Keep the global brand of the porn industry off our girls - boycott Diva

Diva, the jewellery and accessories store popular with teenage girls, is now selling Playboy branded jewellery.

Through use of cute love heart logos, invitations to 'BFF us on Facebook' and girls magazine promos, Diva are directly marketing to young girls.

One woman's battle against porno and violent fashion

HRC needs to take stronger action on images which contribute to harassment and excuse violence

Last month I wrote about Caitlin Roper’s campaign against pornographic t.shirts and featured an interview with the young Western Australian woman and sociologist Michael Flood on the subject.  One of Collective Shout’s most active members, Caitlin had attracted a list of heavy hitters –including Noni Hazlehurst, Steve Biddulph and Dr Joe Tucci - to a statement condemning the proliferation of porn-themed shirts and calling on retailers to choose corporate responsibility over profiting from hyper-sexualised and violent images. Caitlin also recently wrote to leading asking them not to stock these t.shirts. One reply was received, from Bernie Brookes, CEO of Myer, who wrote: “I have copied and circulated your information to our product designers, developers and buyers to assist them in the understanding of the Collective Shout’s stance.” Not exactly what you’d call a commitment, but at least he’s responded. Caitlin is justifiably frustrated. She said in an email:

Despite the shopfront advertising content being not only of a sexualized nature but designed to sell sex toys, and located adjacent to a shopping centre playground, the Advertising Standards Board determined that the advertisement “did treat sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant audience and did not breach Section 2.3 of the Code.”

Australia was once leading the way in challenging the sexualisation of children. The 2008 Senate Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children in the Contemporary Media Environment concluded that “the onus is on broadcasters, publishers, advertisers, retailers and manufacturers to take account of these community concerns [about the sexualisation of children]."

An 18 month review of this inquiry to assess whether industry had taken any proactive responsibility was due to take place in December 2009. It is now June 2011 and the review has still not happened. Now that the UK has taken significant steps to stop the sexualisation of children, what will Australia do?

Collective Shout supporters have alerted us to Supre’s latest advertising campaign. First, a topless girl advertising ‘jeggings’ on the back of a bus, followed by a highly sexualised television commercial.

As reported in The Sunday Telegraph

“…young shop assistants told The Sunday Telegraph they were uneasy about the raunchy push for Sydney-based denim designers Ksubi and uncomfortable wearing the badges.

We say get rid of it altogether

Collective Shout supporters have been blogging on our website and speaking out on our Facebook page about the General Pants Co. advertisements and promotions for new Ksubi line titled 'Sex and Fashion.' As usual, when 'sex' is used as a marketing tool it is women who are stripped down naked and objectified for men's gratification. General Pants Co. have even used keyhole imagery giving the impression of the viewer 'spying' on naked women.

The image on the left is what appeared in the shop windows of General Pants Co. stores  in shopping centres such as Westfield, Stocklands and Centro. The image on the right is a picture taken after General Pants Co. 'censored' the advertisement in their shop window.

Sexualisation, violence, commercialisation, commodification: Right to Childhood conference hears evidence of harm to children

From Melinda Tankard Reist's blog.

The Right to Childhood conference last Friday at Sydney’s Wesley Centre was a wake-up call to a society hell bent on forcing children to be exposed to imagery and messages which wreak havoc on their physical and mental health. Initiated by Dr Ramesh Manocha of HealthEd and co-sponsored by Collective Shout, close to 400 people heard expert evidence on just how bad things are for children and young people: and how all the indicators on health and wellbeing are set to worsen if not addressed as a matter of urgency.

The Easter Bunny described as 'sexy' by Hugh Hefner

Collective Shout supporter Emily has alerted us to Playboy's latest product placement, kids Easter Film 'Hop.' Like many others will do on the school holidays, Emily had taken her child to see the film.

Emily writes:

Collective Shout is proud to co-sponsor the Right 2 Childhood Conference in Sydney April 29.

The conference will examine the convergence of sex, violence, the media, commerce and popular culture, its impact on our children and what we can do about it.

The aim of this event is to provide up-to-date and authoritative information from leading experts, share initiatives and strategies to facilitate understanding and awareness and empower participants with practical skills to address this crucial social issue.