Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be fed up that we still have Page 3 in 2011?

302 replies

JessinAvalon · 16/02/2011 11:30

If you are too, please vote for 38 Degrees to take it on as a campaign.

38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/1492713-banning-page-3-as-it-symbolises-the-sexism-misogy?ref=comments

OP posts:
LadyOfTheManor · 17/02/2011 06:17

Well the media is censored all the time, take the war for example. We are not shown on "what really goes on" we're shown images that attempts to make us "proud" of "our boys". If you saw the news images in the Middle East the story is slightly different.

ifancyashandy · 17/02/2011 07:19

So (and apologies for the slight tangent) you're talking about news - or specifically - war media? And again, not disagreeing with you! Just don't think we can assume ALL media is censored. And I should probably 'fess up to having a vested interest as I work I'm this field.

Again, exscuse the tangent.

Gemsy83 · 17/02/2011 07:21

It dissapoints me greatly however there seem to be women in our society who just want to be gawped at and admired for their bodies by men. Until they are raised with more self esteem then we will never get away from page three girls/lapdancers etc.

JessinAvalon · 17/02/2011 07:33

@theuglytruth-it's not that simple. As others have said, you still get people reading it in front of you/your children, leaving them around once read, taking these attitudes with them into the workplace and home, because after all, it's just a girl with her tits out in a newspaper...it means you end up being exposed to it whether you have bought the paper or not.

If you saw the comments on the poll, you'd see that Rape Crisis have voted and commented. They consider it worthy of comment. Not so harmless to them.

OP posts:
LadyOfTheManor · 17/02/2011 07:41

Why are you banging on about Rape Crisis signing the online petition? Is that clarification that it's a good cause?

Ifancy I have inboxed you so we don't hijack the thread!

FattyArbuckel · 17/02/2011 07:42

YANBU
it's demeaning to women and contributes to a lack of respect for women in society
men would not tolerate a full page spread each day on page 2 of a flacid penis

DrNortherner · 17/02/2011 07:43

But we wouldn't want to look at a full page spread of a flacid penis. They are ugly.

At least breasts are rather nice to look at.

DrNortherner · 17/02/2011 07:45

I don't think we can assume that all topless models/lap dancers have low self esteem. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I know plenty of women who keep their clothes on who have low self esteem.

JamieLeeCurtis · 17/02/2011 07:49

the ugly truth - did you read the thread at all? Plenty of rebuttals to your argument about "just don't buy it"

LadyOfTheManor · 17/02/2011 07:52

Hmm so the alternative is "the feminist movement, a hierarchy of women dictating what other women can do and what other women should read".

Interesting. Glad I didn't burn my bra.

swallowedAfly · 17/02/2011 08:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Unrulysun · 17/02/2011 08:16

If someone could say that they think women these days have an easier time of it than men then Jess wins this week's feminist Bingo and a rather attractive ball and chain inscribed with the words 'Back in your place binty'. Won't someone have a heart?

BlackSwan · 17/02/2011 08:30

YANBU - it's shameful. But when the Speaker's wife considers it appropriate to pose in a bed sheet for the daily papers, why should we expect any better from wannabe 'it' girls?

Makes me uncomfortable when guys sitting next to me on the tube are leering at pg3 - it's so disrespectful to me and other women to think you can enjoy soft porn in front of us.

As an aside...from the Girl Guides report on girls' attitudes:

"What makes a good role model?
Last year, girls selected the figures whom they most looked up to from a list of prominent women. Top choice was Cheryl Cole; others included ... Jordan/Katie Price..."

JessinAvalon · 17/02/2011 08:59

@LOTM-in answer to your question, yes! "Banging on about..."? Ah what fond memories of my abusive ex that phrase brings back.

I don't think any bras were burnt btw. That is an urban myth.

@Unrulysun-yep, nearly there with the full house!

As others have said, making any old choice does not mean that a woman is a feminist or actually has any power. And some people's choices do have a negative impact on others, this being one of them, hence the reason why Rape Crisis have signed up (banged on about it again).

OP posts:
invision · 17/02/2011 09:06

Page 3 has earnt lots of otherwise virtually unemployable girls earn loads of dosh.

Its empowering !

LadyOfTheManor · 17/02/2011 09:06

So who decides who makes up the hierarchy of women setting out to make decisions on behalf of other women?

FluffyMummy123 · 17/02/2011 09:06

do you not think there MIGHT be a way women can be ( cringe) "mpowered" with their clothes on.
like what men can?

IntergalacticHussy · 17/02/2011 09:29

why are we only allowed to fight the 'bigger battles' i.e the ones we have little hope of winning?

lets see how many little victories we can tot up along the way; that's how momentum is built.

Gemsy83 · 17/02/2011 09:33

I actually love Davod Mitchell. At last a man who can see past the pathetic titilation and wanting to make a show of oneself for the menz.

pozzled · 17/02/2011 09:35

Am a bit late coming to the debate, but OP YANBU.

I don't read the Sun and will never buy it, but it does affect me because it is always around, on the bus in cafes or whatever. And because it is a so-called 'newspaper' it influences others. As so many of the comments on this thread show, people obviously think that it's fine, normal and a valid career choice for young women to be portrayed as sexual objects and ogled by millions of men. It's part of the whole way that we view women as a society.

"During the early 19th century, it was also considered inappropriate for a woman to publicly display her ankles....history and societal perceptions evolve. Centuries from now, I wonder whether the naked female breast will still be considered a prosecutable offense or a societal taboo?"

In response to theshriekingharpy - it's not the naked female breast I object to, it's the fact that they are portrayed as purely sexual. If a national newspaper wanted to publish a whole range of pictures of women and men going about their usual business in the nude, I would consider it quite bizarre but I wouldn't object. I quite like the art that you occasionally see where the artist gets loads of people to get naked somewhere and takes a photo- normal people, no distinction made between male and female, and not held up as an example of how women should look.

noddyholder · 17/02/2011 09:40

I find page 3 abhorrent and really remember clare shorts campaign when I was at uni.I still have the book.This has nothing to do with empowering women and demeans them in every way.If sally is a nurse from enfield who loves ice skating and is good at both those things why do we need to see her tits to celebrate her worth?

Katiepoes · 17/02/2011 09:40

Jordan started as a Page 3 'model'. That alone is enough reason to get rid of it.

IntergalacticHussy · 17/02/2011 09:42

the thing about David Mitchell is it's so rare to hear a well thought through, feminist argument from a man of his standing in society that i've actually gone all gooey-eyed and fallen in love with him, just reading that article. Which defeats the whole bloody point!

Unrulysun · 17/02/2011 09:44

LadyoftheManor afaik there isn't a hierarchy of women who have been elected to represent feminism. You can have a go yourself if you like. But don't be overly surprised if your platform of 'get your tits out for the lads' doesn't start a mass movement across the globe will you?

Swipe left for the next trending thread