University labelled sexist
THE UNIVERSITY and campus of York has recently been criticised for alleged institutional sexism. The comments came from an online magazine The First Post (www.thefirstpost.com), which enjoys a readership in the hundreds of thousands. Pole Exercise and Goodricke Playboy Mansion events were among those singled out for criticism.
Loughborough University was also criticised in the article, which appeared on the website on the 8 January. The Loughborough student union invited the FHM High Street Honeys and Nuts’ magazines Brat Pack Tour to the university, complete with opportunities to meet “the girls”.
Kat Stark, the National Women’s Officer for the NUS, went so far as to say that “it’s terrible that after women fought so hard for their sexual freedom all those years ago, it is now being stolen from them again.”
Ben Wardle, the newly inaugurated Goodricke Chair, has defended his college’s Playboy Mansion events claiming that rather than being sexist, the name implies “that it is a place where people can have a good party and get dressed up” and that when used to describe the “school canteen” of Goodricke Hall it becomes ironic.
He also emphasised that Goodricke is sure never to use “posters of half-naked women” or imply any sexist activity in its advertising, nor has the Goodricke JCR ever received complaints about the event. Wardle did confirm that the Goodricke Ents team is planning on rebranding the Playboy Mansion events, but this was not connected to the recent criticism. Matt Hood, President of University of York Pole Exercise (YUPE), was equally defiant towards the charges of sexism levelled in The First Post.
Speaking to Nouse, he drew attention to the mixed sex membership and the club’s focus on fitness and exercise. “Pole Exercise isn’t sexist,” he said, adding that it is not “the point of our club to act as some kind of wondrous liberating experience for oppressed women, it’s just an exercise class. We keep people in good health, that’s the point, that’s the only point.”
Pole Exercise was named AU Club of the Year in 2006. The decision was made partially in view of the charitable work which the club undertakes.
Claire
This article was actually written by Josh Dodd NOT Stephanie Dyson. I think a correction is in order.