Sylvie28,

'i reject your assertion entirely re my supposed belief that anyone who disagrees with "every feminist deconstruction of society" hates women.'

but,

'it's based on countless comments you have previously on articles that question gender inequalities in any form.'

So then, it's not when anyone disagrees, it's just when I disagree.

I would say questioning gender inequalities as presented by feminists has nothing to do with misogyny. One can very easily disagree with assertions of inequality by feminists while not hating women. Many women actually do just that.

McReal,

'but that is over-stepping a mark, particularly when it is ambiguous as to whether you mean strangers or possibly the girls partners you allude to separately after the comma.'

You are splitting hairs to make a point. Perhaps my grammar isn't up to your standards, but my meaning is hardly ambiguous. Is it so offensive to use the word grope without connotations of sexual asault? I think your reading of my post demonstrates the biassed representation of sexual dynamics the author wants us all to accept as a given. Part of my point here is a rejection of this assumed predatory dynamic that is overlayed whenever male sexual desire is discussed. I make no apologies for rejecting this landscape and refusing to see male sexual desire exclusively in terms of 'objectification', violence, disrespect and perversion.

'Maybe you should have a think about "your tone and flippant use of words"'

In response to being personally and directly labelled a misogynist without provocation; I don't think so.

Melinda is saying that the breast cancer foundation only wants money from those who are pure of heart?

Irrespective of how good a message is, if it is continually repeated people stop listening. Sometimes advertisers deliberately put up something slightly off message and spicy to re capture people's attention. This ad was a prime example.

God forbid that anyone should forget that breasts are only for suckling infants and should feel that they are any part of a woman's sexual identity. Likewise sex is for reproduction and only those doomed to hell pursue it for pleasure.

MTR is an advocate of the religious right masquerading in feminist's clothing.

Vanna, I never saw those ads, but they sound pretty interesting.

I'm not sure why you expect feminist academics to be the ones to speak out against them. Why don't men make a noise about them if they are offensive?

The fact that not one man apparently complained about the ad also goes to show, but exactly what it shows, I'm not sure yet.

Bound and gagged and left in a cupboard - ambiguous imagery. Can understand why not everyone would take to it.

briar rose:"Why don't men make a noise about them if they are offensive?"

Men have made a noise, but there is no cause for action under siscrimination legislation, simply because the legislation doesn't recognise that it is possible for men to be offended in this way. If it was a female being tied up, the Anti-Discrimination Commission would be all over it.

I normally can't be bothered with Melinda's puff-pieces. She's a bandwagon-rider and little more. What she does do well is draw attention to the uncritical way some women respond to any story about women that casrs women as victims.

The "damsel in distress" seems to be alive and well and looking for a heroic prince...(as long as he doesn't expect a kiss for his trouble).

Anti
A heroic prince would not expect a kiss otherwise it would not be a heroic act (ie. expecting something in return).

I agree heartily with the comments by briar rose and Johnny Rotten. It seems anytime anyone mentions sexualisation the outrage committee come out in droves.

There is a time and a place for sexuality and a time for health/medical concerns. I suspect the advertiser's intention was well meant and perhaps some advertising guru suggested highlighting the sexual nature and attraction of breasts, and how this is important to women, would be a way of bringing attention to breast cancer.

It just isn't appropriate I reckon in this context. Would men feel the same way if the same strategy was used for the pen*s? I don't know - maybe they wouldn't but I doubt it would make it to the cutting room floor.

briar rose, "I'm not sure why you expect feminist academics to be the ones to speak out against them."

Which is the very point that vanna has argued in a number of threads. He was asking for some academic independence and balance, which is not unreasonable. Or are others right in presuming that the qualifier 'feminist' automatically rules that out?

It would have been easier and more credible for you to acknowledge the point made rather than struggle with weasel words as you have done, "Bound and gagged and left in a cupboard - ambiguous imagery. Can understand why not everyone would take to it". Not much ambiguous about being confined against one's will one would have thought and yes, had it been a woman not a man there would have been a outcry from those with your 'take' of feminism given your knee-jerk reaction to the subject advertisement, which is what some are saying.

Where vanna is wrong is that he shouldn't judge all academics, female and male, by the few.