I feel very strongly that young girls and boys alike being exposed to the sexually unacceptable influences, subtle or unsubtle, of 'Lads Mags' that are indentified below. This all started, to some degree, because a woman called Caroline Craido-Perez was campaigning to use the image of Jane Austen on the £10 note. Caroline and a London MP Stella Creasy who supports her (and other women in public life), received, death, rape and bomb threats because of this action, mainly via social media networks..
WHAT IS THE LINK BETWEEN LADS MAGS DEMO AND THE ABUSE OF THE WOMEN MENTIONED ABOVE?
The deluge of tweets via social media companies (100/200 tweets (trolling) a minute) that Perez and Creasy (and others) received has widen the issue of why such an uncomplicated campaign to put Austen on a tenner has grown. Incidentally the abuse has not stopped with campaigners still subject to threats from accounts with names such as '@rapehernow'. The campaign was in the genteel line of descent from Wollenstonecraft and Pankhurst, but the method used - through social media - opened a flank to sex crazed, anonymous misogynists, misguided individuals, one so offensive as to require police attention. (Currently two men have been questioned by police about the tweet harassment). Magazines and of course the 'internet' make the put downs of women and of course young girls and boys, so easily available to the general public. This is why magazines such as Zoo, Bizarre and Nuts are a dangerous first or second route into this abuse.
WHY SPECIFICALLY TESCO
Tesco is not the only store selling these mags. The reason they have been chosen is because they are the largest retailer in the UK. Tesco Shareholders AGM was picketed and Tesco has reportedly pledged to put the mags in 'modesty bags', on the top shelf and lastly tucked behind other adult material.
Lads mags like Nuts and Zoo portray women as dehumanised sex objects. They fuel sexist behaviours and attitudes underpinning violence against women (our daughters, their daughters our sisters,mothers, aunts, female friends, i,e.50% of the population). By selling these magazines, superstores send out the message, its okay and normal to treat women as sex objects. Plus it is not only breaching equality legislation but in complete contradiction with Tesco's claim that it is a responsible corporate citizen and family friendly organistion.
WHO
I hope you can also bring along your male friends, partners, sons etc. They have a vast investment in the respectful treatment of their sisters, fellow beings in this country and in this age. The main organisation around this countrywide protest is 'UK Feminista and Object'. (This is not a feminist issue, but we can thank feminism for bringing the threat of the continued dehumanisation of women, again to the fore). You wont be alone, many other Tesco stores will be picked on the 24th and you can see these details via the UK Feminista website.
LOCATION, TIME AND WHEN
DATE: SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST
TIME; 12 NOON
LOCATION: Tesco Superstore, Westwood Cross, Broadstairs CT10 2QJ
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