Australia's female Prime Minister a victim of misogyny.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is a victim of vicious misogyny. This is highlighted by Marea Donnelly in an article in "The Punch" about recent TV satires where "tarnishing the country's first female Prime Minister has gone beyond sexism to an almost visceral hatred, fuelled by a passion far richer than the carbon debate".
Wikipedia quotes sociologist Allan G. Johnson’s definition of misogyny as “a cultural attitude of hatred for females because they are female”. Johnson argues misogyny has a central role in sexist prejudice and ideology. As such, it is an important basis for the oppression of females in male-dominated societies and manifests in many ways, “from jokes to pornography to violence”.
Sexist Advertising
On the current affairs Today Show (9/11/05, Channel 9) the complaint from female air stewards of sexist advertising by Lynx Deodorants was discussed.
The TV ad shows the women virtually acting as prostitutes towards male airline passengers - what does that has to do with deodorant? Dr Sarah Maddison, from Women's Electoral Lobby, spoke very well in support of the air stewards. However the interview was timed at 6.55am!! This suggests that the programmers judged the complaint a low priority, or perhaps they wanted to catch women's interest before they went to work while ignoring the fact that, at that time anyone watching would be organizing children and breakfast. Perhaps the programmers need to rethink their priorities.
Men as well as women suffer from sexist advertising. Advertisements that show men as useless in the house or bathroom are not clever. They are usually demeaning and in many cases are offensive. Men now should have a better understanding of how women feel about demeaning advertising.
Women draped over cars really miss the point that most women buy cars these days—it’s not just a boy’s market. We wonder if the young people who make these advertisements really understand the community they serve.
WEL encourages any reader to send examples of sexist advertising to us by email. We will contact the manager of the goods being advertised to ask their opinion of this type of advertising of their products.
Sexual Harassment
Board of Premier Brands: JUST JEANS. JAY JAYS, PORTMANS. JAQUI E. PETER ALEXANDER, DOTTI, SMIGGLE.
The Board of Premier Brands has appointed Mark Mc Innis as its Chief Executive at a potential pay of $5.2 million. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mark Mc Innis quit his job at David Jones in 2010 after a sexual harassment scandal in which Mr McInnes admitted to conduct "unbecoming a Chief Executive,"
No-one suggests that Mc Innis, who received $1.2 million on quitting his David Jones job, should not be employed. However the decision by Premier Brands to employ him so soon demonstrates a lack of respect for female customers and employees on whom Premier Brands relies.
Many young women suffer sexual harassment which affects their confidence and job satisfaction. The 2008 Survey by the Australian Human Rights Commission found that 22 percent of women had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in their lifetime. A further 22 percent reported unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing, inappropriate physical contact, actual or attempted rape or assault. sexually suggestive comments or jokes as well as intrusive questions about their private life or physical appearance that made them feel offended.
Sexualisation of Children
WEL suports an enquiry into child sexualisation as seen in the child beauty pageants being promoted in Ausralia, and the development of a code of conduct for these (and other) children's performance events. Click on www.pullthepin.com.au to read about the organisation called Pull the Pin that is rallying against these forms of child sexualisation.