So-called ‘Male Champions of Change’ shopping centre CEOs facilitating objectification of women in sport while claiming to ‘stamp out sexism’

Etsy silent despite petition with 37k signatures + widespread condemnation

This week Anna Cordell - head of an online petition calling on Etsy's Board of Directors to stop selling incest + child abuse themed merch - sent an email to the corporate heads. After weeks of silence and unsuccessful attempts to reach the directors via social media and phone, Anna wrote the following letter urging them to take action and to respond to the petition.

Anna Cordell's change.org petition

Sign and share the petition here!

I am an Australian fashion designer, singer-songwriter and mother of 5. Until recently, I was also an Etsy seller.

Collective Shout is backing a Change.org petition launched today by Melbourne fashion designer, singer-songwriter and mother of five Anna Cordell, calling on the Board of Directors of global marketplace Etsy to block sellers of incest and child abuse-themed merchandise.

Cupcakes with a side of WAP-inspired porn

Double standards of Property Male Champs

For years we've pointed out the double standards of Property Male Champions - corporate leaders of the shopping centre companies which lease to sex shop Honey Birdette. Male Champions of Change (MCC) are lauded as "decent, powerful men" who are stamping out everyday sexism in the workplace and community.

But how can that be said about men whose companies host Honey Birdette's floor-to-ceiling pornified window displays in their malls? These malls are workplaces, and display of Honey Birdette's porn-style ads is - as defined by the Australian Human Rights Commission - sexual harassment.

L-R (Top): Property Male Champions Peter Allen (CEO Scentre Group - Westfield AU), Steve McCann (CEO Lendlease Group), Grant Kelley (CEO Vicinity Centres), Bob Johnston (CEO The GPT Group), Darren Steinberg (CEO Dexus); (Bottom) Steve Conry (CEO JLL Australia), Michael O'Brien (Managing Director Global Real Estate, QIC), John Mulcahy (Chair Mirvac), Daryl Browning (CEO ISPT), Mark Steinert (Managing Director Stockland)

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) this week released its updated Code of Ethics following a review. While we welcome some new elements in the Code, we have reservations about its overall effectiveness.

Media Release

Collective Shout welcomes Alibaba’s removal of child sex abuse doll listings from global platform

Collective Shout welcomes the actions of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group to remove all listings of child sex abuse dolls from its global platform.

Alibaba Group’s actions were in response to our two week investigation which exposed large numbers of replica child dolls modelled on the bodies of pre-pubescent girls, toddlers and babies on its platform.

“...long and elegant like the great man himself...sits perfectly naked...Get some Ron into you.”

The Ultra Tune brand has become synonymous with misogyny and sexist portrayals of women in its advertising over many years. We have documented the company’s use of degrading gender stereotypes, its vilification of women resulting in multiple Ad Standards’ rulings against it and the engagement of known perpetrators of sexual assault and domestic violence in the production of its ads. 

Ultra Tune's sexist ads were broadcast during the Australian Open, including the women's matches, serving to undermine the public's celebration of women in elite sport. 

Last month, we wrote to Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia and Tournament Director for the Australian Open, who is also a Male Champion of Change to "end everyday sexism", and asked him to inform Channel 9 that he did not want Ultra Tune to be represented as a sponsor of his tennis-related events. We have not received a response. 

Click here to read the full letter. 

See also:

SLAMMED! Sexist Ultra Tune ad broadcast during women’s tennis condemned

Why is a rapist fronting a major TV campaign?

Sexism, plastic surgery pressure, strip clubs and other reasons to boycott Ultra Tune