No all sexism is wrong. Men are objectified in the popular media like we were never. It's all considered to be harmless fun, which is the get out clause for sexism. Hence the latest sexist advert from Moonpig along with the other ads with scantily clad males. And this is not a new thing. In fact I would suggest that men have been objectified far more than women ever were. I recall an advert way back in the late 70's early 80's with Molly Sugden cooing over a topless man. One of so many where the female is portrayed as smug and superior. I find his offensive and does not represent me.
The person who proffered the notion of acceptability due to a weightedness of past sexism is merely a sexist. We cannot argue against something and suggest an acceptability because the victim is male. Are you really a mother? What you are really saying is do as I say and not as I do. Furthermore, are all men guilty because of the actions of a few? If its some kind of revenge you are seeking you had more than you have received.
My son is a good looking lad and an ex girlfriend of his posted personal photos of him on the internet because they split up. Are we really saying thats OK because of his gender? He was really upset by this and which parent wants to see her child so distressed. Am I supposed to feel a sense of pleasure because some men do it women?
Men are more apathetic with such matters. Their tribalistic behaviours lend to the double standard we see on TV. Would we accept a female having her vagina measured on TV? On channel 4 TV Dr Christian measured a young man's penis suggesting it was something boys ask all the time? Really? We would complain and rightly so if this was a female. If we were to complain to channel 4 we would have a voice that his heard. Truth is this would not happen in the first place.
Did anybody see the BBC programme finding a Joseph. Would we have tolerated our daughters required to sing scantily clad in front of their fathers like the boys did?
I acknowledge that topless women are in some daily rags, but as my husband pointed out, I can see topless men in the street during the summer. I can coo and scream over firemen like so many of my colleagues. That is far more disempowering than anything else.
I can sit with topless male calendars around our desks at work. Indeed, there isn't one girly calendar at work. So watch out anyone tutting at the younger lads reading the Sun. Oh and just some background on our sisters at work. One was sacked for downloading beastiality pictures and printing them off. And about 25 years ago, 5 girls were fired for stripping a YTS trainee naked and simulating sex over him. He was terrified by this ordeal. So for me, you can forget the collective misandryious tone. Working with a mix of ordinary people is far better than working with the aforementioned idiots and their behaviou is not justified by notions of sexism.
I suggest that many of the responses on this forum have really inspired me and I feel really pleased that the majority seem to be against this double standard. As an equalitarian, I too would and indeed have complained at sexism towards men on TV. A voice that is seemingly growing based upon the replies from Ofcom. As a woman, I feel we are really moving forward. For those who disagree, long will it be before we can argue sexism with such double standards. Furthermore, isn't it just biggotry to speak collectively of men, based upon some or no negative experiences.
Gill
Manchester