Many thanks to Louise Owens for the following post:
The robust and intelligent dialogue this evening with Natasha Walter and Susan McKay was both inspiring and thought-provoking. After a comic introduction by Chairwoman Anthea McTiernan, which earned enthusiastic laughter from a packed audience, Natasha read a exerpt from her book, Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism.
It has been over 10 years since Natasha wrote ‘The New Feminism”, and the lack of progress and enlightenment in society since the late nineties, coupled with raising a young daughter, has prompted Natasha to write a second book. Living Dolls delves into issues of the sex trade, sterotypes and women’s choices.
In today’s discussion, Natasha read an exerpt from her book which details the startling realities relating to the objectification of women in today’s society. She graphically describes a scene in a nightclub where she witnessed women, with trepidation, ‘trying out’ to earn a place as a glamour model in a mens magazine. The more pornographical tantilising the woman, the greater their success in the eyes of their foul mouthed, sexually potent onlookers.
It was an engaging start to the discussion, and although the eagar audience were charged to participate, they waited patiently as Susan McKay took to the podium. They were not disappointed, as Susan tackled issues such as women in politics, women as ‘enablers’, young women and feminism, and the dissent of sexism in today’s society vis-a-vis feminism movements in previous decades.
Susan also highlighted the challenges of feminism as it is perceived in the media today, where feminism is a marketing tool for companies to sell their products and generate sustained exposure in the media.
The audience were energetic and informed in the discussion that followed, with some challenging thoughts put forward. In all, Natasha, Susan and Anthea left the audience wanting more, which is always a good place to leave them!
Guest blog post by Louise Owens.
Tags: guest blog