being made. I am totally embraced in the arms of my partner and family and I see the links with the me that has always been and the me that moves forward into new and exciting life to come.<br />
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So the time has come to say goodbye and I am brimming with tears, but not this time in fear or sadness. This time I am looking back with awe at what we have achieved together, at what we have made. I salute you 30's as I am turn my head and I walk forward in to my 40's with wonder, with excitement and with absolute faith that I am ready for whatever comes next. What a transformation.<br />
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Hello there 40, I'm ready, what's next?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-34603932279853634502014-02-03T08:38:00.003-08:002014-02-03T08:38:53.237-08:00Of Boys and MenHere at No More page 3 we talk a lot about objectification, sexual objectification in particular and the societal effects of this. <br />
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Sexual objectification in the media is hugely gender biased, 95% of it according to a study on changes to Rolling Stone magazine, being of women. <a href="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/12/30/gender-sexualization-and-rolling-stone/">http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/12/30/gender-sexualization-and-rolling-stone/</a><br />
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We need only pay attention for a moment to adverts, billboards, newspapers, magazines, music videos etc etc and we see image upon image of half naked females, sometimes whole, sometimes divided into parts; sometimes human, sometimes mimicking objects. Everywhere we look women's bodies, being used to sell things and decorate things and...well....generally remind<br />
us all that women are first and foremost decorative sexual objects for men's pleasure. <br />
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With this in mind, for some of us there is a natural snort and a tendency to say "Ha!" at any mention of objectification of men in the media and to be fair there is good reason for that. <br />
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Male objectification is by no means as prolific as objectification of women, it is rarely, if ever, as sexual and it doesn't come with the weight of hundreds of years of oppression or the knowledge of the threat of violence (sexual or otherwise) that comes from reducing women to something other than human. <br />
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Just in terms of our campaign clearly there is no male page 3 equivalent, yet No More Page 3 supporters are all too often reminded by those objecting to the cause, of features such as the diet coke man or "torso of the week". <br />
With this in mind it is hardly surprising therefore that many of us we react with annoyance at yet another attempt to say "what about the menz". <br />
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However, if we take just a small step back, if we use the analytical view of the world has facilitated our feminist awakenings. If we step for a moment into the shoes of young men, we can begin to see that whilst there is no where near as much of it and the effects may be somewhat different, there is in fact a real problem in terms of the way men are presented in some media. <br />
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I went to the cinema a year ago with my partner to see the latest James bond. I found the film good in places but also profoundly disturbing in terms of the throw away way it treated the focal female character. She had no bodily integrity and her life and sexuality were stamped on an instant. Another thing however that I found annoying throughout the film was the shot upon shot of a ripple abed Daniel Craig who was never, it seemed in possession of a shirt. Whilst he looked very nice and I have never thought myself to be in any way a prude it just seemed massively gratuitous. James bond had to be hard, emotionless, constantly half naked and buff and I found it a distraction and unnecessary.<br />
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The issue is one of stereotypes - for every 10 women presented as passive and infantilised there will be a ripple torsoed man looking macho, aggressive and ready for action. For every pinned down woman looking like she is about to be a victim of sexual violence there will be 2-4 men looking ready to act upon that woman in an aggressive manor. <br />
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<div class="irc_mutc">
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" 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The passive, vulnerable, child-like, ready to be taken advantage of and certainly rarely in anyway powerful female is matched, if perhaps to a smaller degree, with images of men looking angry, aggressive, active, none-thinking and rarely sensitive or gentle. We talk a lot about the effect these stereotypical images have on both boy's and girls views of women's roles but what do the men in these pictures teach boys about what they should aspire to be and how to behave; and with all of these images what is projected is an idealised body type that is going to be difficult if not impossible for most of us to achieve.<br />
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It is for this reason that No More Page 3 is in support of a campaign started by Daniel Farr.<br />
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Daniel describes that he "started campaigning about male body image after years of being unhappy and complaining about the images of perfect bodies men like women now face."<br />
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His action was inspired by the No More Page 3 campaign and its wealth of brilliant supporters and he is a supporter himself. <br />
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"I decided to support NMP3, because I feel women should be more respected in the media and society and having pictures of topless ladies in a national newspaper doesn’t to help achieve this."<br />
