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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Is it ok the other way round? (re. denise welch's flashing)

29 replies

Archemedes · 01/02/2012 00:26

Based on peoples reactions etc and a conversation the other day. about boobgate and poor frankie lol.

Everyone just said oh its just a laugh it was funny, however he did look visibly uncomfortable and I said If denise had been a dennis and frankie and fran I do believe the reaction would have been very different which in my view is hypocritical as both action would have been for the same reason * to get a reaction.
Everyone disagreed and maintained it was very different, would liek to hear some views on this section about it , am I wrong?

(excuse bad grammar)

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MrsClown · 01/02/2012 10:52

IMO - it was totally inappropriate. I didnt watch the programme but was flicking one night and came across it. I agree if a 53 year old man had been in the pool with a teenage girl people would have been up in arms. I think the only difference is that women are not general predators in the way men are. I still think it was disgusting. And when she was interviewed on the programme she said she was proud that a 53 year old woman had got her tits out for the lads!!!! Denise is my age but I hope I have more self respect (and did when I was young). I dont think you are wrong at all. Frankie did look uncomfortable.

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SardineQueen · 01/02/2012 11:40

I know quite a few blokes who flash "for a laugh" when they are pissed and I see that in the same light.

I didn't see the incident on the telly that you're talking about though. so I'm not sure.

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StewieGriffinsMom · 01/02/2012 12:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SardineQueen · 01/02/2012 13:01

I think it was sleb BB and I saw her flash michael and pull that woman's trousers down, but not the incident in the OP

I would equate a woman flashing breasts with a man baring arse.

Having said that I do know men who get their knobs out in the pub when they are drunk.

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Tmesis · 01/02/2012 13:07

She didn't flash her genitals, did she?

I think there's a disturbing tendency to equate female breasts with genitalia (leads into the "breastfeeding in public is DISGUSTING, they should go and do it in the loo" mentality).

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Archemedes · 01/02/2012 13:15

Surely boobs, genitalia, arse etc are all private parts of the body.

and the way she was threatening to flash the older bloke after repeatedly telling him to go away was disturbing to say the least.

I can see how a man flashing is more intimidating.

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SardineQueen · 01/02/2012 17:29

I didn't see this particular incident, but I do think that her behaviour with other things that she did was not "funny" it was something else, and making other people feel uncomfortable by doing anything like this is not on whatever age or sex you are.

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BasilRathbone · 01/02/2012 23:14

No, it's not OK the other way round. It's vulgar and tasteless, exactly what I'd expect from a woman who regularly appears on Loose Women.

It doesn't however, carry the same level of threat as the other way round. Breasts are used to feed and nurture, not to rape. If she was in a bath tub or something with a young man, he would possibly have felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, but he's unlikely to have felt physically in danger. A young woman with a man exposing his penis, would be more likely to have felt unsafe.

I didn't see the prog either but I agree with Tmesis that it is totally wrong to equate breasts with penises. The female equivalent of flashing your penis, is flashing your fanny, not your breasts. It's perfectly acceptable to flash your breasts when you're feeding your baby and if they were considered the equivalent socially from a legal POV, Page 3 would not be allowed.

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pornmonkey · 02/02/2012 09:01

mrsclown "I think the only difference is that women are not general predators in the way men are."
Right there is a MN classic generalisation, really helpful... thanks for telling me what I am Hmm

sq "Having said that I do know men who get their knobs out in the pub when they are drunk." Yeah, and then you woke up? Respectfully suggest you consider changing the company you keep then. I'm nearly 50 and I've done far too much drinking in too many bars and I've (thankfully) yet to see a man 'get his knob out in the pub' What?! C'mon, seriously, please...Sad

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 09:30

pornmonkey I don't understand the thing about waking up? Can you explain a bit more?

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pornmonkey · 02/02/2012 12:24

You were dreaming, It.didn't.really.happen...

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 12:33

Oh I see. Why don't you believe me? That is a bit strange.

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 12:35

Why on earth would I make something like that up Confused

I have two friends who invariably get their dicks out when they get very pissed. Just one of those things.

You have heard about rugby lads and similar exposing themselves when they are drunk? Surely?

It's not big (haha) and it's not clever but just because you don't know anyone like that doesn't mean it never happens.

Strange.

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TupperwareTwat · 02/02/2012 12:46

It's just a pair of female breasts fgs! The male equivalent would be a man flashing his upper torso! Not his arse or penis! I'm sure Frankie will get over this traumatic incident!

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 12:54

Um...

Right.

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BasilRathbone · 02/02/2012 13:19

SQ, if another poster hasn't experienced what you have, it means it doesn't exist.

HTH

(I've never been to Australia and am always sceptical when people tell me it exists)

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Archemedes · 02/02/2012 13:23

Haha Basil

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TeiTetua · 02/02/2012 14:23

When show business ("show" business, ha ha) people do outrageous stuff, I generally assume it's not worth taking seriously. It's part of the three-way deal between them, the media and the public that they'll keep on amusing us and we'll keep on looking at the ads.

Then again, maybe Amy Winehouse was not waving but drowning.

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samstown · 02/02/2012 15:44

Just to say I have seen quite a few blokes get their willies out in pubs (mostly whilst at uni or when there has been a group on a stag do). I have also seen them do the hilarious Hmm thing of tucking it between their legs...

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WidowWadman · 02/02/2012 16:04

How do you know how uncomfortable or threatened a man would feel at sexual advances? Really don't see the lack of penis making it much less threatening. To claim that just smacks of total lack of empathy.

I haven't seen the actual flashing, mind, just arguing against the sentiment that a man can't feel vulnerable or threatened by a sexually aggressive behaving woman.

To bring breastfeeding into the discussion I think is frankly ridiculous. As BF is a completely different context (and possible to do discretely without having to leave the room, too)

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 16:46


I don't feel that this revelation has added to my veneer of sophistication, much. Hanging out drunken types who sometimes expose themselves when hammered. Oh well.
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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 17:12

BTW am high-fiving samstown because she was corroborating my tales of willy-waggling.

Not because I condone said willy waggling.

Just for clarity!

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BerylStreep · 02/02/2012 17:45

I think Tmesis, SQ and Basil have good points - exposing breasts doesn't have the same sexual violence undertones as exposing male genitals.

Doesn't make it classy though.

SardineQueen, we may know the same people. I knew a guy from years ago who would delight in taking photos of his lad on other people's cameras, only for it be discovered when they got their film developed (clearly a long time ago).

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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 17:48


Replace camera with someone elses mobile phone and you have it!

With these blokes there was no question of sexual violence undertones... Seeing a hammered bloke with his little flaccid dick hanging sadly out of his jeans stagger sideways past you and into a ditch provokes feelings of pity rather than fear!
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SardineQueen · 02/02/2012 17:50

I suppose it depends on intent of the flasher and who is around when they do it.

Most of the times that I have seen men with their knobs out it has been in the reporting it to the police style of things.

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