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Women's question time

PHOTOGRAPHY��PETER�DENCH

THE 2,000- STRONG AUDIENCE CREATED AN ELOQUENT AND BOISTEROUS DEBATE

QUESTION 3

WHAT�WILL�YOUR�POLITICAL� PARTY�DO�TO�TACKLE�THE�SEXUAL� OBJECTIFICATION�OF�WOMEN� IN�THE�MEDIA?�HOW�WILL�THEY� DEAL�WITH�THE�INCREASING� SEXUALISATION�OF�YOUNG�GIRLS� AND�THE�MAINSTREAMING�OF� THE�SEX�AND�PORN�INDUSTRIES� IN�THE�MEDIA�AND�IN�POPULAR� CULTURE�–�FOR�EXAMPLE� THROUGH�LADS’�MAGS��SEXIST� ADVERTISING�AND�MUSIC�VIDEOS?� Femi Otitoju, London Theresa May, MP (Conservative): A number of things need to happen on this crucial issue. The Conservatives announced a package of proposals a couple of months ago to try and deal with the early sexualisation of young girls. We want the Government to use its power of procurement to assess whether it is willing to deal with companies that indulge in certain forms of advertising. We also need to work with girls to build their self-esteem and realise that there are other ways to succeed other than dressing simply for the opposite sex.

FROM LEFT: CHAIR YASMIN ALIBHAI-BROWN, CAROLINE LUCAS, MEP (GREEN) AND THERESA MAY, MP (CONSERVATIVE)

Lynne Featherstone, MP (Liberal Democrat): The Liberal Democrats would introduce a specific gender equality strand to mediate and regulate advertising. We would also want Ofcom to add warnings onto potentially offensive advertising or media. When it comes to industry, the only way to hit them is in the pocket. [Impromptu heckle from the floor] “How do the Liberal Democrats reconcile the idea of having a tax on the sex industry and a ban on sexual imagery with the recent appointment of Anna Arrowsmith, a pornographer, as a Lib Dem MP candidate?” Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Chair): Lynne, would you like to come back on that? Lynne Featherstone, MP (Liberal Democrat): I would say that there is nothing wrong with sex. Ms Arrowsmith says that her work actually challenges stereotypes and I believe she has actually won awards for it… [Trails off with more heckles from the crowd] It’s for adults, not children and it’s not really what we’re discussing here… [More jeers from the audience] As it stands at the moment, it is not illegal to produce pornography in this country. I don’t think it should be banned for consenting adults. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Chair): OK, OK, settle down. Vera, would you like to come in on the original question? Vera Baird, QC, MP (Labour): I think the ultimate objectification of women is prostitution, which is why the Government has recently made it a crime to buy sex from someone who has been coerced into it. The solution is equality. If we had equally paid women, if we had women on boards, women judges, if half of Parliament was female, then we wouldn’t be objectified because we’d be the ones calling the shots. [Applause] Personally, I'd also like to see a complete ban on advertising for sex in newspapers and magazines. Those ads are sleazy and degrading and should have no place in the British press. [Applause] Caroline Lucas, MEP (Green): Personally, I want to get lads’ mags off the shelves of newsagents and billboards of scantily clad women off the streets. It’s not just women who get a raw deal out of it, I’m a mother of two boys and I don’t think it’s great for them to be exposed to it either. I also think there should be a watershed for certain music videos and that we should ban advertising for the sex industry in job centres. Plus, we need to increase media literacy so that young girls aren’t torturing their bodies to look like a doctored image in a glossy magazine. But maybe David Cameron’s election campaign has done us all a favour: at least people will now have a pretty good idea of what air brushing looks like…

WOMEN’S QUESTION TIME

QUESTION 4

THE�PM�RECENTLY�ANNOUNCED� A�NEW�ROLE�FOR�BARONESS� KINNOCK�TO�TACKLE�VIOLENCE� AGAINST�WOMEN�OVERSEAS�� IF�ELECTED��WOULD�THE� PARTIES�KEEP�THE�ROLE?� Hannah Wright, London

Caroline Lucas, MEP (Green): The levels of violence against women in many developing countries is shocking and I’m delighted that Baroness Kinnock is going to continue with the incredible work she does. Theresa May, MP (Conservative): There are two issues: should there be that sort of role and who should have it. I’m in talks with my colleague on international development about it. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Chair) [interjects] So you’re not actually doing anything concrete to help, then? Theresa May, MP (Conservative): Forgive me Yasmin, but I believe in politicians being honest, I could sit here and say, “Of course we’ll have that role,” but I’m telling you the truth: I’m talking to my colleagues about that role and will know more soon. Lynne Featherstone, MP (Liberal Democrat): Yes we support having that role, in fact, I think it was the Liberal Democrats who suggested it in the first place. Vera Baird, QC, MP (Labour): It certainly wasn’t a Liberal Democrat idea but I’m glad they agree with it anyway. It’s also good to know that while 100,000 women a year in the Republic of Congo are being raped in war, the Conservatives are going to sit and think about doing something… Vera’s retort marked the end of Women’s Question Time. Yasmin opened up the floor and things got rowdy as women vied for one last opportunity to get their voices heard by the politicians. The fantastic four were then given a one-minute ‘why you should vote for my party’ slot before they got on with the business of trying to win the next election.

WHAT A NIGHT

Women’s Question Time lasted just under two hours but it was clear from the audience’s passion that politics is very much at the top of women’s agenda. So as we gear up for what’s looking to be the most exciting, and closest, election in years, Stylist is keen to give you plenty of political coverage. We’ll be looking closely at party policy to find out what each party can offer us. We’ll also be looking at the subconscious reasons we vote the way we do – sounds cryptic but our research shows voters base their decision on a lot more than just solid policy. All will be revealed over the coming weeks… To find out more about Eaves Housing go to eaves4women.co.uk

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