Amicus

I agree with most of your well-explained points. Agreed that this is probably not something that can or should be banned.

It's just that organisers of these events need to be made aware of the implications of their actions. Certainly there would be plenty of people who enjoy cars that do not enjoy gawking at half-naked women, and the point is that they shouldn't have to put up with such a culture.

There is definitely a culture of ignorance about the exploitation and sexualisation of women in our country and perhaps these events could be very successful without being tinged with such a downgrading culture.

stop&think - I think you give too much credit to people actually thinking through their actions to consequences.

Most of the people involved in manufacturing "art" or organizing SummerNats type events see only as far as their next mortgage payment and no further.

You can't afford to indulge your conscience or morals when you have a job to do and need the money.

Let's face it if the people selling advertising at the SummerNats don't meet their targets, they will be out of a job. If the owners of such magazines don't sell the magazines to their demographic, they close it and jobs are lost and an industry suffers. If "art" is not produced, "artists" starve, or in reality become unemployed, and if your "art" is not selling, you are already unemployed.

The decisions to be made are at the high level, such as publishers asking do we need to publish such a magazine, the response usually is well if we don't someone else will.

I note there are several magazines competing for the same audience at the SummerNats, so there is clearly a market, can't say the same about some "art" though.

A most accurate article, Beth. However, you did miss the most important point of all, one which will certainly encourage those people who find that anything to do with the medical industry is too expensive, to attend the Summernats Show to make full use of all the freebies. Explicit magazines are just the start. This year they had FREE Chlymidia testing as well and in the future, given time, we can expect other tests such as VD, ingrown toenails, diabetes, dental inspections and cataracts, together with any number of other ailments which are fast becoming too time consuming and expensive to identify in the commercial medical practices now dotting up all over Australia. So there is some value in the Summernats and one should be able to expect an improvement in the general health of attendees over time.
Sadly though, as in the case of another of the comments to your story, we have found out today from 'runner', that all these perverted behaviours such as those on display by men at Summernats, probably also the war in Afghanistan, AIDS in Africa, yesterday's earthquake in Haiti and global warming, are all due to "secular humanists" who should be condemned in conjunction to the "regressives" in the ACT government supporting 'gay marriages'. One thing we do know from reading other comments from 'runner' from the Online Opinion database is that he is not secular in any way at all and for that small mercy, all rational human beings should be truly thankful.

But are there enough of them, stop&think?

>>Certainly there would be plenty of people who enjoy cars that do not enjoy gawking at half-naked women, and the point is that they shouldn't have to put up with such a culture.<<

If there were sufficient numbers, suppliers of bourbon and publishers of ladmags would be far less interested in providing sponsorship dollars, thereby encouraging bad behaviour.

Which is your solution, obviously.

Change the demographic of the people who attend, and you'll change the nature of the sponsorship.

Simple, really.

Over to you.

Great piece Beth. Did you see Ed Yong's blog on how objectification silences women? http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2010/01/how_sexual_objectification_silences_women_-_the_male_glance.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scienceblogs%2FRuxi+%28Not+Exactly+Rocket+Science%29

JeeWiz what a winger , if that's what they do why do you go ; if you want a dig done your way why don't you organise one ?

"The Braidwood Stentorium" Dress code strictly 1930's Courtyard .
Bogans Banned . Ladies with egregious lavish breasts not welcome . Men may not wear tight Riding Seals . Cars Black or Dark Olive Green pre 1950 if supplied with hub caps the caps must be fitted pre the event .

Sounds good 'eh , you could invite Kevvie to open your Automobilia Extravaganza but you would need to contact him early , some where in the world on your day there will be a Car / Ute Outfit catering for libidinous Chouganargies , so get cracking Dear ; you have your challenge !