I believe Brian McFadden has written and dedicated his new song for Delta and an incident that had occurred in her life many years ago Jennifer.

You can tell alot about a person by seeing how they are when they are drunk. McFadden has claimed that his song is about how he finds his fiancee cute, when she gets drunk. It took a huge amount of malicious misinterpretation to twist these sweet sentiments into a message about rape. It shouldn't be acceptable to add so much meaning to the lyrics of a trashy popsong that seems to have been written in ten minutes.

I also live for the day when it simply isn't possible to say sexist drivel like "rape frequently has little to do with sex, and lots to do with power" without looking over one's shoulder and lowering one's voice. Rape is only about power to her.

Jennifer, your basic premise is sound. Women need to take responsibility but I believe they already do (for the most part).

Men and women need to take responsibility for their behaviour when that behaviour harms another person.

Open cleavages have gone in and out of fashion throughout the centuries without it being an invitation to rape. It is fine to argue for open cleavage but should a women be raped wearing a low cut top why do we have to endure the "she asked for it mentality". Most men are not like this, but when do those "women as meat" men start taking responsibility?

To most of my friends and peers, feminism is more about taking a humanistic approach, one that is benefits men and women.

There is a point where the line is crossed in advertising and in music culture. Should there be any line at all? I believe there should, while acknowledging not everyone will agree where to put the mark. The Calvin Klein Ad was over the line, IMO given that it was on public display, one of them apparently near a boy's school.

While MTR might go a bit further in censuring than some I do believe she is the only public voice on this issue particularly in regard to sexualisation of children (teens and younger) since the Australia Institute went quieter on the subject.

Women and men are sexual beings. Images portraying cleavage are not in issue, it is the overt portrayal of sex on public billboards (one example) in a society that is not just made up of adult men and women. Much of it is cultural, in some societies being half naked is not in issue, and maybe we should have more of it so that it becomes the norm. Portrayals of the sex act is not nudity however, that is a different issue particularly when marketed to children.

It really is a hard slog being a parent when the outside world has just given up on civility, manners general decency at the expense of growing the profit margin.

Cont/...

Jennifer again a great article.

Houellebecq has pretty much summed up my thoughts on the topic.

It is amazing how much traction the "women are too dumb to make their own choices" school of thought gets in some quarters.

R0bert

Cont/...

There is some irony in the post-feminism world which argued for sexual freedom to get more than bargained for. But men have to wear a bit of flak too. Some people seem to believe men incapable of responsible behaviour, as beings who cannot curb their carnal desires. Blaming dress codes while arguing for more cleavage is a double edged sword.

Girls should be taught that being drunk has it's own risks but boys should also be taught that rape is illegal no matter how vulnerable or silly the prey.

The sexual revolution freed men and women equally but sexualisation is a different issue.

MTR and those like her are taking responsibility they are trying to do something about it, even if one does not always agree on degree.

education education the answer to corrutpt humanity by those not willing to face reality. You would think by now that being more educated than ever before we would be more moral,smarter,drink less, avoid drugs, have little violence. Oh yea éducation is the answer!

Jennifer says 'The first thing we should be educating girls and young women about is taking responsibility for their own choices and decisions.

No we should teach young people right from wrong. The more 'éducation'of the secular sort the more our behaviour becomes immoral.