Dear NOW: censorship ain't haute!
So Dolce and Gabbana is pulling this ad due to reactions from women’s rights groups. For instance, Kim Gandy, the president of the National Organization for Women, claims that this advertisement “promotes violence against women”.
First off: let it be known that I understand and appreciate that some women may be offended by this image. The reality of sexual assault, rape, and violence against women is no laughing matter, and I would never presume to take such an awful crime against women lightly.
However, to me, the fact that the Pres of the National Organization for Women is saying that this ad indisputably “promotes violence against women” is offensive and condescending to me, as a woman.
Has Ms. Gandy considered that there is a DIFFERENCE between imagery (fantasy) and the reality of sexual assault and violence against women? That some of her constituents may find this image arousing and want to construct a similar scenario in a safe, sane, and consensual manner? That many men are going to realize that this is a “fantasy” image, and that no one ever committed sexual assault with a fashion advertisement as their pretense?
Honestly, even if this does offend some women, why is NOW spending a second of time worrying about this? I do not care about Dolce and Gabbana’s ad campaign (well, I do, but not in the sense of a political action group designed to protect my rights as a woman). The money I pay to be a member of NOW should be going to protect my abortion rights, contraceptive rights, my equal opportunity in the work force, my rights in the public sphere.
NOW, with feminism as a movement on such thin ice with sisters of my generation… I do not care about a glossy,stylized Dolce and Gabbana advert.
I care about my local pharmacist denying me Ortho-Tri Cyclen Lo, and the inability of some of my feminist sisters in rural areas to find quality reproductive health care, contraception, or a safe abortion.
I care about my future employer denying me maternity leave and society denying competent working women comprehensive, affordable child care.
I care about the continued disenfranchisement of minority women.
I care about the REAL violence and sexual assault against my sisters that happens every day.
I’m not sure how policing an advertisement is at all constructive or deserving of NOW’s attention, and I find her commentary about the ad to be disturbingly sex negative (women aren’t allowed to have politically incorrect fantasies!) In the interview, she makes a statement insinuating that women shouldn’t have rape fantasies. Say what? Some women do, some women don’t. It doesn’t make you a bad feminist regardless!
NOW has on their party line an “anti-sadomasochism” statement, saying that BDSM “promotes violence against women”. Combine that with this and I’m questioning whether or not NOW is a group which is truly in touch with the sex-positive views of its constituents.
But sitting on our duffs and complaining about NOW’s well-intentioned but misguided priorities won’t do us good. Instead, we can let NOW know that there are better uses for our time than critiquing silly fashion ads.
Write to NOW and let them know how you feel:
Address:
National Organization for Women
1100 H Street NW, 3rd floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 628-8669 (628-8NOW)
Fax: (202) 785-8576
Comments
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Nick, Mar 8, 16:15:
I thought NOW-S/M got the line about BDSM taken off.
Zoe, Mar 11, 20:36:
I also couldn’t find anything against BDSM on the NOW website.
I don’t know, I support most of what NOW does and accept that I’m not going to agree 100% with any organization’s choices. They’ve already taken a stand against this ad, which they’re not going to back down from, and honestly I’d rather not have to see it.