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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Holy Crap.

I'm just past my 41st birthday so perhaps I'm not the demographic being targeted here. I'm also a woman so again perhaps I am missing the point. Have a read of this article and then I'll carry on.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/beauties-strut-stuff-for-autism/story-e6fredq3-1226108610291

A lovely woman (Hi Lisa) sent me the article above suggesting I may find it of interest for this blog. I could not have anticipated when I clicked on the link what was in store for me. I still don't really know what to make of it so I'll spare readers a feminist analysis today. OK maybe not completely. To be honest I can't quite wrap my head around the intention here. Are these women thinking, well we have nice bodies and that seems to get plenty of attention normally so why don't we use that attention to raise awareness of Autism? Is that really possibly the thinking here? Do they truly believe that men (and that's got to be the target audience right?) are looking at them scantily clad and thinking geez Autism is something I need to give a lot more consideration and support to? No I don't think so either.

Look I get that the mum in the story thinks she's doing something novel and positive. But to me this smacks of intellectual laziness. Am I being a cranky old snob? Perhaps. But I do think there's a naivety here that misses the point of the exercise. Is any publicity, good publicity? That's how the saying goes, but the problem I see with this idea is the fundamental message getting lost somewhere amongst the boobs and legs. As gorgeous as they are.

I also note the mums inspiration was Jenny McCarthy. I rest my case your honour.


8 comments:

  1. I'm still banging my head on my desk. I take offense to the term "illness" but that's just me. It's like something good went horribly wrong with the advocating here. Maybe because I'm past 40...I don't know.

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  2. Yes the illness thing bugged me too Lizbeth, I should have mentioned it, but I was too sidetracked by the boobs and bums.

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  3. There is something similarly annoying and misguided in New Zealand, called "Sexy Backs". It is a calendar of naked women's backs, specifically aimed at raising awareness for autism. Here's an example of the images on the calendar: http://jamesprice.sites.livebooks.com/#s=2&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&p=1&a=0&at=0

    And here's their facebook page which explains (very poorly) the supposed connection between naked women's backs and autism awareness (?): http://www.facebook.com/sexybacks?sk=info

    At least they don't use Jenny as a role model I guess...

    (If this comment turns up twice please delete the repeat, something's wonky at this end and I had to submit it again.)

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  4. I'm LMAO over here. Except for the "illness" thing, that bugged me too. This has inspired me to host my own Autism Awareness event next April. I'm thinking Autism Family Night at Hooters.

    (I don't know if you have Hooters down under. If not, click here: http://www.hooters.com/home.aspx )

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  5. Not in WA where I am Grace (though we all know what it is) but we do have strip clubs so maybe thatll do?

    A&O the idea they want to encourage Jenny to come to Oz to....well I dont know what. Concerns me. Australian rates of vaccination have just started to improve after a slump. The last thing we need is her message being put into the mainstream media.

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  6. I just read it, and am left going "umm..."

    She's got her heart in the right place, just a little confused otherwise I suppose. But on the upside - she is doing SOMETHING, which (mostly) is better than nothing....right?

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  7. Trine, I agree she's got her heart in the right place but ....dont you think it's a tad self promotional? Maybe that's a harsh assessment but it seems to me the message she is trying to sell is not going to be heard. At best it's pointless. Dont get me wrong I'm no prude, but it shits me when women's default to promote something is their bodies rather than their brains.

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  8. To be fair, the "illness" reference she corrected in the comments, it was the journalist's error.

    Leaving aside the Jenny McCarthy issue, I doubt showing tits & arse in pubs is going to result in more education resources for autism. Would be nice to see an agenda other than "I'm a beautiful ambassador". But I'm always ready to be proved wrong.

    Lisa
    Lisa

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