NOW-NYC's Bias Busters
Women Deserve Better: Sexism Has No Place in Politics, the Newsroom In 2007, we went after Don Imus' disgusting remarks of Rutgers University women basketball players, and now commenter Ed Schultz has joined the ranks of sleazy MSNBC commentators. Schultz recently called right-wing talk show host Laura Ingraham, a "right-wing slut" and a "talk slut" on the air. Misogynist remarks like these hurt all women by perpetuating inequality. Sexist attacks reinforce a rhetoric that is used to keep women separate and inferior to men and absolutely have no place in politics and in the newsroom, period. MSNBC has suspended Ed Schultz for a week without pay, stating "remarks of this nature are unacceptable and will not be tolerated." Schultz also apologized for his remarks on air. ................................................................................................................................
 Will You Be Another Passive Consumer to Offensive Media? Take Action NOW!
Tell Dos Equis their "Wild" Beer Ad is Wildly Offensive
The headline for Dos Equis' latest beer advertisement reads, "Approach women like you do wild animals. With caution and a soothing voice." Because, you know, forget the funky nightclubs and rooftop bars we like to hang out in - we women are savage beasts, simple-minded prey in the eyes of all men, who are leisurely on our trail (with golf clubs and cut-off shorts), but who are no less on the hunt for us! The real horror in this ad, aside from it's strange approach, and ultimate fail, at wrangling beer drinkers, is the message it sends. Dos Equis barely tells us to "drink our beer!", but ventures instead to advertise the company's apparent racist and sexist views of women, men, and the historically colonized. This ad inappropriately encourages the mistreatment women by men - simplifying women to sub-human "wild animals" that can be conquered and consumed. If selling beer was your mission, Dos Equis, you failed, and instead have boldly perpetuated the media's culture of exploitation and people not thinking for themselves. We'll be approaching Dos Equis with caution until they stop these offensive ads.
Want to Talk Back to Dos Equis? Here's How: Tell Dos Equis that sending any and all messages similar to this one is not okay. Take five minutes to say:
“I find this ad terribly offensive and it promotes stereotypes. By saying that women are to be hunted, it implies the support of violence against women. I urge your team to put an end to this racist and sexist advertising."
Call: 877-522-5001, Write to: ccmcerveza@qualitycustomercare.com Read more ................................................................................................................................ Men Get the Cave; Women Get the Kitchen & Bathroom In January 2011, the Home Depot made its grand debut of the official "Perfect Man Cave" essentially a no-woman zone in the heterosexual household used to seek refuge from the oppressive forces of the nagging wife. This room, painted in bold masculine colors, is a space where men can retreat to enjoy the things they typically do not have time for (since they are too busy providing for their family and out "foraging for food"). In this special room, men can watch football, play X-Box and bond with their bros without infringing on the domesticated spaces already designated to their female partners (including but not limited to the kitchen and bathroom). The man cave is a special room because, obviously, all other rooms in the house belong to the woman presumably living there, who is to cook, clean, and keep everything tidy. She has so much control and power over the rest of the house, why not give him the oasis he deserves? So find that extra space, ladies, promise that private room to your hubby - your reward will come when you have to clean that cave, too. Share your ideas about ideal Personal Spaces by commenting on the Home Depot's blog.
................................................................................................................................ Chilling Documentary on Women & Media The media is a powerful tool that can be used to control women or to empower them. How will you decide to decode the media's message? Check out how Jennifer Siebel Newsom is using her skills to bring together some of America's most influential women in politics, news, and entertainment to give us an inside look at the media's multiple messages. Miss Representation is a revolutionary new documentary that explores women's under-representation in positions of power by challenging the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media. This film will radically change the way you view mainstream media.
................................................................................................................................ Dapper Actors in Suits, Nearly Naked Actresses
 According to Jessica Diehl, Vanity Fair's fashion & style director, the photo shoot theme for Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood issue was intended to harken back to the 1930s and the glamour that the decade exuded. What we see, however, are fully-clothed actors of the moment, such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jesse Eisenberg, with actresses, including Mila Kunis, hanging off of them, gazing seductively at the camera, whilst perched atop a bar and wearing decidedly revealing dresses. In fact, "revealing" may be an understatement, as Olivia Wilde's straps barely cover her nipples. Last year Vanity Fair received criticism on their 2010 Hollywood cover for not featuring an adequately diverse set of actresses. This year, despite featuring a slightly-not-so-all-white cast of Hollywood famers, the magazine seems to have given up on their readers' intelligence and their starlets' talents, assuming the cover's outright sexism would come off as sexy and edgy (another example: GQ's recent shoot of the scantily-clad female cast of Glee). Why is it that successful and prominent actresses cannot be recognized for their talents alone and are only worth our attention if we can scrutinize and admire their nearly naked bodies? Will the media transcend this apparent rite of passage in the film industry wherein a female start must be objectified and reduced to her airbrushed body and barely-there costume to sell magazines? (see full cover image here) Send a letter to the Editor of Vanity Fair here.