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After reading about the effects of objectification of women Daniel took some time to consider how men are affected by the images they see of other men around them. He was also encouraged by Warwick University psychologist David Giles who has studies the phenomenon of “athletica nervosa”. link- <a href="http://www.malehealth.co.uk/self-image/19375-lads-mags-are-damaging-our-body-image" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.malehealth.co.uk/self-image/19375-lads-mags-are-damaging-our-body-image</a><br />
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Here are a few words form Daniel himself - <br />
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<strong><em> I had always been chubby but it didn't bother me until adverts started showing men with perfect bodies which made me feel horrible about my body. I decided to lose weight so I began running and going to the gym every day. After several months I lost three stone, but I continued to run and do sit ups every day as I was obsessed with getting a six pack. I started getting too thin and friends and family became concerned about my weight. They managed to convince me to stop exercising excessively and now, thankfully, I have settled at a healthy and comfortable weight. <br /><br /> There is a male body crisis in the UK with according to Joseph Stashko in an article last year for the NewStatesman said perhaps 1-4 of the 1.6m Britons with eating disorders being male, and a 2013 survey by The Association of Teachers and Lectures found that 51% of their 693 members thought that boys had low self-esteem about their bodies: </em></strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fm.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Feducation-21864312&h=FAQGOioc9&enc=AZMkkxLwVin3-noapux137PzjY_0SZciYnPljOC6flb7jfXQQvxxO4ClCWOKBFgudnBUyFUCLiUuIWxvRiyT66aYRGQSt6gdy0O92geeRp6JxLbbmDLKEwmGau_CELNNo618JhvzOriUXFlWVGSKkHe-&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong><em>http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21864312</em></strong></a><strong><em> </em></strong><br />
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Daniel has set up campaign called "Healthy not Perfect" and a petition on Change.org asking Toby Wiseman the editor of Men’s Health magazine UK to show more diverse body types in the hope this will promote a more diverse image amongst men and boys and lead society to question the impossible ideal it is increasingly setting its young men.<br />
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As a campaigner for NMP3 and a mother of a teenage son I feel this is an important campaign. Whilst we are doing all we can to redress the issue of inequality in media representation of women it is important to remember that we are doing this for our son's as much as we are for our daughters.<br />
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I want my son to learn that women are thinking, feeling people who come in all different forms or beauty, diverse shapes and sizes. That we are powerful and not passive in our relationships and that he should respect us all. But I also want him to see men portrayed for all they are, that they don't have to be impossibly muscular or large in size, they don't have to be aggressive and macho. I want him to see diverse images of manhood that reflect the great men I know and love who show sensitivity and strength of character and sometimes vulnerability. <br />
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I am campaigning hard to reduce the sexually objectifying images in our daily wallpaper but I don't for a minute want them replaced with aggressively stereotyped muscle men.<br />
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In short wouldn't it be nice if we just showed all humans being exactly that - Human.<br />
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You can sign Daniels petiton here: <a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/toby-wiseman-editor-of-men-s-health-uk-show-a-variety-of-male-body-types" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/toby-wiseman-editor-of-men-s-health-uk-show-a-variety-of-male-body-types</a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-60120502921757596812014-01-29T11:31:00.000-08:002014-01-30T09:54:52.985-08:00Idol no more<br />
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There have been a number of teasers over the last few months suggesting big changes may be on the horizon at The Sun.<br />
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Ireland dropped the traditional Page 3 http://nomorepage3.org/news/statement-in-response-to-the-irish-sun/ in August of 2013 and around the same time tweets from News UK executives hinted at a redesign of the page. <br />
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Of late the traditional page 3 image seems to be increasingly missing, often replaced with celebrity photographs. Perhaps a leaning towards the "glamorous fashionista's" Rupert Murdoch himself suggested almost 12 months ago? Official Page 3 photographer Alison Webster certainly seems somewhat rattled, with tweets suggesting changes about which she is yet to be informed. Interestingly one of these changes appears to see an end to the "Page 3 Idol" competition.<br />
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The Sun newspaper has run "Page 3 Idol" since 2002. The last in 2012 was won by 21 year old Melissa Clarke and since the announcement of her win in January 2013 there has been no further mention of the event which, for the last few years, seems to have had it's preliminary rounds in the autumn/winter. <br />
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With palpable movement of public opinion an end to Page 3 may well be likely. With or without that however the dropping of Page 3 Icon should, I feel, be welcomed.<br />
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Let's be clear about how this worked - the competition was run within the paper version of the Sun and online. It was advertised at the bottom of page 3 and invited amateur models or any young woman to complete an application form and send in a topless picture for the chance to compete for a prize that included a Page 3 modelling contract. <br />
