Governments and regulatory bodies continue to ignore the culture drivers fueling sexist attitudes and behaviours This week we’ve had big name global clothing companies General Pants, Calvin Klein and Queensland fast food eatery, Burger Urge, in our sights. GP and CK are repeat offenders. It’s the first time this slimy burger chain has come to […]
Experts address packed-out UNSW theatre The ground-breaking symposium ‘Pornography and harms to children and young people’ held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney last Tuesday has been declared a major success. Hosted by Collective Shout, the Australia-first event brought together leading academics, researchers, educators, psychologists and youth and child advocates to examine […]
Symposium to hear evidence of online porn harms to children Sydney – Leading academics, educators and child advocates are set to gather on Safer Internet Day February 9, at the University of New South Wales to discuss the harmful impacts of early pornography exposure on children, including medical problems, emotional harm, abusive mind-sets and risky […]
Melinda Tankard Reist Yesterday, American “pick-up” artist and “executive dating coach” Jeff (Jeffy) Allen had his Australian visa revoked by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. Allen’s tour – part of a Real Social Dynamics (RSD) global roadshow – was billed as “Meet Jeffy.” Those concerned about rising rates of violence against women and the callous mistreatment […]
Julien Blanc was deported. Why are his mates allowed in? Remember the time in 2014 we combined to get U.S ‘pick-up’ artist Julien Blanc booted out of Australia for promoting violence against women? We’d succeeded in persuading venues who had booked him to cancel. He then sneakily tried to hold his nasty little seminar on a […]
Last week I was one of 12 panelists on the ABC2 program ‘Australians on Porn’. I’d had my hesitations about participating, the producers assured me of fair treatment and a serious discussion how porn was shaping sexual attitudes and behaviours. What transpired was a wank fest and sex industry promotion. We saw and heard from […]
Company slammed for aiding sexual fantasies for young girls On Tuesday night, young Melbourne supporter (and kayaking buddy) Verity Thompson sent me a link through Facebook messenger, to the website of Chemist Warehouse, which featured a disembodied ‘virgin pussy’ – a replica vagina of a young girl with ‘realistic hymen’ just waiting for a man […]
Tyler’s ‘F—k It: a tantrum set to music It’s not every day you get a magazine and a song dedicated to you. But this week, my friends and I received both. Now defunct Lad’s Mag Zoo Weekly devoted its final issue to us with this cover. Apparently, protesting the objectification of women and messages promoting […]
This is what bravery looks like Now and then you see a documentary that stops you in your tracks. ‘Escape from ISIS. The story of the secret underground network rescuing women held captive’ which screened last week on ABC 4Corners, is one such piece of filmmaking. I’ve watched it three times now. Please watch this […]
Comment: Why the art world is blind to sex crime If you are an artist and you abuse a child, never fear: the art world has your back, writes Melinda Tankard Reist. Artists who commit sexual violations are too often considered above the law and deserving of special treatment. Their brilliance is given deferential treatment: […]
Collective Shout takes credit for hastening Zoo’s demise: Coles dumping title was ‘catastrophic for sales’ Four months ago, young Melbourne activist and designer Laura Pintur, 23, launched a campaign through Collective Shout calling on Coles and Woolworths supermarket to act consistent with their corporate social responsibility, ethical framework, care for communities and commitment to safety […]
Fueling sexist attitudes which contribute to violence against women Last month I responded to a piece by Brendan O’Neill, in The Australian, critical of our campaign against Tyler the Creator and Zoo magazine. It appeared in the on-line version at News.com (paywall means only subscribers would see it). Following this, my colleague Caitlin Roper took […]
