I have a dream…
January 11, 2012
As I was half asleep when I wrote my first entry – I failed to mention that I do, in fact, have a dream and it’s the fuel behind this blog.
I know it sounds cliched but I actually do dream of a time when we take action – together – and create the change that, I think, is paramount. I look around and see that the world that once was, is diminishing. And it seems the ONLY reason for it, is to make a buck – regardless of consequence to the society it’s moulding.
What do I mean? Well, as an example, when I was a teen in the 80’s buying a ‘rude’ magazine meant the embarrassment of walking up to the counter with a magazine wrapped in plastic – everyone would know what was being bought. Why on earth was this measure taken? Was it because there was some sense of moral fibre and ethics?
Now let’s jump to today. Due to the internet, porn is now the largest chunck (by far) of what the internet is about. Seeing as you could get it on-line so easily, businesses and marketers realised they’d hit the jackpot. They could slowly filter in the classic ‘sex sells’ slogan – but where’s the line?
Please allow me make something clear. I truely believe that we as humans have NOT changed – pretty much ever. I think we have the same desires, wants and dreams that we did generations ago. What I think is disgusting today, is the predatory way businesses (predominantly men) are leeching on these feelings – to make money.
So, have we crossed the line? I would argue that we have.
Take Typo – owned by Cotton On. I LOVED that shop. It was so quirky and cool – it had some items with images of The Beatles, London, New York – loved it.
Not any more. First I saw the mugs emblazoned with ‘Porn is my Saviour’ and then I had to distract my 8 yr old daughter from the iPhone cover displayed behind the counter – the image you see before you – a naked girl with the word DIRTY.
Why are we dirty?
To all the girls AND boys who view this continual type of image – isn’t it going to subliminally teach them something?
This is from a family-type (I thought) stationary store, but there are SO MANY examples to discuss, so I ask you:
Question #2: Have we crossed the line?
Dirty
Questions for Us 
I don’t think we’ve crossed a line as much as fallen back behind it. The feminist movement moved women forward. Somewhere in the late 90s we all got scared of women being strong. Young women somehow decided being called a feminist was a bad thing.
Happy to take the(more)equal pay and other hard fought rights, but not stand up to continue the fight. And they shouldn’t have to. They should look aghast that these rights weren’t always the norm. But somewhere in amongst that presumption and denial, they’ve slipped backwards into accepting the role of plaything.
Playing into that, I believe that young people are less embarrassed about sex and their sexuality than we ever where. They have grown up with body parts being called by their correct names and things like period equipment being a fashion accessory. Libra tampons change their wrappings almost as often as my period comes…!
Feminism gave women power over their bodies at the same time giving business new martketing opportunities to tap into their desires and insecurities about that power… And the shareholders want their profits, regardless of how!
You are not alone in thinking that action needs to be taken. That the mantel needs to be taken up again. In the US there is a website called MissRepresentation.org http://www.missrepresentation.org/about-us/ It follows on from a doco of the same name that came out last year. The website is ‘a call-to-action campaign that seeks to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to realize their potential’. Maybe we can emulate that here!!! Actually, lets not say maybe, lets just say we CAN!!
Hey MsLJ!
Yes, I saw ‘missrepresentaion’ (well the shorts anyway) and am desperate to see the whole thing. I showed the clip to my year group at school (I’m always in their ear ;)) – it simply looks AMAZING!!
I know I sound black and white some times and at others too general, but comments like yours are what I need to get as many angles and perspectives as possible.
Yes, it’s been an interesting journey through shows like Sex and the City, for example, which encouraged and explored women’s sexuality…and I did enjoy that show!
But we’re going down a dark path with the increasing pornification of our girls and targeting an ever younger audience.
Thanks so much for your comment.
MsLJ
i disagree in that I think we have crossed a line but I understand your thought and agree.. we have gone backwards. I think the line we have crossed is that we now involve children.. deliberately! ( not us but the marketers)
There is a great difference in teaching women to be confident in their sexuality and in sex in general, and the pornification that is happening in society at the moment. This pornification is not sexual confidence it is usuary in disguise…
They are telling us that it empowers us… it doesn’t. It takes away our power to be who we want and makes us into what they want, we just think it is what we want.
They tell us it makes us stronger women.. it doesn’t. It makes us play things for men.
women are being sold a massive lie…. and many are falling for it.
Dear VPR,
You have hit the nail on the head!! This is another idea I was going to (will) discuss – the fact that we ARE dragging our kids into this and moulding their development and perceptions of the world. That is why I feel that we are already at that line and crossing it -because women are SO confused about all the mixed messages about their sexuality.
So I say, “Hear, Hear!” to you VPR. Thanks heaps for your comment.