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(add photo of page add)<br />
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Women who enter must have natural breasts and be 18 or older. The pictures they submit are displayed online and voted on by the public. <br />
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In 2012 the pattern consisted of 23 consecutive days during which "today's batch" of hopefuls had their photographs and a short bio displayed. The pictures, a mix of apparently professional quality shots with some home amateur pictures and "selfies" show young women in various semi-clothed poses.<br />
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After all "batches" have been displayed and voted upon 12 finalists are announced and are invited to have their picture taken by the official page 3 photographer, the products of which are again displayed online along with a video of the "sexy" photo shoot. Finalists are then briefly whittled down to three before the overall winner is announced. <br />
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If this competition was run within top shelf adult publications, if it were advertised in women's magazines or in those aimed at aspiring models I would think this perfectly acceptable. <br />
However, the advertising of this life-changing opportunity to pose topless for men is advertised in a national newspaper, in the very vehicle which has potentially exposed it's fresh "batch" of would-be models to soft porn Page 3 images throughout their most impressionable years. <br />
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The much defended "free choice" to aspire to be a topless model is not a choice made in a vacuum. The problem with Page 3 Idol and one of the issues with Page 3 itself, is that The Sun markets itself as a family newspaper. It run's adverts on prime time and children's television channels, and runs offers for family holidays and toys. It features stories about boy bands that directly target teenage girls and positions these stories directly next to the page 3 topless image. <br />
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Amongst my stashed copies of The Sun (all picked up, in the hospital where I work or in other public places I hasten to add, not bought and paid for) I was able to find three copies in which the Page 3 Icon competition advert appeared. Two of these copies featured front page offers for Disneyland Paris holidays and one a free Twilight poster. One copy featured Harry Styles and Taylor Swift's relationship on page 3 next to the topless picture and competition advert.<br />
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Front page holiday and toy adds are in in bold primary colours, deliberately drawing the eye of children who may then be encouraged to pick up and look through a paper in a shop, public place or at home or perhaps to pester parents into buying.<br />
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For many young girls their first exposure to page 3 will be in their own home. In my era the models were as young as 16 and were even pictured in school uniform or posed with teddy bears. This was the paper, it told the news and my Dad bought it home from work where I had seen the pictures it featured plastered on the walls, and I knew Dad had a favourite model. <br />
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The young women who will be most aware of the Page 3 Icon competition are the ones who have watched their fathers, brothers, grandfathers looking at this titillating image, which unlike a pornographic publication is far more likely to grace the breakfast table. What have they learned about their worth as women? How many have heard male loved ones pass judgement on the model's qualities? What effect does this have on the body image and self identity of these developing girls, when the largest image of a woman in the news they see daily is one of her featured not for her contribution to that news but for her attractiveness, sexual availability and size of her breasts.<br />
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Biographies of page 3 models appearing on their own website make reference without irony, to the models ambitions to pose topless from childhood-<br />
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"Many of our girls have had a long-standing ambition of appearing on Page 3, but 32D beauty Poppy first gave the news to her parents at the tender age of 13!"<br />
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2006 Page 3 Icon winner Freya Haseldine is quoted as saying “I used to see The Sun lying around when I was a kid and think, I'd love to do that. I used to go to Page 3 straight away and dream of the day I would see myself there.' <br />
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Another - <strong><em>“Stunning Katie Leigh can remember looking at Page 3 when she was a kid and dreaming of appearing on the nation’s favourite page, but insists that she didn’t really believe it would happen until she started – how can we put it? – growing up!" </em></strong><br />
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The uncomfortable reality being, that by "growing up" they mean "going through puberty and developing breasts”.<br />
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At present our current government seem to have noticed the mood and are keen to take action to protect our children and young people from the dangers of online pornography (reference). <br />
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When we have two government commissioned reports (link) which stress the importance of reducing children and young people's exposure to sexual imagery; and when the UK have signed up to an EU commission to reduce sexual stereotyping in our media, recognising the detrimental affect this has on the self esteem and aspirations of women and girls, why does this government action not stretch to concern over the publications which have allowed Page 3 to continue.<br />
