Women's groups respond to Charlotte Church calling out sexism in the music industry
EVAW Coalition, Imkaan & Object
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUES 15 OCTOBER 2013
Charlotte Church echoes what many young women feel about the sexualised representation of women in the music industry - said a group of women's organisations today (15 October) who are preparing to launch a new campaign to tackle such representations.
Lia Latchford of Imkaan, a network of black women's organisations, said:
"Many young women agree with Charlotte Church's comments that the music industry has a 'culture of demeaning women,' and support the call for age ratings on music videos.
"We are working with a diverse group of young women who tell us that the music industry widely represents women as sex objects and in particular reinforces racist stereotypes of black and minority ethnic women as the hypersexualised, exotic 'other'.
"These music videos are part of the cultural wallpaper of our daily lives that helps to normalise violence against women and girls - when they include confusing imagery and lyrics about sexual consent and what women want for example.
"As part of the campaign we are currently developing young women have come together to speak out against music videos which widely sexualise and racialise women’s bodies and make them feel uncomfortable and angry. They have told us: 'I feel angry about the dehumanisation of women and about how it has been normalised'.
"We cannot ignore the links between widespread media messages and the treatment of women and girls in our society. Young women say: 'Some music videos reinforce the already widespread notion that women exist solely for male pleasure and thus justifies violence against us.'"
The young women and the women's organisations involved in the project are calling for:
Hosting platforms such as YouTube and Vevo to develop robust policies which prevent the hosting of racist and sexist music videos
The music industry, including artists and music companies, to pledge to stop making music videos which represent women as sex objects and push racist stereotypes.
Government to implement its recommendation on age ratings for music videos sold in shops and online, akin to those on films and video games
Respectful relationships and media literacy to be taught in schools
The project, funded by Rosa, is led by EVAW, Imkaan and OBJECT and supported by a group of young women concerned about the harmful impact of the music industry on women’s equality and safety.
There is a Tumblr site at www.rewindreframe.org including details of the project to date, and a new website including young women’s blogs on the issues will be launched soon.
For more information visit rewindreframe.org or follow us on Twitter @RewindReframe
