*Content warning: This post contains descriptions of men’s violence against women and may be distressing* This week a supporter contacted us after coming across a disturbing image on Golfporn’s Facebook page. The picture, which showed a woman being kicked off a cliff after suggesting her male partner sell his golf clubs, “did not violate community […]
Porn’s distortions need addressing in schools say educators The ABC filmed me addressing students at Healthdale Christian College in Melbourne last Wednesday. Some of the students were interviewed – hear how well they articulate the issues! (click on image below for link to video) MELINDA TANKARD REIST, AUTHOR, ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS: Our boys […]
How sexualised behaviour has become the new normal While the content was disturbing, it was encouraging to wake up to the front page of The Australian on the weekend and see the issues myself and my colleagues write and speak about most days, reflected on the front page. A news piece titled ‘Click bait: kids […]
Fat talk perpetuates and normalises body shame Rebecca Guzelian How does it make you feel when someone close to you tells you they feel fat? As a woman in my mid-20s, this is something I experience every day – from my friends, family and others around me. And now, I have to see it on […]
Facebook users criticise coffee company for ‘outdated’ and ‘misogynistic’ advertising UPDATE! Coffee bean distributor roasted over porn-inspired ads takes down Facebook page via Smart Company Last week one of our supporters, Rachel, contacted us regarding Perth-based coffee company Fresh One’s Facebook page, full of sexist and porn-inspired advertising material. Click here to view images (Warning, graphic content) Fresh One’s ads […]
A gutsy victory for all women So encouraged to see what can happen when women rise up and declare they’ve had enough. I hope these accounts inspire further action to stop online violence against women and girls. “This is the story of a feminist takeover,” wrote the author of Feminist at Sea, a WordPress blog. […]
Girlfriend February Review Many girls and young women look to girl’s magazines for advice on life, relationships, bodies, health and sexuality. But too often they receive conflicting advice and mixed messages and even, sometimes, outright contradiction. Take for example, information provided in the sealed section of Girlfriend this month, where, within four pages of each […]
Girl Mag Watch As always, I’m confused about teen girls’ magazines approach to airbrushing and photo-shop (see here for a past example of my confusion). This issue contains an explanation of the ‘Retouch Free Zone’. “DOLLY is all about healthy body image – that’s why we only feature photos of girls that haven’t been altered […]
“More Australian men buy and read ZOO than any other magazine in the country – that’s a fact.” – ACP Magazines, Zoo Magazine distributor 28000 – That’s the number of boys aged 14-17 estimated to read Zoo magazine each week. Despite its pornographic nature Zoo magazine is classified as ‘men’s lifestyle’ and therefore unrestricted – […]
‘There was no discussion of the pressure girls like Amanda experience to measure their worth through their sexual desirability’ By Meghan Murphy The tragic story of Amanda Todd has been covered widely by the media and has impacted people across the continent. Todd was only fifteen years old when she killed herself last Wednesday after […]
When will QUT take action against James Silverwood and Dominic Terry? A petition was recently launched to pressure Facebook to remove a page called ’12 year old slut memes.’ The page, used to bully, humiliate, expose and shame young girls had attracted over 200,000 ‘likers.’ Thousands of complaints have been submitted to Facebook via the […]
Activists petition Facebook to uphold policies It’s not the first time Facebook has come under fire for inappropriate or illegal content. Last year pages such as “You know she’s playing hard to get when you’re chasing her down an alleyway” were criticized for being “hateful, threatening [and] inciting violence”. Following global protests, Facebook finally responded, […]
