We Believe You

Have a look at this rape awareness campaign from mumsnet.com.
Here is what they say about the campaign.

Today, with overwhelming support from Mumsnetters, we're launching a new campaign. It's called We Believe You, and it has two simple aims. First, we want to shine a spotlight on the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in women's lives; then, we want to pull apart the many myths surrounding rape, which make so many women feel that they will not be believed if they report this crime.

Any thoughts about this campaign?

What does the community want us to do about SEXTING?

Recently the University of Michigan childrens hospital ran a poll asking adults about their views regarding youth sexting and the punishments/legislation around that. The poll found that the vast majority, 81 percent, of adults think an educational program or counseling is an appropriate consequence for teens who sext. Most adults also favor similar non-criminal programs: 76 percent of adults think schools should give all students and parents information on sexting, and 75 percent of adults support requiring community service for sexting teens.

I know that in each of the FRESH Youth focus courses the discussion turns to sexting and what we should do about it. As the law currently stands in South Australia
Sending suggestive or sexual images that can then be posted on the net or texted to other people is Illegal... if it involves the production or dissemination of child pornography or indecent material.

If you want to read more on the article go here. If you want to know more about sexting and the law in South Australia contact
Legal Services Commission82-98 Wakefield Street, Adelaide, or go here to have a look at what LAWSTUFF has to say.

Making complaints CAN make a difference

Recently a Vodka company in posted an advertisement that appeared to depict a rape. After complaints the advertisement was withdrawn within a day and the company made an apology and donated funds to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Part of our work with young people should be HOW TO BE AN ACTIVIST against the things in life you want to change.

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Belvedere Vodka executives quickly apologized for an ad posted online that showed a smiling man grabbing a woman, who appeared to be in fear, from behind.
"Unlike some people, Belvedere always goes down smoothly," the ad's caption read.
It drew hundreds of negative comments after it appeared Friday on the company's Facebook page, with many suggesting it appeared to depict a rape.
Belvedere Vodka marketing Senior Vice President Jason Lundy posted an apology on the page Friday afternoon, saying the ad also offended "the people who work here at Belvedere."
"The post is absolutely inconsistent with our values and beliefs and in addition to removing the offensive post we are committed to making sure that something like this doesn't happen again," Lundy said.
Company President Charles Gibb added his apology in a posting Saturday.

Go here to read more

Ask for raise - wash your genitals

This just goes to show how hard it is to work on changing gender attitudes that are so firmly entrenched in advertising. Can you believe this ad is telling women to WASH THEIR GENITALS before asking for a raise?????

Thanks to showoffbooks for passing this on.

Facebook likes you might want

If you are a user of facebook I have listed several organisations pages here that you may wish to 'like'.

These will give you lots of great information about a range of youth sexual health issues straight to your facebook page.

• adios barbie





• thisisoz





• kinsey confidential





• the kinsey institute for research in sex, gender and reproduction





• the centre for sex pleasure and sexual health





• shinesa

Just go to the link above and click on their 'facebook' button. If you have any other suggestions for 'facebook' likes how about posting a comment here on this blog?

FRESH course comes to the Riverland

It has been a long time since we have taken youth sexual health training for workers to the Riverland.

This is about to change. In June and July the 5 day FRESH ( Freedom to Explore Sexual Health course will be coming to Berri. This course will cover such topics as:

• Attitudes to Sex and Sexuality



• Diversity



• Gender and Power



• STis



• Anatomy and Physiology



• Contraception/Pregnancy options



• Sexual Violence



• Pleasure



• How to start conversations



• and lots more

If you are a youth worker or community health worker and want to feel confident in discussing sexual health issues with your clients. This nationally recognised course could be just what you have been waiting for.

Dates are:

June25/26/27 and 9/10 July ( all dates required to attend)

To find out more please contact Sharon Formosa on 8300 5317

Sexualising MandMs???

Yep;

Even our funl ittle packet of MandMs is sexualised. I hadnt even considered this until I read this posting from About Face.

Most everyone loves MandMs. They’re delicious, colorful, melt-in-your-mouth goodness… Right? That was my opinion, until I realized just how sexist the characterization of America’s favorite candy really is.
Sexism comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be as prominent as the wage gap or as subtle as the words “manmade” or “mankind.” It’s important to recognize that subtle sexism is no less dangerous than sexism that is unmistakable. Sometimes, we have to focus on the tiny manifestations of sexism in order to understand how it becomes a larger, more systematic problem.

Green MandM's high-heeled, knee-high boots, luscious lips, and long, accentuated eyelashes make her a symbol of sex appeal.

This week’s culprit? MandMs.

Shocking, I know. How can that familiar, delicious morsel of chocolate encased in a shiny candy shell be harmful to gender equality? I had this epiphany last week as I toured MM World in New York City. Suddenly confronted with an (arguably unhealthy) abundance of MandM merch, I realized that the MM characters are — gasp! — mostly men. 1 of the 5 original MandM characters is a woman. That’s only 20%.

Red Dwarf and Body Image

There's an episode of Red Dwarf where the crew of the ship get hooked on a virtual reality game called 'Life'. They wear a headset and experience the game as if it's real. Everything in the virtual reality world is exactly how they want it - they have all the money and luxury and admiration they've ever wanted. Meanwhile, their real bodies are wasting away because they stop eating or sleeping or talking to each other.

If you're heavily influenced by media pressure to look a certain way, you live in the same kind of game. Except the world is far from perfect and you are continually promised the money, the luxury and the admiration you crave. The game is fixed so you're forever chasing something you can never really reach. Meanwhile, real life is passing you by and your real self is withering away and so are your genuine connections with other people.

Thanks to Sue Thomason and The Huffington Post for this post.

Father as Wonder Woman

So often as our kids grow up we see little boys and girls playing games. Often if the father joins in he stays as the male figure and the little kid can be either or... Well... have a look at this picture of matchinjg father/daughter Wonder Women. Absolutely fantastic.

Click here to see the website this came from:

Beauty Is Inside

Have a look at the facebook page 'Beauty Is Inside'. It has some great messages and links. Including this picture and quote:

“I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.” - Margaret Cho