Should we back the No More Page 3 campaign? Please let us know what you think...

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all,

As some of you will know, there have been a few on-board debates about the No More Page 3 nomorepage3.org/ campaign, and whether or not Mumsnet should 'officially' join up as a supporter.

Previous threads here here here and here have been on balance supportive but not of a sufficient consensus for us to feel comfortable putting our full weight behind the cause.

With our most recent blog post on the issue, however, support seemed a bit more clear cut and there were lots of calls for us to back the campaign.

So we thought we'd canvass support more officially and widely. Do please use this thread to let us know whether you think we should sign up.

Obviously this is by no means a precise science, but in order to try to get a representative Mumsnet view, we will be placing a bit less weight on the views of those who have signed up to Mumsnet very recently.

I think this is a simple issue that mumsnet could help in a meaningful way.

I am on the FB page, signed petition etc.

surely anyone who wants wank fodder only needs to access the internet

there is no point in the sun newspaper this being part of the printed press

Absolutely MN should support the campaign. If anyone is still uncertain, they should read again the emcwill74 Tue 21-Jan-14 11:54:50 post.

its a yes from me

Yes, I think mumsnet should back this

yes

I've just read back the thread. Well done emcwill74, you wrote a lot of sense.

Those of you who think there is no point, that's fine. The rest of us will crack on with chipping away at yet another horribly misogynistic icon and you and your children and grandchildren can just reap the benefits. Let me know about your campaign for the more important issues and I'll come and sign your petition or what-not.

Yes MN should back the campaign.

There are wider issues out there too but this campaign is as good a place to start as any.

Yes, please let's support the campaign.

Yes, mumsnet should support the campaign.

Thank you so much both slug and K8Middleton (great post too). And yes, I'll sign anyone else's petitions/campaigns too because yes, I care about sexual objectification in a broader context, it's just that page 3 is one of its biggest and most prolific icons. For some reason whenever page 3 gets mentioned someone always seems to say 'but what about FGM?! You feminists go on about page 3 but not that!' So just for the record, I have also signed an anti-FGM government e-petition. Ages ago. Because: LET'S DO ALL THE THINGS!

Yes.

Yes, please support this campaign. I have signed the petition already.

YES PLEASE

Yes you should.

I'm in the No camp. The resources going towards this campaign are ludicrous and could be far better utilised elsewhere to support women's rights. FGM, forced marriage, selective abortion of girls... The list is sadly endless.

Yes please.

No, I don't think MN should get behind this. I completely agree with what Starballbunny said.

That would be a "yes" from me.

yes you should def support the campaign!

Dontcall - the resources are almost non existent behind this campaign. The campaign is run totally by volunteers.

I think Mumsnet should back the campaign. I don't understand the "Mumsnet should back other campaigns instead because they are more important". It's not either/or. Backing this one doesn't mean they can't back others.

Yes, I think you should be backing this campaign, after reading this thread.

I was a little bit perplexed at first, because in general, I think MNHQ need to back campaigns based on how they want to be perceived by their audience, because it's your reputation that will be affected.

I also worried a little about the women who currently model for page 3 - would they be pushed into even worse earning roles?

However, we have generations of children growing up. The only way page 3 wouldn't be normal for them, as an adult, is if changes are made now. Someone has to do something if we want our children to live in a more equal, more healthy society.

I could be wrong, but I assume all the NMP3 campaign team really want (or at least, at minimum) is a public statement from MNHQ saying they support the campaign. If so, that would divert no funds from campaigns that are being run entirely from the MN office, and incur no costs (except a minimal staff opportunity cost whilst a statement is drafted). There seems no logical reason at all not to.

Yes please Mumsnet! I am a member of the No More Page 3 campaign but I joined Mumsnet first so I'll post a comment!
Through my work as well as personal experience I know what the research says about the harmful effects of this casual accepted daily sexism on girls' view of themselves and on boys' view of girls.
The Sun is sold as a family non-age restricted newspaper which deliberately targets children and young girls through Lego promotions, One Direction offers etc.
There are lots of problematic representations of women in magazines, advertising etc, but Page 3 is unique in that its only reason is sexual titillation. The Page 3 'girl' is selling nothing but herself. Nowhere else do we see this except in Lads mags and porn.
The message is clear that young women are first and foremost sexual entertainment for men and it's this message that we all imbibe. Just because the effects are invisible doesn't mean it is not an important issue; it influences minds and that influences behaviour.
We are targetting Page 3 because it was the first and remains the most iconic example of soft porn being brought into the mainstream. If Page 3 goes it would send out a huge message to society that it's no longer acceptable to represent women as sexual commodities in the press and I believe it would have a massive ripple effect on sexist portrayals of women in the media generally.
We are not asking for a ban but for the Sun to reconsider, and Mumsnet's backing would be a massive influence. Please support for the next generation of girls growing up with this.

lougle. NMP3 is not against any topless modelling. For the women involved, this is 1 job they are booked for. That is all. And the sun have toyed with the idea of having a woman on the page who is not topless.