Help me write a letter

[happysmiley]

I saw this article today in City AM.

city's got talent

The print version comes with photos of the "lovely ladies". It's being passed around my office today and needless to say I'm furious.

I'm totally useless at the letter writing thing and know that you guys are all much better at it than me, so looking for input in my letter to the editor.

What a vile article! I can't believe that. I've never read City am but I didn't realise it was the News of the World for city workers!
I wonder if you could complain to the Press Complaints Commission as well as the paper? I don't know enough about the media to know if that's possible....

That's just it, it's not!

If I saw this in the Sun, I'd be disappointed but not surprised. I a "serious" business paper, it's revolting.

And now I'm sat here explaining to my male colleagues why it's sexist. I'm so angry.

I'm a little calmer now. Also thinking about complaining to HR as they stock the paper in the canteen. Think they should at least be aware of the crap that's in it but would really like them to stop stocking as that would send out a stronger message to the paper. Does anyone know how does this fits with the bank's sexual discrimination responsibilities? I assume that they shouldn't be distributing this type of material but am I wrong?

Were all the "lovely ladies" from the same bank then? Sorry, didn't read it very thoroughly. I would imagine that you would have to be an employee of the bank to lodge a grievance but members of the public could send letters of complaint.
I don't think of City AM as a serious paper.. but then I don't read it so I'm not very well placed to judge!
Are you going to write a letter? I think you should. I'm happy to help draft something later but a bit busy with work now (she says while eating cake and perusing mumsnet ). I'm quite good at ranty letters :)

Dear Paper

Just when I thought the City was starting to improve its record on sexual harrassment and discrimination - I hear the lawsuits are below one a week now[this is made up btw but find out] - I turn to page x to see "City's Got Talent". That should make it quite clear to the world that banks still make a habit of commenting totally inappropriately on women's appearance, and have a culture that positively encourages sexual harrassment by encouraging employees to rate their female colleagues on their looks. Heaven forbid a woman should be able to go to work and do her job, without simultaneously being assessed, analysed and given points for her body shape and facial features. That might give them the idea that they are men's equal in the workplace or something.

Yours etc

Happysmiley.

& complain to HR.

not banks, bank staff or similar.
Possible final sentence:

Please keep this kind of sexist adolescent rubbish confined to the gents toilet gossip brigade where it belongs. I don't want to see it in my paper.

Thanks Elephants, that's got me off to a good start!

Rosa, sorry if I wasn't clear. All the "lovelies" work for different institutions. The reason why this paper is winging its way round my office, is because my bank gives out copies in the canteen. Usually I only flick through the first couple of pages, which are proper business/financial news, but today this article was specifically brought to my attention by my lovely collegues as something witty and amusing. No idea if the normal content is up to this standard.

Hmm, I'd guess it's generally quite low brow. It's a free sheet. I get people trying to hand it to me along with Shortlist outside tube stations. That's not to say it's a rubbish publication but from the article you linked to I'm going to go out on a limb and say it looks pretty trashy to me!

I think Elephant's letter looks like an excellent starting place :)

Also, I hate the fact that the article is written by a woman and the photos suggest that the women featured willingly participated. I know they'll use this if they bother to come back to me.

Ok, both letters written, one to the paper and one to HR, and both based on you template, Elephants. (All the guys in the office are now in complete agreement and thought they were well written btw!)

Well done! Even if HR and the paper ignore the letter, you'll still have achieved a great deal by making your male colleagues rethink their behaviour/views.

Oh well done happysmiley, it was written in about 2 seconds and a bit raw but I'm glad you found something useful there!

What did the guys at work say then?

Any chance you could post a copy here?