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Time & Newsweek Neglect Pelosi, Celebrate Boehner Major News Pubs Play in to New Glass Ceiling
Nancy Pelosi said it well in a recent November 2010 New York Times interview: "My point is that when a man holds the job, the press seems to view it as more worthy of that kind of attention. But when a woman — even though it was historic — holds the job, they view it as less important. We have to dispel the notion that it’s not as big a job when a woman has it."
Read more: Ms. Magazine declares Nancy Pelosi "The Most Effective Speaker Ever"
Call-out the Time & Newsweek Editors on their gender-bias:
Letters@time.com | Letters@newsweek.com ................................................................................................................................  Organization Holds Summit to Discuss Girls in the Media
Contribute to the dialogue The organization SPARK (Sexualization Protest: Action, Resistance, Knowledge) held a summit at Hunter College in New York City this past fall on October 22, 2010. Female and male activists alike, as well as educators, media experts, and researchers gathered to discuss sexualization of women and girls in the media, and how we can all work together to create a society in which girls can express their sexuality in a healthy fashion.
Learn more about SPARK by watching their video or reading recaps of the summit posted on Alternet and SPARK. Next step? Take the SPARK pledge to help challenge the over-sexualization of women and girls in society.
............................................................................................................................... Rapper Necro Glorifies Human TraffickingTell Retailers Forced Prostitution is Nothing to Celebrate
In a truly sick video, Necro’s song "Human Traffic King (White Slavery Pt. 2)" glorifies human trafficking with its violent scenes of kidnapping, rape and abuse. Showing a callousness toward's women's degradation, Necro and his entourage toast images of women crying and locked in cages. Language that glorifies pimping is used liberally in mainstream rap songs that play on the radio every day, but this reaches a new level. The celebrated portrayal of sex slavery and assault in this rapper's song and video promotes a culture that glamorizes the abuse of women. Forced prostitution is a reality for millions of women and girls worldwide. In New York City alone, major human trafficking rings have been broken up, freeing women from captivity. A report by the Office of Child and Family Services reports that there are at least 3,000 teenage girls in New York City being prostituted on the streets and on craigslist.
Get Heard!
Write to retailers promoting the release of Necro’s Die! CD, like Amazon, J&R, and FYE to let them know that they are supporting the sale of materials that promote sex slavery and trafficking.
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Violence Against Women on Mainstream TelevisionAccording to a study conducted by The Parents Television Council, there has been an extraordinary increase in violence to women and teen girls on mainstream television. They concluded that violence against women and teenage girls is increasing on television at rates that far exceed the overall increases in violence on television. While violence on television irrespective of gender increased 4% from 2004 to 2009, violence against women increased 120% during that same time period. As Huffington Post explains, violence on major networks, such as ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, more than 400 violent acts against women were reported in just one month. Actress Nicole Kidman -who testified before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that is considering legislation to address violence against women overseas through humanitarian relief efforts and grants to local organizations- said that Hollywood has probably contributed to violence against women by portraying them as weak sex objects, which appeared in an article by the Associated Press.
Get Heard!
Call or email mainstream television stations, and hold the media accountable for promoting violence against women.
Learn More: check out the UN Secretary-General's database for Violence Against Women, and contact them to let them know that you support their work.
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Save the Boobs?The Rethink Breast Cancer Charity, in an attempt to connect with young people, has launched their new "Save the Boobs" campaign with a PSA that has left some feeling as though breast cancer were about as serious as a frat party. A voluptuous woman in a bikini--surrounded by drooling males, gay dancing sailors, and plenty of female eye candy--says, "I pledge allegiance to my girls. To my cheechees, to my hooters, to my tatas. And to tell my doctor about any changes I see or feel immediately." The only indication that this campaign actually relates to breast cancer is at the end, when the number of breast cancer deaths per year flashes across the screen - immediately after, though, a shot of what appears to be a wet t-shirt contest consumes the screen.
Alina Cho, who works for the charity, said on CNN that the reasoning behind "Save the Boobs" is that "young people are picking up pamphlets with a 65-year-old woman on them, probably tossing them out." And furthermore, that the video was not even meant for women, but rather for men, in order to encourage participation. So rather than acknowledge that cancer does not rely on one's age, looks, or gender, the Rethink Breast Cancer Charity has opted for cheap entertainment, at the expense of both women's and men's intelligence.
Let the Rethink Breast Cancer Association know that their PSA offends breast cancer victims and survivors. Send a message to alisong@rethinkbreastcancer.com or call 416-920-0980 ext. 223.
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