WABU to complain about a poster of Kylie?

[SoggyOldBiscuit]

I am in hospital with my child, on a children's ward. There is a day room that is for the children & parents to use. It has some toys and a plays station and tv in it as well as a few sofas.

I popped in there for a cup of tea earlier and was surprised to look up and see a big poster in front of me of a woman wearing a bra ands knickers and posing in a very provocative way. On closer inspection, I realised it was a poster of Kylie and she has signed it, for the children's ward.

I may be unreasonable (I have had very little sleep) but the more I looked at it, the more it incensed me. It just seems unnecessary and bloody inappropriate for the day room.

I went out and spoke to the two women on ward reception an they looked at me as if I was a complete twerp. One of them shrugged and said:: "Yes, but teenagers use that room you see".

I said to her "Presumably you have teenage girls as well as boys? If I saw that on the wall in my place of work, I would complain about it. It wouldn't be appropriate in a school, it is not appropriate here, I don't want to look at it when I am sitting in there & I don't think it sends an acceptable message to any teenagers or children, male or female".

I was clearly very cross by this time. The woman shrugged again and said "Well, we can only pass it on".

The lack of sleep and worry is making me feel angrier by the minute (worry about my child, not specifically the Kylie poster!).

Would I be unreasonable to rip it off the wall and hide it? Or should I just take a deep breath and let this one go?

"Would I be unreasonable to rip it off the wall and hide it?"

Erm, as its not your property, and it has been donated, and is possibly worth a small fortune if they ever needed to raise funds, then yes you would BU. Massively.

Youve got your point across. It might be actioned. End of.

I think you are making an unnecessary fuss although I do understand that it is easy to make a fuss when you are sleep deprived and worried about your sick child.
If the poster had been a topless woman then it would be inappropriate but knickers and bra is not much different from a woman wearing a bikini at the pool or on the beach and our children see that quite a lot.

As yes you would be totally unreasonable to rip it from the wall and hide it and you should be charged with criminal damage if you take that action.

I suspect what OP means is "WIBU to take the poster and Ebay it"

You are being over the top. Let it go and concentrate on what REALLY matters.

I see your point OP. I don't think it's particularly appropriate. But focus your energy on your child, for now. Hope he/she gets well soon.

All the best for your sick child and that is what matters

I didn't think of EBay

Thank you for your replies, I will stay away from the poster.

I think the lack of sleep an stress had made me lose all sense of proportion as I was really angry about this earlier!

i don't think you were unreasonable at all. and i think you can reasonably be concerned about more than one thing at a time too

i was at a mental health clinic recently where i know that eating disorders and body image issues are treated. i complained that the magazines available in the waiting room were emblazoned with pictures of bikini-clad celebrities and headlines such as "XXX piles on the pounds", "i'm so happy now i've lost my baby weight" etc. hugely inappropriate

sorry to hear your child is in hospital too. i hope things go well for you all

I do not think you are being unreasonable at all.

These sort of sexualised pictures are totally inappropriate in such a setting, even if they are of "wholesome" stars.

I think you have been very reasonable and that the response makes me cross. This casual acceptance of objectification of women is depressing.

YANBU of course. This is a prime example of lazy thinking and lack of consideration. Of course it is inappropriate. Speak to PALS about it.

YANBU

I don't think YABU and it's not down to a lack of sleep or whatever, it IS inappropriate for a children's ward.

I wouldn't rip it down though - second speaking to PALS.

I think you have a valid point.

Yabu about the poster, but that doesn't matter.

Sending best wishes to you and your sick child

In addition to the fact that it's sexist, overt sexualisation etc, children stay in hospital because something has gone wrong with their body. I can only imagine how a teenage girl with burns or CP or any kind of ailment that makes her body not 'perfect' must feel when confronted with an airbrushed Kylie

The poster:

I have always detested Kylie. The fact that she has always traded on being tiny and like an ickle girl and always grated on me. Burn the damn poster. Her autograph sells for £2 on ebay.

Blimey. That is racy!

Draw a big 'tash on her ... ( Totally purile but very satisfying emoticon )

Hope your child is better soon.

YANBU. I really hope she didn't know it was for a children's ward when she autographed it for them

It is inappropriate for the setting, but people are so used to pictures of women posing like this that it barely flickers in their consciousness.

Send in a written complaint, as it is unlikely that your complaint is going to get passed on in a way which would actually explain your point - they may comment that someone didn't like the picture, but without some kind of explanation of why you find it problematic, it is not likely to be acted on.

That is too much for a children's ward.

You did right to complain and hopefully your concerns will be heard.

Why not contact Kylie through twitter or something? Tell her you think it is inappropriate and ask her to send another, more normal, signed poster for the hospital.

While you're waiting, use the arts & crafts material to make her a fetching kaftan and then blu-tak it over the top.

YANBU - that's inappropriate for any area of a public hospital, let alone a children's ward!