For Immediate Release: Child sexual exploitation reporting: media must do better

Campaigning movement Collective Shout have partnered with Sydney Feminists to call upon the media to report responsibly in regards to child sexual exploitation.

Brisbane writer Jas Rawlinson outlined the failings of mainstream media in her recent piece How The Media Continue to Traumatise Child-Exploitation Survivors, published on Collective Shout’s website.

In reporting on crimes of sexual violence against children, news outlets frequently use terminology that suggests acts of sexual abuse are sexual acts between adult and child. Phrases commonly used include ‘sex with child’ or describe a ‘sexual relationship’ between the perpetrator and victim.

Collective Shout’s Caitlin Roper says the media have significant power in the shaping of cultural attitudes on sexual violence.

“When child sexual abuse is reported as ‘sex’ or a relationship between the two parties, rather than recognised for what it is—adults preying on children—this has significant influence on people’s attitudes to and understanding of these issues,” she says.

“It feeds into damaging myths that victims contribute in some way to their abuse, and only serves to keep the focus on those victims - unfairly opening their behaviour up to public scrutiny.”

Canadian author Carrie Bailee, who escaped to Australia aged 20 after surviving a childhood of sexual exploitation, says it’s vital that media and public figures are educated on the impact of trauma abuse and ethical reporting.

“The amount of courage it takes to report sexual abuse or assault and get to a space where you feel ready to come forward with your story is enormous, because the shame [experienced] becomes embedded long after the abuse stops,” she explains. 

“Although It has been heartening to see a gradual change in the way journalists discuss child sexual abuse victims, with terms such as ‘child pornography’ now more often referred to as ‘child exploitation material’, many are still yet to take note,” says Jas Rawlinson.

“Whether it be a case of media outlets preferring sensationalism over sensitivity, or unintentional ignorance, it’s time for the media to do away with terms that diminish the abuse done to victims, and to begin reporting with dignity.”

Supporters of the campaign are encouraged to use the hashtag #LanguageMatters on social media.

An application by The Sixty30 in Merriwa, W.A, to modify existing entertainment conditions to allow topless waitresses was rejected this week by the WA Director of Liquor Licensing.

The application attracted multiple objections from individuals and community groups who argued the proposed changes promoted sexist attitudes toward women. Campaigning movement Collective Shout lodged an objection stating:

• The use of women’s bodies in sexual entertainment and services is a form of prostitution
• Sexual trade in women’s bodies both causes and contributes to gender inequality by reducing women to mere objects for men’s use and enjoyment, with adverse impacts on women who are directly involved as well as women as a whole
• A significant body of research links sexual objectification of women with violence against women
• Sexploitation venues pose a threat to women, with women reporting increased incidents of sexual harassment, abuse and violence in areas in close proximity to strip clubs

Collective Shout State Coordinator, Caitlin Roper, said Collective Shout welcomed the decision.

“We are very pleased with the outcome. Businesses that profit from reducing women to mere sexual objects for men’s use and entertainment undermine efforts to address men’s violence against women. This determination is a step in the right direction.”

The Director of Liquor Licensing concluded that there was insufficient evidence provided by The Sixty30 venue that introducing topless waitresses would be in the public interest.

“It is also important to distinguish between the public interest and private interests… the application is primarily concerned with the private financial interests of the Applicant and the operators of Perth’s Best Girls…The Applicant has failed to produce sufficient, probative evidence to satisfy me that the grant of the application is in the public interest.” 

The tavern had attempted to argue there was demand for topless waitresses with statements of support, the Commissioner noted, predominantly from male respondents. The Commission responded:

“The evidence fell well short of establishing that the variation of the licence was in the public interest. Whilst “Dan the Man”, “Show me pussy”, “Robbo”, “Marshy”, “Bob”, “Jacko”, “Swanny”, “Fido”, and others may want to see strippers at the hotel based on their signing of the questionnaire, there is nothing before the Commission that is capable of establishing that the variation of the licence is in the public interest.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The ground-breaking symposium will hear a growing body of evidence that children are increasingly being harmed by premature exposure to graphic sexual content online.

The Australian-first symposium will discuss the latest findings from a diverse range of multidisciplinary stakeholders including researchers, child protection experts, psychologists and sexologists. Speakers include:

• Associate Professor Dr. Michael Flood (University of Wollongong) on pornography and masculinity

• Maree Crabbe (Project Coordinator Reality and Risk) on violence and pornography

• “Cyber Cop” Susan McLean (Cyber Safety Solution), on the problem of pornography in schools  

• Psychologist Dr Joe Tucci (Australian Childhood Foundation), on the links between exposure to pornography and problem sexual behavior including children acting out on other children.. 

Symposium spokesperson Coralie Alison of Collective Shout, said the community rightly expected children, who were being exposed at an unprecedented rate, to be protected from unsuitable content.

