Called for by Mind the Gap:
Speakers include
JUDITH ORR- author of ‘Sexism and the System’
JO ROBINSON- from the famous 1975 protest against Miss World at the Royal Albert HallALEX CALLINICOS- Author and professor from
LIV BAILEY- NUS Women’s Officer
40 years ago feminist activists succeeded in banning the Miss World contest. In celebration of this eminent anniversary, we will ban it again and invite you to join us in the struggle.
WHY PROTEST?
The 2009 Miss
OBJECTIFICATION
We see the resurgence of beauty pageants as indicative of a backlash against the fragile gains that feminism has won. In a society where 1/2 women will experience violence, 92% of vice chancellors are men and 75% of people living in poverty are women, challenging the objectication of women is becoming widely recognised as attacking the roots of gender subordination in wider society. OBJECT sees the objectification of women as seen in advertising, lads mags, strip clubs, and beauty pageants as promoting the dehumanisation of women, that leads them to be seen as subordinate in society, encouraging and legitimising exploiation and violence. See OBJECTs website for more info, evidence and how you can take action.
DISCRIMINATION AND WELFARE
The notion of beauty attached to the image promoted by beauty pageants is discriminatory according to gender, sexuality, age, race, and disability. In a society where we are bombarded with commercial images, trying to uglify us into buy into this notion of beauty, it is almost impossible not to judge oneself and each other according to these ideals. Whether we choose to accept or reject them we are left chasing what is essentially a mirage of digitally touched up perfection, creating body disphormia that leads to eating disorders, depression, and pits women against one another in life, not just on a platform.
Only one woman can win a crown, pageants divide rather unite us, preventing us from demanding our rights and freedoms.
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