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Not only has the Sun invited young readers in with offers, it has conditioned them to see their potential as sexual objects and then recruited them to enter what it has promoted as a short cut to stardom and success by sending in topless photographs.<br />
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As a society we react with shock and disbelief at the news of young, apparently naïve, girls who send naked selffies by text or messenger, coming as they do, under pressure from boys who have been influenced themselves by the images they see in newspapers, magazines, adverts and other media. Why are we surprised that these girls are so easily swayed and why do we think these boys have a reinforced sense of their right of sexual access to girls and to a limitless supply of naked breasts?<br />
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Whilst blame for this mind-set cannot of course all be laid at the door of page 3 or of Page 3 Idol alone, it has to be acknowledged that it has been the most public and visible encouragement to the young girls of this country to "get them out for the boys" and to the boys to see this as normal. <br />
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It seems that over the last few years of it's existence the Sun made some changes to the Idol competition which originally hosted heats in local clubs, dressing young local applicants in Sun bikinis and inviting them to dance provocatively live on stage. Video's of these events can still be found on YouTube and make painful viewing as braying crowds of men cheer their favourites or berate those who they feel do not feel fit the bill. Even on today's page 3 however readers are invited to log on to the clean-cut looking website where they can "take the girls for a spin" rotating them 360 degrees in a way that I can't help but liken to a virtual shop or cattle market. <br />
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Despite protestations that it has "always been there" Page 3 has made changes over the four decades of it's existence, some enforced as a reflection of the societal change around it. In the 1990's when the law changed the minimal age of models was increased, and given recent insight into the hidden crimes of the 1970's it would surely be unthinkable now to feature a half naked women in school girl attire for "Back to school week". <br />
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With the increasingly unavoidable voice of the No More Page 3 campaign the question is will The Sun be forced to finally clean up it's act? Or will it continue to market to children and families, convincing our girls and young women that their best vehicle to success is to "get them out" and all they need do to achieve that is to start "growing up"?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-90095961613218048612013-11-28T09:02:00.000-08:002013-11-28T09:35:31.524-08:00Turning of the TideSomething is occurring, there is a chink of light, a slow but steady turning of the tide in our UK media. It seems that the No More Page 3 campaign now has real momentum. It is not alone - Child Eyes <a href="http://www.childeyes.org/">http://www.childeyes.org/</a> has had some significant recent successes as have Object and Feminista's joint campaign against Lad mags <a href="http://www.losetheladsmags.org.uk/about/faqs/">http://www.losetheladsmags.org.uk/about/faqs/</a>. When I first became involved in January of this year the highs came and they went. Flurries of activity would occur, with Murdoch's infamous tweet bringing us 20 000 signatures in one week (it could have been more if the Pope hadn't resigned) and UK Girlrguiding announcing their backing with excellent media coverage despite the demise of Lady Thatcher (Is there a conspiracy here between ex-politicians and religious leaders?). These patches of crazy activity and interest would be interspersed with quieter periods and the sadly inevitable lows of Sun articles like the Reeva Steencamp murder coverage or the comparison of a Swedish woman to a root vegetable (I kid you not). <br />
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Over the last month or so however, there has been a palpable change. With reasoned and unchallenged discussion in the Scottish Parliament <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/no-more-page-3-campaign-boosted-by-show-of-support-from-scottish-parliament-8928739.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/no-more-page-3-campaign-boosted-by-show-of-support-from-scottish-parliament-8928739.html</a> , the 43rd anniversary protests and a run of support from Universities and celebrities the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity in HQ.<br />
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I the meantime, as a sure fire sign that we have them running scared, David Dinsmore, current editor was once again wheeled out by the BBC to read from the "Page 3 Stays" prompt card. A stand point which rarely seems to be challenged by any depth of cross questioning. You know, bringing up awkward questions like personal editorial responsibility or addressing the body of research evidence linking sexualised images to low achievement in women and girls <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2012-0401+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN">http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2012-0401+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN</a> , sexual assault and violence against women, stuff like that. That said, there did seem to be a suggestion on this occasion that the Page 3 format is not set in stone and as many an amusing visitor to our twitter and Facebook pages have pointed out, it does make sense that a page 3 of some sort has to stay. The alternative presumably being numerical upset - page 4 directly following page 2 and causing an odd spare page at the back. Anyway, whatever it was that he was trying to cryptically say without looking like he was giving in, there was Mr D again talking about the newspaper keeping a page 3. He also referred again to The Sun's recent, factually illusive focus group during which some women were, it seems, very vocal about the need to leave page 3 alone.<br />
