Blurred lines: the new battle of the sexes

He is very sensible and turns 15 this summer. We have been discussing stuff about sexism, racism, abortion etc recently and politics, it's great when they reach an age where you can have pproper discussion about stuff. We are quite a talky/debating family iyswim discussing stuff around the dinner table etc.

We don't have gta though I have seen clips online.

But I think it sounds good and opens up debate and discussion which is a good thing with teens.

There is graphic imagery, but apart from the GTA clips, none of it is things you couldn't see on a newsagent shelf or advertising hoarding, and it's being used to illustrate a point and explain how bad things are, so I don't think it's gratuitous. (I wouldn't have believed GTA was that bad without seeing those clips, though I had previously read about it,) so I think I'd be okay for sensible 14yos seeing it, but not that much younger.

The language is very graphic and there is one bit of footage in particular that is quite upsetting. I thought anyway. I don't have teens so I can't really answer your question though, hopefully someone else will!

I am going to watch this eve on iPlayer,is it suitable for 14yr old boy?

With four boys I am really trying to raise them to be good men!

I thought the program was absolutely excellent, from start to finish

(but maybe that's because it confirmed some things that I've been thinking for some time).

Kirsty Wark's calm, measured, analytical approach was perfect.

And Germaine Greer was as entertaining as ever - and again spot-on when she pointed out that it's actually worse now than it was in the seventies.

I totally agree with ImSoOverIt. I also feel like we're fighting a losing battle.

I'm watching this now. It's so saddening.

Sadly though, the programme as a whole made me feel sad and a bit sick. Did you see those lads responding to the rape video at the end? I sometimes feel like we are fighting a losing battle though .

I am ashamed to admit that there are only a select few people I trust in RL to discuss feminism.

I work in a profession that is very conservative and elitist and the culture is to adhere to the status quo. I see low level sexism every day from intelligent people who don't even realise they're doing it. It is no surprise therefore the level things reach with young impressionable people.

I just wish I knew how to educate people about gender equality, because it seems no one who isn't a woman, and only a minority of women at that, want to educate themselves about it.

Well I've only watched part of it but within the first minute she named men as the main perpetrators so my skepticism was unfounded I'm very pleased to say

So, how as it? I have recorded it, not watched it yet. Was the fear and pessimism justified? I'd be surprised if a journalist as good as Wark didn't get to the heart of the matter.

I have never heard of the consent campaign set up by the schoolgirls.

No, I hadn't, either. I agree it's great.

Showing this to all school children would be a great idea

I think it was very well done. The feedback loop section was particularly interesting/ depressing.

She is incredibly sharp. I'm glad it was her doing it and not someone who would tolerate frothy or shallow answers.

Most of it was ,sadly, quite familiar if you are already interested in feminism and internet culture but it was a great concise show for young people those who haven't looked into it too much before. I've already seen some teachers tweeting that they are going to show it to their classes.

I have never heard of the consent campaign set up by the schoolgirls. Brilliant initiative; gives you some hope

Found this very interesting. I have become increasingly concerned about this type of thing especially in the younger generation who because it is so common has become the norm.

Watching now. Really interesting.

Marking place. Watching now

KW was talking about the programme on Woman's Hour R4 yesterday. Sound like it should be required viewing for all parents and their teens.

Just checking you've all seen Kirsty's blog post ?

Need to remember to watch it - presumably it'll be on iplayer?

I agree FairPhyllis about the Internet, it's sheer honesty and unabridged content has held up a mirror to sociey and demonstrated just how nasty it can be. I think it's because it's so easy to be anonymous on fora like this and social media, it's also really simple to set up your own website/blog to air your views no matter how bigotted or repugnant. The ultimate democatisation of communication I suppose.

Of course the flipside is that it means those who are victimised are a lot more aware of this, the ignorance of their position is lessened dramatically and the capacity to try and implement change is heightened by using the same weopan as the oppressor - The internet.

Fascinating times we live in...

I'm worried it's not going to address the nature of the misogyny i.e. male violence and the gendered nature of the perpetrators.

I am just worried that that is the direction in which it may go.

I share your fed-up-ness. But actually I think the internet has been brilliant for women because it has allowed us to see exactly how much so many men hate us. We can use it as something that spurs us on.

Sorry for rant kind of off topic there. But to the point, yes, I think the internet had made misogyny fashionable again!

Unless I have misunderstood the premise, I think it is more has the internet made misogyny seem socially acceptable, not whether misogyny is acceptable.

And personally I think the internet while an amazing thing has somehow completely fucked women. Maybe it's the porn side, I'm not sure. But I look at how the western world has changed towards homosexuality in just a couple of generations and things are so much better. Racism etc. And yes, I am white and straight so looking at it form a privileged point of you, I totally admit...but especially in the states (I'm American) the laws are starting to change and reflect the attitudes that discrimination toward minority groups shouldn't and won't be tolerated... All the while taking more rights away from women, steadily going back on rights such as abortion, refusing laws that would deal with DV, give women equal pay for equal work... blatantly disregarding women who have been raped and not even attempting to prosecute their cases. Allowing Christian hospitals to refuse medically necessary abortions to women who can die without them. Prosecuting women for miscarriages.

Things aren't quite there in the UK but NI still refuses women abortions. Rape cases are still not taken seriously. Girls and women are sexualised so much more and in such a degrading way with than in the states. We are seen as prudes, but actually the British are only being "liberal" about the sexualisation of women. They are certainly not objectifying men even a tiny percentage the way the women are. The whole world seems to be saying feminism, been there done that. Now go back to the kitchen.

Thanks for posting about this, will definitely be watching.

I'm glad this is being tackled on television but I am feeling twitchy about how well it will be done.

Even the fact that it is a programme is a bit - you wouldn't see a programme 'let's debate whether online racism is a bad thing', would you?