Julia Long on Vine on 5 discussing statue of / about Mary Wollstonecraft

The 'ladette' phase was part of this false idea of empowerment that so many women and girls subscribed to. As though the epitome of women's liberation would be found by our aping the behaviour of the most loutish of men while getting our tits out.

The idea that women are ashamed of the female form because they object to yet another non-representative female nude is pathetic. The only time our breasts are acceptable is when they're being made available for men's gaze. When they're being used for breastfeeding or for our own pleasure they're suddenly objects of public outrage, and this woman's claims only feed into that misogynist and patriarchal sense of ownership over our own bodies.

Essex mum's shock at breastfeeding photo backlash www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-54718027

Not so long ago, the female body, nude or partially clothed, was in almost constant promotional use, be it a pop promo video, a car ad, a drinks commercial, Page 3... women campaigned against the public and casual sexualisation of their bodies.

The idea that a nude female form is necessary to get people talking about Mary Wollstonecraft and feminism is insulting for this reason.

The bollocks spoken about it being a 'timeless' representation of woman completely misses the point about this being a tribute to Wollestonecraft. It is precisely because of when she lived that makes her work and achievements all the more remarkable. The historical context should be a central point of the tribute.

I know this isn't on the same topic at all, but Julia Long is very good on this radio segment from 2018. I think of it almost like the PP and AH clip.

What Julia does very well, is to stick to the point and use clear, direct language to make that point, without trying to soften what she is saying in any way, Kellie-Jay's approach is similar. And as someone said upthread, she is also good at thinking on her feet. It can sound quite harsh to those of us that are bound by female socialisation which is possibly what makes it so effective.

soundcloud.com/anne-ruzylo/julia-long-on-lbc-21-08-18

It was quite the thing for hippies back in the sixties to prance around in the nude as a means of celebrating the complete break with prudish, stifling, Victorian morality. That's the only reasoning I can think of behind this statue. Unfortunately, the sexual revolution didn't work out well for young women. They were still perceived as "Easy meat" by men whose attitudes didn't change in the least and behaved like pigs.

This talk of turning up for things in the buff reminded me of this. www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/cambridge-academic-attends-university-meeting-11976364 Male, female, I don't care - just keep your clothes on in public. It's not a lot to ask.

The artist was paid well for it which I am sure will offset her sadness that it was not liked.

Raining - this is not the place for the artist to position her pet project
This was supposed to celebrate MW - not the artist. It’s a huge mistake and I agree with Dr Long and I hope it goes away.

I love Julia Long and could listen to her speak all day

JL is brilliant, speaks so much sense meanwhile the liberal feminists always with the same tired arguments of nudity being empowering...

I don't like it, I think it misses the mark, but it isn't a statue of MW. It isn't a statue at all.

It is a sculpture.

A sculpture which, whether we like it or not, was inspired , in the artist, by MW.

Empowering! Always the same argument for a woman with her tits out. Funny, I feel empowered by my career, my life choices and not taking any shit. I've never felt the need to get my tits out in public to feel empowered.

How is objectification empowering? They've been sold a lie.

I am just laughing at the argument about the female form. Does that mean if women are clothed, they are just ashamed of the female form. How far does that go. Nip (sic) to the shop for some bread, go to church, attend a wedding or a funeral. Queenie opening parliament. All sans everything.

I know, I wanted Jeremy to ask her why she wasn't on the show naked if that's what she thinks.

Yeah let’s all us women trot about naked so we can celebrate the female form

EMPOWERING WOMEN 💪💪💪💪💪

If they want to humiliate someone and make them vulnerable they take away their clothes. Julia Long was great.

That was refreshing! Loved all the women giggling away.

I'd love to see more of Julia Long on the telly. She's an absolute natural.

Nobody is "ashamed of the male form". Male bodies aren't sexualised, certainly not to anywhere near the extent women's are.

And yet, men still don't get statues made of them without their clothes on.

Also pleased to see Dr Sarah Jarvis agree. And the other lady on the link who was laughing at 'Carl Marx having a statue with his willy out'.

I am just laughing at the argument about the female form. Does that mean if women are clothed, they are just ashamed of the female form. How far does that go. Nip (sic) to the shop for some bread, go to church, attend a wedding or a funeral. Queenie opening parliament. All sans everything.

Should this not apply to men too? New statues on order, Winston, George VI etc, etc. Or in real life, the Archbishop of Cantebury, Johnson and Starmer in Parliament.

Or, is it really that real woman can be portrayed as slightly lesser than each being an individuals. They are portrayed and the beast in the same generic way as any anonymous mythical figure. This is done in a way that real men aren't generally represented. The full human status of women are not acknowledged in the way that of a real man is. Mary is no more than an idea, some sort of idealised? and fictional formwhereas Winston is to be celebrated for being Winston.

I saw it. Julia was spot on.