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David seemed to want us to believe he was surprised by this. I'm not sure why he thought we would be? 43 years of conditioning, convincing a nation that a sexualised, topless picture of a young woman or girl in the newspaper is acceptable and commonplace, have had a certain affect on us all. For many they have caused body image issues, questions about our position in society, our role in our own sexual relationships. But to actually begin to see that, to start to take apart the damage of page 3 and similar images, recognise its effects relies on a certain depth of thought that our lives may or may not give us space for.<br />
A difficult marriage, early family and several traumas saw to it that I personally reached 38 before I gave it any real thought and for many women, to question page 3 would rely on headspace they just don't have in a busy life. It could also easily be instantly shutdown by any fear of unearthing a tirade of abuse or dismantling a persona that has served them well for many years. To remove the blinkers and question the world of sexism we are part of, would mean questioning the very nature of ourselves and of those we hold most dear. For many it is an uncomfortable journey they do not want to make.<br />
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In addition there are those we have to mention who have done the thinking, who know the extent of the potential damage, but who then, perhaps for reason of personal gain, choose to ignore or bury it deep and to collude in the degradation. They may even suggest that women who question page 3 are not feminists as they are removing the choices of other women. For them I will say this - Feminism doesn't suppose that all of the individual choices women make are right, valid or to be instantly upheld simply by virtue of the fact that they were made by a woman. Feminism and the opposition to page 3 is simply the belief that women are human, just as human in fact as men and that because of this women have a fundamental human right to equal treatment and equal representation. Objectification reduces the choices of all women by reinforcing a society which aims to keep women in their place, as décor, as sex objects and not as agents of their own lives for whom abilities, talents and hard work will be appreciated in the same way as it is for men. In a newspaper I would argue it drives that message home all the harder.<br />
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The NMP3 Campaign may have been successful, as were others before it, in giving people the permission to question and the space to voice concerns. It will not however reach everyone and it will naturally make some extremely angry, as does any force of change which seeks to challenge the beliefs that lie at the foundation of our current lives.<br />
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Despite the protestations of the editor the 43rd anniversary weekend saw more people than ever take to the streets to protest against Page 3. They did so in celebration of women and many marked the occasion by making clear the things that women have achieved that could be celebrated by the media. The question has not been answered - is it really too much to ask that the media in the UK mark the achievements, the talents and the intelligence of the 50% of the population that happen to have breasts? That they represent them for all that they do and are instead of drawing attention constantly to their appearance or the parts of them which may titillate. That they stop reinforcing an idea that women are or should be sexually available at all times, whilst just a few pages away reporting with horror the rape, assault and maltreatment of hundreds of girls every year at the hands of not just adults but their peers who view them as nothing but sexual commodities to be used <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25090896">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25090896</a>. <br />
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During a "media breakfast" on at News UK on Tuesday Page Three was the first topic of discussion. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressgazette.co.uk%2Fsenior-sun-journalist-reviewing-page-three-says-page-three-doesnt-have-stay-way-it&h=vAQEk-DrJ&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/senior-sun-journalist-reviewing-page-three-says-page-three-doesnt-have-stay-way-it</a> and "A senior Sun journalist has revealed that Page Three may not survive in its current form". Looking to the success of The Sun at weekends when there is no traditional page 3 there was a suggestion that: “What we do in the week might change.” and that Page 3 in the UK may well go in the same direction as that of the Irish Sun and/or Rupert's proposed "glamorous fashionistas". It seems then that Dinsmore's words may to some degree be referring to the numeric alone and that page 3 as we have known it for 43 years may be about to don her last signature necklace.<br />
Could it be that The Sun will join The Sport who are also "toning down" in their case their front page, in a last ditch attempt to hang on to newsagent shelf space amidst the growing tide of parental disquiet at the sexualised images sitting alongside the children's comics.<br />
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Following on from The Coop's refusal to stock lads mags without modesty wrappers and a growing call from celebrities and campaigners to age restrict music videos, if page 3 stops showing bare breasts will this be a landmark moment? I would say, at least to some degree it is. It would after all mark the end to a feature as we know it, which despite protest has remained largely unaltered for 4 decades. An end which will have come about due to the public's growing awareness of the consequences of objectification of women and the sheer volume of opposition. Make no mistake however, we have a long way to go before the women of this country are portrayed as they deserve to be, as thinking, feeling, contributing, achieving citizens and as agents of their own bodies. We have a long way to go before we have equal representation and until that happens we're not going anywhere.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-77660378484179207842013-11-04T05:57:00.000-08:002013-11-04T05:57:33.674-08:00Feminist resurgence<strong>Introduction</strong> - 39, mother or 2, Nurse, member of NMP3 team since Jan this year<br />
