What I find funny is it's womens mags that do this.

Another exceptional article on real issues women face DAILY!
We need to continue to keep the issue of the objectification of women in the forefront of public debate. I know that there are many people who care about this issue deeply and there are many women who are impacted by this kind of thinking and imagery immensely. This is certainly not an isolated view. There are lives impacted daily by this twisted view of how women should be and what they should look like.
With sexualized imagery on the increase and magazines continual emphasis on the 'physical body over any other qualities' I think regulatory systems and bodies need some serious review.

The Butterfly Foundation says it is “dedicated to a world that celebrates health, well-being and diversity”. They also say they are about “cultural change”. I’m not sure how using Jennifer Hawkins to raise funds helps achieve these aims.

There seems to be some mixed-messaging about what the Butterfly Foundation wants to achieve.

Good on you Melinda for highlighting this issue

Well Hell I am so dissapointed , I was conned , gawd I hate it , I thort she was a decent shiela now I find out she's got more galls than a redgum forest , Geesz I friggen hate bein sucked in .

Stripping nude for the good of other women. She is more deceived or deceitful than Bill Henson or the PETA earth worshipers who are more comfortable carrying on like animals than humans. Mothers who bring this women trash into their own homes are silly enough to wonder why their teenage daughters have such a tough time of things.

*There will always be someone more beautiful more brainy more elegant more skilled than oneself. The trick is being content with the way you are.*

Pelican, you are of course quite correct! In fact you produce
quite a few words of wisdom, as long as it has nothing to do
with economics :)

Runner, nude is in fact quite normal and natural, its how your
god made you. It does not even mention in the 10 commandments,
that nudity is evil. I think you will find that your friend the
Catholic Church, invented all that some years ago, back when they
were the only Xtian religion in town. They carry some strange chips
on their shoulders in Rome, especially anything to do with sex.

Hi Shadow Minister!

I too identify as atheist and do not subscribe to right-wing politics. Does this mean that I can never share any of the goals or beliefs that Melinda Tankard Reist does?

So you support "freedom" - do you not think that there are varying degrees of what people in society should be "free" to do ? Is it okay to shout "FIRE!" in a packed theatre? Or to stand up on a soap box and pound out 'hate speech'?

Clearly there should be limits. Thanks to people like Melinda Tankard Reist, a recent video game accessible over the internet from Japan was banned. This game encouraged players to rape a mother and her two daughters (aged 8 and 10) on a train. Thanks to Melinda's speedy actions, this game was banned so Australians could not access it via the internet. Is this what you disagree with ? Do you support the raping of women and children?

If you decide that just because someone may be of a different political persuasion to you, that you can never agree on any common objectives, then you significantly limit the potential to minimise harm in an unhealthy environment.

As a psychologist and eating disorders specialist, it is well documented that the promotion of a thin-ideal and sexualisation increases body dissatisfaction, which in turn increases risk of disordered eating.

A reiteration of one body ideal is harmful to many. If Marie Clare really wanted to promote healthy body image, why would they choose a woman most famed in Australia for matching the prescribed beauty ideal? And then call the natural 'crease' in the middle of her torso a “flaw"?

A healthy body image will be adopted when people are allowed to feel safe in their own bodies, and enjoy eating a healthy diet and exercise without being pressured to be thin. Not everyone can be healthy and thin at the same time.

Maybe you would like to do some research into the actual issues being discussed, Shadow Minister, rather than personally attacking Melinda Tankard Reist's appearance and right to her political opinions.