“However, despite the best efforts of parents and teachers, the reality is that children today are just one click away from a deluge of violent, degrading, aggressive content – much of it showcasing the abuse of women.”

According to the research to be presented at the conference:

• Over 60% of girls and over 90% of boys have viewed online porn
• Children as young as four are being referred to programs for problem sexual behaviour 
• Pornography is increasingly serving as the default sex educator for young people
• Pornography has been shown to fuel sexual abuse among minors

“There is growing evidence that this is a public health crisis, with a generation of children on the frontline.”

Other speakers include Liz Walker (Youth Wellbeing Project), Dr Caroline Norma (RMIT University), Dr. Helen Pringle (UNSW), Dr Lesley-Anne Ey (University of South Australia), Holly-Ann Martin (Safe4Kids), Hugh Martin (Man Enough), Collett Smart and Melinda Tankard Reist (Author, Collective Shout).

“Pornography and Harms to Children and Young People”, Feb. 9, 2016, 8:30am – 5pm, University of New South Wales (Matthews Theatre)  

Collective Shout has called on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to revoke a visa given to US recording artist Tyler the Creator for a September all-ages tour.

In a letter to the Minister, Collective Shout argues Tyler’s promotion of violence against women and his behavior on a July 2013 tour disqualify him for entry.

The rapper’s lyrics describe raping women, mutilating their genitals, chopping up their bodies and raping their corpses. Activist Talitha Stone, who led the campaign against his earlier tour, was subjected to an onslaught of rape and death threats from Tyler’s fans after he targeted her on twitter.

Ms Stone attended the Sydney concert undercover where the rapper, unaware she was present, proceeded to verbally abuse her from the stage, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. (Police also investigated the alleged sexual assault of a woman during the concert).

Ms Stone recorded and uploaded footage of her vilification to YouTube, which contributed to NZ banning his entry last year. Twitter also implementing a ‘report abuse’ button as a result of the online vilification Stone received.

Collective Shout co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist said granting a visa to an artist who advocates raping and murdering women contradicted the Government National Plan of Action to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.

“You can’t have a national plan of action to reduce violence at the same time as rolling out the red carpet to an artist who eroticizes and glamourizes it,” Tankard Reist said.

Minister Dutton has the opportunity to send a strong message about the seriousness of violence against women.

“On behalf of women and girls, and all who care about them, we are asking the Minster to place the safety of our female citizens before a recording artist who helps fuel a hostile culture environment for all of them.”

June 14 2015

Marketing coordinator for a non-profit organization, Laura Pintur, 23, has  launched a Change.org petition directed at the CEO’s of Woolworths and Coles, Grant O’Brien and John Durkan, calling on the big two supermarket chains to stop selling Zoo Weekly.

Ms Pintur said the so called ‘lads mag’ encouraged the sexual exploitation of women and girls.

“Zoo contributes to a culture that is hostile and threatening to women”,” she says.

”When big supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths sell Zoo it normalizes harmful attitudes to women.

The petition refers to a 2011 study comparing lads mags’ (including Zoo) and statements from convicted rapists. It found many people could not distinguish the source of the quotes.

“Zoo Weekly uses the same language as rapists in its magazines,” said Ms Pintur.

Zoo also gives tips to young readers on how to coerce drunk women into sex.

Sexually objectifying imagery and demeaning content feature on Zoo’s social media. This has included an image Zoo shared with its Facebook supporters of a woman’s body cut in two with the question, “Which half do you prefer?” Young readers described their various pornographic uses for the woman’s top half and/or her bottom half.

Zoo magazine is unrestricted, meaning there are no age restrictions on who can purchase the magazine. Bauer’s statistics indicate that 36,000 boys aged 14-17 read Zoo.

“Zoo teaches boys that women should submit to their demands. Do Coles and Woolworths, which pride themselves on their corporate ethics and support for communities, share this view? If not why spread it?” Ms Pintur said.

“I have seen and experienced first hand the detrimental costs of what this magazine endorses, not only in my life but the lives of other young people.

“What chance does my generation, and those younger than me have when such major corporations help groom boys to treat us badly?”

“It’s time for these company’s to stand up for the wellbeing of women and girls and against discrimination, harassment and violence.

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/coles-and-woolworths-stop-promoting-rape-culture-bin-zoo-mag

Graphic adult content from inside Zoo magazine: http://www.collectiveshout.org/zoo_weekly

Released May 10, 2015

Media Release

Spotlight latest addition to anti-sexploitation movement’s blacklist of corporate offenders

Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, a grassroots campaigning movement is calling on Switchfoot to withdraw from a planned live performance at City Beach surf store on Queen Street, Brisbane this Thursday afternoon (23rd February).

*Trigger warning - sexual violence*