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<strong>How did that happen?</strong><br />
I have I think always been feminist in my approach but to a point. I didn't identify as a feminist until about 3 years or so ago. I thought I assumed equality was fundamental but actually on reflection I can see that many of the things I didn't question and that I actually reinforced with my own use of language and my own behaviour were absolutely not feminist. eg. I need a man to come and do this job in my house<br />
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Then I read Caitlyn Moran and said it out loud in the bath "I am a feminist"<br />
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I started to read some bits on twitter<br />
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Not very long after that I saw the NMP3 petition and signed immediately<br />
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<strong>My Page 3 background</strong><br />
Working class household, page 3 at home<br />
Linda on the wall<br />
How that affected me - still appreciating that<br />
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<strong>Started following NMP3 of twitter and Facebook</strong><br />
Engaged in debates<br />
Wrote a song<br />
Organised demo's<br />
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<strong>Asked to Join</strong><br />
Lucy's burnout and appeal<br />
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Since Jan it's been a whirlwind bonkers ride of amazing experiences, stress and amazing ups coupled with a feeling of banging ones head repetitively on a wall <br />
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<strong>Support</strong><br />
HQ - amazing people, strong combination of motivation, talent and support, has grown and grown and will continue to . Now trying to add more diversity as its been quite organics until now and we're aware that hasn't covered all the areas we should be covering.<br />
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<strong>Why</strong><br />
Sexism in media, objectification in mainstream media, out of context, child protection, body image issues etc<br />
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<strong>Criticism</strong><br />
Why just page 3<br />
It is none feminist because we are taking a choice away form those who wish to be page 3 models<br />
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NMP3 not anti-glamour models as a whole, not anti-porn.<br />
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<strong>For myself though I will say one thing -</strong> ( I wrote this last week after a debate where once again I was questioned by a feminist supporting page 3 about how I as a feminist could reduce the choices of other women)<br />
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Feminism for me is essentially humanitarianism<br />
Humanitarians do not suggest that all choices of all humans are right and valid and should be supported. Humans do some terrible things and make poor choices at least as much as they make good ones, they choose to hurt other humans in direct and indirect ways. <br />
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Feminism similarly doesn't suppose that all of the individual choices women make are right, valid or to be instantly upheld simply by virtue of the fact that they were made by a woman.<br />
Feminism isn't about women fighting against men. <br />
Feminism is the belief that women are human, just as human in fact as men. <br />
Feminism is the belief that because of this it is a fundamental human right that women have equal rights, equal treatment and equal representation.<br />
Feminism fights for those rights and representations and against unequal ones. <br />
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This fight often involves standing up to the actions of men but also at times standing up to those of other women who may be reinforcing the opposite message.<br />
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Objectification reduces the choices of all women by reinforcing a society which aims to keep women in their place, as décor, as sex objects and not as agents of their own lives for whom abilities, talents and hard work will be appreciated in the same way as it is for men. In a newspaper I would argue it drives that message home all the harder. <br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239991244848050191.post-43877144607861653192013-08-21T13:05:00.003-07:002013-08-21T13:05:50.693-07:00David's replyFrom <a href="mailto:david.dinsmore@news.co.uk">david.dinsmore@news.co.uk</a><br />
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Hi Sarah,<br />
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Thanks for your note. <br />
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Unfortunately, we don't have time for holidays here! <br />
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I'm glad you had a good weekend. I am a fan of the Guides - I was a Scout myself. <br />
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To save you any further effort, I won't be changing my stance on Page 3. It is a pillar of the paper, the readers (both male and female) like it and I do not for one moment believe it is the basis of all evil. There are, I believe, many much more worthy targets you could be turning your admirable attentions to. I will continue to enjoy the Twitter banter. <br />
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Regards <br />
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David Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00906421647690516838noreply@blogger.com0