My first experience of tackling sexist attitudes!

I work in a secondary school, and we are currently preparing for the year 11s to leave us for (hopefully) bigger and better futures. Part of the preparations involve the students nominating their peers for 'titles', for example, "Best personality" and "Most likely to be a millionaire". The nomination sheets were printed up and sitting in tutors trays ready to be handed out to the year 11 students.

It happened that I glanced at one in passing, the first I noticed being "Best figure". I actually had to check twice. I also spotted "Bitchiest" and "Most likely to end up in prison". I was so gobsmacked I went up stairs to reflect. Was this normal in schools? I have since found that apparently it is. Other schools have informed me that this has been a tradition in many schools for many years. I wondered whether I was being too sensitive.

Looking at the list in more detail (it is 3 pages long) I also found, "Sexiest student", "Most weird", "Most likely to work in McDonalds", "Most barbie dolled", "Most aggressive" and "Student who eats the most". There was also a teacher list which includes "Best looking teacher" and "Most boring teacher".

Obviously a lot of these are not feminist issues (the one that riled me the most on that score was "best figure", which to me means the biggest boobs) but I got so angry that students would be 'awarded' a certificate for these 'achievements' from a school.

I made my feelings explicitly clear to management, who did seem shocked, and the list was quickly ordered to be destroyed. It will be re-edited.

I am not naming and shaming my school as we all work very hard to make a difference to students with a variety of challenging needs. It appears that this is not unusual, and happens in many schools.

It is a shame that the awards, although can have humour (craziest hairstyle is an example of a humorous but kind title) they could be used to really promote pride and hope (or am I being old fashioned now?). Perhaps we have kids who hardly ever get told they could go on to achieve something, wouldn't an award of something inspiring mean something to them (even if they don't admit it!?). I can't imagine being the parent of the student who goes home with the certificate "Best Figure" or "Most likely to end up in prison"......

Object.org - Campaigning Against 'Sex-Object Culture'

I discovered Object recently, and then was reminded of them when reading the article in Company Magazine. They are a human rights organisation which campaigns against 'Sex-Object Culture'. They explain that this is a culture where women are increasingly sexualised as 'sex objects' in our media and our every day lives.

The FAQ section is a good one, answering questions such as "But, isn’t it all just a bit of harmless fun?" and "But what if it’s a woman’s choice to be a glamour model or lap dancer?" which are both valid questions.


This fact sheet is also very interesting reading - Here

They hold regular meetings in London:

Meet like-minded others and help plan our next actions!

Dates for our next London meetings (2010):

• Tuesday April 13th
• Tuesday May 11th
• Tuesday June 15th
• Tuesday July 13th

 They also have Feminist Fridays each month.

Definitely worth checking out.

Sexist Adverts

Women, as if body odour and breath weren't enough for your husbands to contend with - you must make sure you don't offend anyone with your personal smell down below. Apparently, you must constantly be on guard against it! This advert is from 1950, which is only 60 years ago.

Learn your lesson from this lady...if you use the wrong soap you may get the dreaded 'Middle Aged Skin' and your husband will no longer take you anywhere. Don't let yourself go if you want to be able to leave the house.

Because if you're thin you'll always get a man.

No, not an advert for push up bras...

Thank god us women can use our hoovering skills elsewhere...what else would we do with our free time?

Housework can make us grumpy and unreasonable. Don't you dare ruin the evening for your men by being cross while they relax. Darn female hormones.

What a relief to know we have a purpose outside of the kitchen. Phew.

Use beer to keep your man happy, even when you disappoint him by burning the dinner.

Another one from Palmolive. This advert is from 1921. Remember women, if you don't keep your skin youthful your husband will leave you. And it will be your fault.

Women what do you want for Christmas? Kitchen appliances of course. We'll cry if we don't get them.

Because you can train a woman like a Pavlovian Dog.

"A man marries a woman because he loves her. So instead of blaming him if married love begins to cool, she should question herself." She needs to question her female hygiene and keep her allure.

"Take a look in your morning mirror. See the memory your husband carries with him day after day. Is it a magnet alluring enough to draw him right home night after night? Or do you spend your afternoons dreading that hated phone call, 'I won't be home tonight'
Use this soap to make sure your husband doesn't have an affair. Because remember ladies, if he does it's your fault.

Palmolive again. Thank goodness they are here looking out for us women.

This advert is from 1953. A small step for independence...we no longer need men in the kitchen to open the ketchup.

1952 - don't buy the wrong coffee. He gives you the responsibility of buying the shopping, you can at least buy the right things!

1961, only 49 years ago.