Posts Written by Catherine
By Catherine Scott • 12 years ago

It’s Not Just Katie Roiphe: How ‘Girls’ is Also Giving BDSM a Bad Name

In a recent piece defending HBO’s Girls, Amanda Marcotte attacks “the strange belief that female characters on TV need to be paragons of virtue and excellent choice-making”. Why should it be problematic that the main characters on the show make bad decisions, lack self-awareness, and have disastrous encounters with the opposite sex? Maybe it shouldn’t. But when one show still causes this much furore, it’s clear that a female-dominated show is still novel enough that it will be taken as reflective of what women are, and what women want. And there, for me lies the problem.

After Episode 1 aired, most commentators were too busy focusing on the all-white cast, and the characters’ bratty, privileged status to mention Hannah’s (played by writer Lena Dunham) reluctant participation in a disempowered sexual relationship. Perhaps it just rang so true with a lot of viewers, who have endured selfish, uncommunicative sexual partners and/or been too embarrassed to speak up in the bedroom, that no one felt the issue was up for debate. So far, so depressing. But I can understand why people might congratulate Lena Dunham for depicting sex as it really can be – awkward, embarrassing and unsatisfying, especially when one’s partner attempts to act out porn scripts without your consent.

Unfortunately Episode 2 sees Hannah slide from the ‘bad sex’ frying pan into the ‘coercive, demeaning sex’ fire. Here, writer Lena Dunham is in danger of playing into the hands of the ...
By Catherine Scott • 15 years ago

An ad that insults men? Or just a bit of fun?

I’m undecided as to what to make of this ad currently showing on British TV. There’s certainly been some consternation amongst YouTube viewers, with comments including ‘If this were about a woman it would have been instantly banned ‘ and "a typical male bashing commercial. The safe and acceptable target…. men ".

I hear these concerns, and as an advocate of gender equality, I don’t see how this kind of advert helps anyone. The (male) makers of the ad actually defended it on YouTube as ‘tongue in cheek’, in light of the fact it’s still women who shoulder the majority of the burden of housework. I asked my partner if he found the ad offensive, and he replied that he ...

I’m undecided as to what to make of this ad currently showing on British TV. There’s certainly been some consternation amongst YouTube viewers, with comments including ‘If this were about a woman it would have been ...
By Catherine Scott • 15 years ago

If your wife nagged you, expect to get a reduced sentence for stabbing her to death

Morning ladies,

Following on from the recent studies about how a frightening amount of people in the UK think that domestic violence is justified in certain circumstances, have a look at this storyin the news today.

Although obviously it’s a victory for the victim, her family, and sufferers of DV that the murderer received a ‘life’ sentence, what undermines the impact of the sentencing is the fact that judge felt the need to mention that the murderer’s "uncontrolled temper had been triggered on the night by something the victim said or did." Because we all know that angry words from your wife trigger you pushing a knife into her neck, right?

It’s also telling that ITN, reporting the story, felt the need ...

Morning ladies,

Following on from the recent studies about how a frightening amount of people in the UK think that domestic violence is justified in certain circumstances, have a look at this storyin the news today.

Although obviously ...
By Catherine Scott • 15 years ago

When is it OK to say something?

I can see already the Facebook is providing various causes for concern when we see sexist notes/comments/profiles on our friends’ pages. However, what do you do when you see your friend’s friends, who you may not know, post some misogynist garbage on their page? It’s OK to take you friends to task, but someone you don’t know, whose activity you can only see because it’s linked to you friend? Hmmm.

My friend posted on her status that she had ‘had an epiphany.’

This was one of the responses of her guy friends.

“Laura, I thought I gave you the epiphany today…knock out all of your teeth, have the government pay to have some 24k gold teef put in, then one by one, yank ...

I can see already the Facebook is providing various causes for concern when we see sexist notes/comments/profiles on our friends’ pages. However, what do you do when you see your friend’s friends, who you may not know, ...
By Catherine Scott • 15 years ago

Feminism – 0, British Advertising Standards Agency – 1

So, I sent emails of complaint about that Virgin Atlantic ad to both the Advertising Standards Agency, and Virgin themselves. Virgin have yet to comment, but here’s the reply I received today from ASA:

Dear Ms Scott

YOUR COMPLAINT ABOUT VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS

Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority.

I should say from the outset that the ASA Council has considered this ad and the point you raise but didn’t think there were sufficient grounds for us to intervene. 

Our Code says that ads should contain nothing that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence.  The ASA bases its judgments on the content of the ad ...

So, I sent emails of complaint about that Virgin Atlantic ad to both the Advertising Standards Agency, and Virgin themselves. Virgin have yet to comment, but here’s the reply I received today from ASA:

Dear Ms Scott ...