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Wow.......
All the issues in the world, and........
Wow. Someone is either reading a lot too much into something, or has.....issues......
"Safe Sex" Advertising
"To the Editor:
I was appalled at an advertisement I recently saw on the bulletin board in my dorm, which normally posts information on campus events, education opportunities, and general health information. The advertisement from Health Services, calling for safe sex, reads, "Whether you're the catcher or the pitcher, always wear a glove!" with a picture of a smiling woman holding a catcher's mitt and a man holding a bat next to her. Aside from the initial shock of viewing this metaphor as sexist, it does not even uphold its original message -- instead of portraying the man as an actual pitcher, as one who is throwing the ball, he is the batter, as one who is hitting it -- in this instance, I cannot ignore the clearly phallic power being depicted. (Moreover, the concept of a "catcher" and "pitcher" is something that is often used to refer to gay men, so it is not just heterosexual sex that is being distorted here.)
To consider the act of sex as a subject/object encounter, as this advertisement does, where a woman's role is to "catch" a man's "pitches," is degrading, disgusting, and completely beyond the type of behavior I expect from an institution of higher learning. To pair this type of advertising alongside messages of "always get consent" seems contradictory and dangerous to the lives of women - on campus and elsewhere. This poster is sending a message that sex is defined as an act done to a woman by a man, rather than a collaborative effort of two people. I am afraid that this is just replicating a system of hierarchy where women are expected to accept what they are given, including situations where they may feel pressured by men to have unprotected sex, and I hope that this type of safe sex awareness is torn down from our walls permanently.
I would like to say that while I do not disagree with the reasoning that safe sex relationships should be promoted on campus, I do not consider this form of safe sex promotion as reasonable, considerate, or tasteful. What also upsets me is that the message on this poster, as indicated on it, is based on the work of a woman, which may be reason for some to think that it should not be seen as offensive, because if a woman is the inventor, then other people, including women, should not be upset by it. This is exactly the type of behavior that only excuses such offensive messages, and perpetuates them.
I hope that Health Services realizes that this poster is not one that we should consider an effective tool to promote safe sex, and that is promoting an idea of welcomed submission by women. To the people that may think this letter is making a big deal out of nothing, that this type of poster is better than having no poster at all, I ask you to think of the women worldwide -- including those on our campus -- who are forced to accept their fates as only penetrable objects to men. "Harmless" advertising such as this is only one way in which we ignore those fates, and I'm hoping we can help put a stop to that.
Melissa DaCosta"
Wow. Someone is either reading a lot too much into something, or has.....issues......
"Safe Sex" Advertising
"To the Editor:
I was appalled at an advertisement I recently saw on the bulletin board in my dorm, which normally posts information on campus events, education opportunities, and general health information. The advertisement from Health Services, calling for safe sex, reads, "Whether you're the catcher or the pitcher, always wear a glove!" with a picture of a smiling woman holding a catcher's mitt and a man holding a bat next to her. Aside from the initial shock of viewing this metaphor as sexist, it does not even uphold its original message -- instead of portraying the man as an actual pitcher, as one who is throwing the ball, he is the batter, as one who is hitting it -- in this instance, I cannot ignore the clearly phallic power being depicted. (Moreover, the concept of a "catcher" and "pitcher" is something that is often used to refer to gay men, so it is not just heterosexual sex that is being distorted here.)
To consider the act of sex as a subject/object encounter, as this advertisement does, where a woman's role is to "catch" a man's "pitches," is degrading, disgusting, and completely beyond the type of behavior I expect from an institution of higher learning. To pair this type of advertising alongside messages of "always get consent" seems contradictory and dangerous to the lives of women - on campus and elsewhere. This poster is sending a message that sex is defined as an act done to a woman by a man, rather than a collaborative effort of two people. I am afraid that this is just replicating a system of hierarchy where women are expected to accept what they are given, including situations where they may feel pressured by men to have unprotected sex, and I hope that this type of safe sex awareness is torn down from our walls permanently.
I would like to say that while I do not disagree with the reasoning that safe sex relationships should be promoted on campus, I do not consider this form of safe sex promotion as reasonable, considerate, or tasteful. What also upsets me is that the message on this poster, as indicated on it, is based on the work of a woman, which may be reason for some to think that it should not be seen as offensive, because if a woman is the inventor, then other people, including women, should not be upset by it. This is exactly the type of behavior that only excuses such offensive messages, and perpetuates them.
I hope that Health Services realizes that this poster is not one that we should consider an effective tool to promote safe sex, and that is promoting an idea of welcomed submission by women. To the people that may think this letter is making a big deal out of nothing, that this type of poster is better than having no poster at all, I ask you to think of the women worldwide -- including those on our campus -- who are forced to accept their fates as only penetrable objects to men. "Harmless" advertising such as this is only one way in which we ignore those fates, and I'm hoping we can help put a stop to that.
Melissa DaCosta"
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The problem is that 'it's just not worth it' to get all bent out of shape about it.
It's a sexist twist on the Civil Rights' Public Service Ad that reads "Niggers are people, too: Treat them with respect".
The message is right-on -- it's the method that isn't working. We just need to roll our eyes and move on with our lives; things will work themselves out in the end.
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It *Still* seems like she's reading too much into it though.
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Sounds like another case of "how dare that uppity lower-class X complain?"
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The letter is like complaining that the shutters aren't the right colour, when you need to rebuild the house.
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The beauty of the poster is exactly what it did. It got attention and caused dialog. How many times have you looked and a dull public health announcement and rememebered what it said 10 minutes later. I believe the young lady either needs to open her eyes to what's going on in the world around her (sexually) or join a convent.
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My second thought was that the ad succeeded. It has our attention and has us discussing it.
Safe Sex Poster
Ponderings
I think Ms DaCosta is wound a bit tight.
All of us discussing it here are older than the demographic that the poster was trying to reach. And the college culture today is different than when we were there.
Yes referring to pitching and catching while showing a batter not a pitcher may be a bit off but it's easier to do the graphic design without a bunch of blank space on the paper.
I also think Ms DaCosta has probably never played catcher in either softball or baseball or she would realize that it is very busy and powerful position.
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