To think you should probably remove all page three material from newspaper headed for a primary art class?

[LiegeAndLief]

Ds (7) has just confessed to me with much giggling that the newspaper he was using in art today had a "proper photo of a proper naked lady with no clothes on".

I guess it's an easy thing to miss in a pile of papers, but if you were handing a copy of the Sun in to a primary school you'd think you'd remove p3 first....

[iK8]

Of course it is inappropriate. It is a highly sexualised image that objectifies women.

It is not the same as seeing topless women on the beach, women breastfeeding or mum at home strolling about pre/post bath or shower and undressed. None of those women has been presented for the titillstion of unknown men.

A quiet word with the teacher would be appropriate.

[Gubbins]

I'd vote for a quiet word with the teacher as well. They probably realised as soon as the pages were handed out and were mortified but decided grabbing them back in would just draw attention to it. But I'd still have a word, just in case. And it's a good opportunity for a conversation with your son as to whether or not it's a good thing to have pictures of Half naked ladies in the newspaper.

A friend of mine used the Sport for pass the parcel at her three year old's party. She'd just gone and bought the cheapest paper in the newsagent and it wasn't until I laughed at her halfway through the game that she even noticed all the breasts herself. Eejit. The kids didn't notice at all, far too interested in the prizes. (I did scoot round in the guise of tidying up, stuffing each layer in a bin bag as soon as it was discarded.)

[TucsonGirl]

How is page 3 "highly sexulaised"? I will admit to not having seen it for years but I always thought the pictures were about as unprovacative as a topless picture of an attractive woman could be. There are far more provocative images of women used in advertising etc. The old wonderbra ads for instance.

[Nocomet]

Tits, is tits to a 7 yearold, it's how the adults around them react that matters.

If you are mater of fact about nudity, bfing in public and the idea that people have sex. Hopefully your DCs won't grow up thinking it's a sorce of hillarity, or something not to be talked about.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

Tucson, did you see my post?

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

And nocomet?

[Pipbin]

I go through copies on The Sun to take out page three.
However I didn't think to check through copies of some of the broadsheets papers. Little did I realise that the Guardian had a full page of arty nude ladies until much giggling was noticed.

[StarGazeyPond]

If they were breastfed, then surely they will be used to tits on show

[iK8]

Anyone claiming page 3 is harmless and indeed somehow a positive thing for a seven year old to see should read Katemary's post from up the thread, then engage their brain and have a think about it.

If page 3 was really harmless and presenting "normal" it would have a range of people displayed of all ages, sexes, races and the disabled. Because there are no droopy geriatric tits or one armed models, or Muslims, or Chinese, or men it is not presenting reality. Instead it presents a narrow demographic of young women, usually white, with large breasts which are thrust forwards and wearing only her pants.

It is also possible to find more than one thing to be not great for society. You can dislike page 3 being viewed by children and dislike other things like sexualised adverts, FGM, the gender pay gap and domestic abuse. You can even do something about all those things if you like. For example, small things that can have a cumulative effect if enough people join in such as signing petitions or bigger things like chaining yourself to the gates of Downing Street or organising a protest march. Or just tiny things, like having a quiet word with the teacher about not having sexualised images available for the perusal of year 3s. That's the marvellous thing about being a woman, you can give a shit about all or it, some of it, or none of it.

[Nocomet]

Pg. 3 is a billion times less damaging to women's self esteem than the deliberate drip drip drip of weight loss (often post PG) bikini clad photo's that appear in papers and magazines.

Even your average 10y knows Pg 3 is probably silicon, vulnerable women forget those 'casual' beach shots are just as possed, just as made up and just as air brushed as any fashion shoot.

X celeb, just relaxing on holiday, my arse!

[Noodledoodledoo]

To be honest whenever I have done as I said before the girls will fight their own corner and point out the boys failings. As a tutor I have to deliver PSHE to groups and frequently have to have discussions with the students on such topics which include discussions about things such as page 3.

Sometimes I think people sell teenage girls short about having the chance to voice their own opinions.

[iK8]

And what's your point nocomet?

Just because something else is worse does not mean something isn't important or relevant or worrying. You can care about or dislike more than one thing. It is allowed and possible!

[BoomBoomsCousin]

Noodle It's as much the need for them to constantly have to put up a fight about it in all sorts on contexts that is harassing. I'm perfectly capable of telling my colleagues that they are denigating women but if I have to do that whenever we discuss meeting times I'm going to find that environment less friendly and less productive.

[Givemecaffeine]

I would be very bothered by it. Nothing to do with prudery. As others have said, it's not about breasts per se. Children of seven have every right to know they exist and what they look like (and even what they're for!) It's that coming across half naked women in titillating poses in their knickers in a NEWSPAPER sends really depressing messages to children about the role of women in society. Do you really want your boy to be absorbing those messages about women at 7 years old?

[Nocomet]

I just think ban pg 3 wastes a ridiculous amount of femanist energy that could be better used.

And I think the the fact that pg three is actually nude, clouds the issue very badly in the eyes of many older people, who miss the objectification of women point entirely.

As do most teens.

Try and explain why pg three is wrong to my DD and she just says nothing wrong with breasts and she's getting paid. Likewise trying to be disgusted at almost naked pop stars. Teen girls don't get it. They have worn figure hugging Lycra all their lives. The six formers idea of smart dress for prize giving is little black dresses I wouldn't have worn to a Disco.

Hence I guess my furry at weight related woman bashing articles. The pressure to be thin and amazing when almost dressed is what frightens me in the media.

[Nocomet]

Of three is a soft target that will change absolutely nothing.

[Nocomet]

Pg

[deakymom]

its a pair of boobs women (and occasionally men) have them really it is a non issue for me its really not going to scar them for life

[deakymom]

look page three is really nothing its not hardcore porn i really don't see the issue with banning it there is worse in the sport fgs i seriously grew up visiting and working at my dads factory there were boobs everywhere i used to play the real fake game with them and laugh at the chap who honestly believed sam fox was entirely real

its not people being exploited no one is forced to do it its up to them and you dont have to buy it and you dont need to look

[Fakebook]

Yanbu. I remember doing art at primary school and having pages of breasts on the table. Tbh they used to scare me and took away a part of my innocence. It's soft porn if you ask me and yes, ofcourse they should be removed before donating a "newspaper" to the school.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

So, none of the "whats the point" posters read my comment then?

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

I'll save you the effort of going back to look for it...

I have a distinct memory of a boy when we were in year 4 (so about 8 or 9) saying "bet you wish your boobies looked like hers" at a craft table. I was just starting puberty, and wearing a bra, not some innocent child who didnt know anything (i started my periods at 10), and I was embarrassed, and upset at my just-starting-to-grow boobs for not being big enough.

[Spottybra]

I wouldn't really mind. Ds would giggle because his friends would giggle. They'd think he was giggling with them when he's actually be giggling at the fact they were giggling over breasts.

[Goblinchild]

I suppose for me the point is that there are 30+ children in the class and if one of them is going to be distressed by something that is easily avoidable, whatever my personal opinion, then it's logical to fix the problem.
There are other occasions and arenas for debating tricky subjects in a classroom, and an appropriate age.

[Goblinchild]

Spotty, would your DD giggle about it as well?