|
Scrutinising the Media
If you are ever confronted with offensive or sexist representations of women in the media, you'll know how infuriating it can be. But don't seethe in silence, write to the editor and get it put right! Click here for more details of how to write to the press, advertisers and your MP. In Bristol, when feminist activists were misrepresented in the local media we confronted the editor with a complaint and backed it up with hundreds of supporters' signatures demanding that they redress their misleading coverage of a local issue. We were rewarded with a double page spread to put across our story and ensure that women's views were not ignored. |
 |
Guerilla NutzA guerilla protest against lad's mags. Reps activists go into newsagents and super markets to flyer the covers of lad's mags with their own inverted cover, and the message "lad's mags present a one dimensional view of female and male sexuality." The protests attempt to spread the message that lad's mags censor women and women's bodies, and that they are damaging to men and women.
The voice-over on the video opposite comes from a debate on GWR's breakfast radio show in response to the 2008 protest. They called us "women with beards"! |
|
Anti Airbrushing ProtestReps activists take to the streets again to say NO TO AIRBRUSHING! Using make-up, masks and latex the protesters become grotesque parodies of airbrushed images of models and confront onlookers with the falseness of airbrushing. Protesters go into newsagents and super markets to tag and cover up the airbrushed images of women on the covers of magazines.
This protest was staged to make a stand against the airbrushing of images of women. We believe the main-streaming of altered images are creating unrealistic and damaging ideals of body image. |
|
Workshops and ExhibitionsOne of the major aims of the Reps project is to raise awareness of gender bias in the media. The Reps team have hosted several free exhibitions, lectures and workshops to develop and challenge ideas about women's identity, beauty and femininity.
You can download a Power Point Presentation of the workshops, lectures and exhibitions held at the 204 Gallery in 2009 here (3112kb). The programme of events included sessions entitled:
|
|
Promoting Women PerformersThroughout our research into the representation of women in the media we have discovered that women are all too often absent from our cultural landscape.
Reps tries to change that by organising events which celebrate the creativity of women in a society where all too often women's talent is pushed aside. We organise evening events packed with amazing women performers to celebrate the talents of women musicians, dancers, poets, film makers and comedians such as the What the Frock women's comedy night in Bristol. 
|
 |