Eye of the Beholder
Background to the Project
Although women have been seen as sexual objects from time immemorial the nature of the process is becoming ever more explicit and targeting ever young women and children. The lace thongs for 3 year olds on sale in mainstream stores, the pole dancing kits for kindergarten children bear testimony to this, alongside arguments that ‘pole fitness’ is appropriate as a physical education in our schools and increasingly explicit music videos and advertising. Recent discussions with young women about ‘new’ forms of sexual freedom and sexual expression in the 21st century, including websites such as You Porn, the normalisation of sexual imagery, the revival of Burlesque, lap dancing and advertising for the female gaze etc. have led us to believe that there is a need for an open debate about women’s ‘liberation’, agency, sexual freedom and expression in the context of sexual objectification and the increasingly sexualised commodification of young women and the expectations this creates. There is a need to explore perceptions of sexual agency, opportunity, empowerment and control versus sexual objectification, power, gaze, self image, self esteem, wellbeing, vulnerability, exploitation and violence.
In this project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn foundation Engender will be carrying out participatory research with 3 groups of young women/girls, 3 groups of young men/boys and 3 groups of parents from different social /equality backgrounds.
We will then carry out participatory analysis with a mix of people from each of the groups above and others interested in the issue. This will lead on to the development of campaign messages, ideas for materials and a dissemination strategy. Engender will support with all art work and production, understanding that this may vary if people decide they’d rather use theatre or radio than paper based products. We anticipate using Photo voice, journals of participants’ experiences, learning and reflection.
Dissemination of campaign materials etc. will be dependent on the decisions and plans made during the participatory analysis and campaign development process.
We will organise debates to take place in three Scottish Universities – possibly Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
We will aim to have three public ‘exhibitions’- possibly staged in shopping centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
We will organise a Parliamentary women’s dinner with speakers for each of the research groups and have exhibitions shown at the parliament
Although women have been seen as sexual objects from time immemorial the nature of the process is becoming ever more explicit and targeting ever young women and children. The lace thongs for 3 year olds on sale in mainstream stores, the pole dancing kits for kindergarten children bear testimony to this, alongside arguments that ‘pole fitness’ is appropriate as a physical education in our schools and increasingly explicit music videos and advertising. Recent discussions with young women about ‘new’ forms of sexual freedom and sexual expression in the 21st century, including websites such as You Porn, the normalisation of sexual imagery, the revival of Burlesque, lap dancing and advertising for the female gaze etc. have led us to believe that there is a need for an open debate about women’s ‘liberation’, agency, sexual freedom and expression in the context of sexual objectification and the increasingly sexualised commodification of young women and the expectations this creates. There is a need to explore perceptions of sexual agency, opportunity, empowerment and control versus sexual objectification, power, gaze, self image, self esteem, wellbeing, vulnerability, exploitation and violence.
In this project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn foundation Engender will be carrying out participatory research with 3 groups of young women/girls, 3 groups of young men/boys and 3 groups of parents from different social /equality backgrounds.
We will then carry out participatory analysis with a mix of people from each of the groups above and others interested in the issue. This will lead on to the development of campaign messages, ideas for materials and a dissemination strategy. Engender will support with all art work and production, understanding that this may vary if people decide they’d rather use theatre or radio than paper based products. We anticipate using Photo voice, journals of participants’ experiences, learning and reflection.
Dissemination of campaign materials etc. will be dependent on the decisions and plans made during the participatory analysis and campaign development process.
We will organise debates to take place in three Scottish Universities – possibly Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
We will aim to have three public ‘exhibitions’- possibly staged in shopping centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen
We will organise a Parliamentary women’s dinner with speakers for each of the research groups and have exhibitions shown at the parliament
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