We love to hear positive stories of men taking action on the sexploitation of women. That is why we were so encouraged when Laurie chose to speak out after seeing the sexualised imagery on Makita's home page. 

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A UK gym has been called out for sexist billboard advertisements depicting a woman's backside alongside the slogan "There's better things to be stuck behind than the car in front."

Campaigns Manager Caitlin Roper was quoted in the Huffington Post:

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Recently an article on The Modern Man was released with advice for men on how to talk to a woman who is wearing headphones. It included conversation starters and common mistakes to avoid. 

Caitlin spoke to Huffington Post and set the record straight:

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It has come to our attention that Merriwa Tavern The Sixty 30 has made an application to vary existing trading conditions to allow topless waitresses or ‘skimpies’.

As an organisation that fights against commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls, Collective Shout strongly opposes this application on the grounds that:

• 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

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We have a saying at Collective Shout:

"Silence is the language of complicity, speaking out is the language of change."

And recently Melbourne mum, Melanie Sheppard, refused to be silent after discovering that her daughter had been sexually exploited on social media. 

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Doughnut Time joins a growing number of companies requiring young staff members to wear uniforms with sexually suggestive slogans and imagery. We have long raised questions about this exploitation of young female staff and invitation for sexual harassment. 

                 

Collective Shout's National Director of Operations Coralie Alison was quoted in The Age over uniforms for female staff with strategically placed doughnuts.

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Sexualised slogans on staff uniforms leave young employees vulnerable to sexual harassment

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San Francisco based Adam long has started a petition on change.org to pull an advertisement for wearable tech which he has identified as both racist and sexist. 

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A Facebook supporter alerted us to this article appearing in the Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser. A 'Hooters' restaurant chain will be opening up and situated at the entrance to Campbelltown.

Mayor Paul Lake, quoted in the Campbelltown MacArthur Advertiser obviously doesn't get it

Mayor Paul Lake said he had been to a Hooters restaurant in Miami years ago and said it had good food and a good atmosphere. "I'm quite sure it will do very well and I think it will get good patronage there," he said.

Councillor Meg Oates understands the issue

But Councillor Meg Oates said she didn't think having the restaurant so close to family eateries and the Campbelltown Skate Park was a good idea.

"It's appalling, I just don't like the concept of it," Cr Oates said.

"I think it's seen as pretty sleazy, not somewhere you'd take your teenager for a family dinner."

I do wonder whether people would be so defensive of Hooters if it were called 'Breasts' or 'Tits' family restaurant. Would we be talking about the good food and atmosphere then? Or would we be more honest about what this restaurant actually is, a place for men to objectify and sexually harass women.  In fact, sexual harassment is built into the job description. A 'Hooters' employee handbook requires employees to agree to these terms:

The Hooters concept is based on female sex appeal and the work environment is one in which joking and entertaining conversations are commonplace and I do not find my job duties, uniform requirements, or work environment to be offensive, intimidating, hostile, or unwelcome.

Sexual harassment is part of the job and as an employee, you cannot complain.

Hooters has previously classified itself as 'Adult Entertainment' yet in other contexts has insisted it is a 'Family Restaurant.'

 

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[UPDATE 22/09/14] Construction of 'Hooters' restaurant abandoned

Development of the controversial Hooters Restaurant in Townsville has stalled again after almost 12 months of continuous delays.

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