Yes, it's been a while. There was a delightful little stomach bug that went around, and we were fortunate enough to have it hit our family one member at a time (holy moly, taking on the puke train with multiple suppliers would have probably been the end of me). So while it took less effort at one time to tackle that delightful illness, it was spread out over a long enough period that I constantly felt the urge to both nap and shower at the same time. Unfortunately for me, the water heater is not large enough to acommodate such an endeavor (although, I guess this is quite fortunate for both our water bill and the children that I would undoubtedly be neglecting to engage in such an indulgence).
Anyhoo.
This past week marked an annual occasion that always leaves me on edge-- the distribution of the yearly Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. I'm proud to say that I have not stepped inside a grocery store over the past week (unless Costco counts, and since they don't have their magazines by the checkout, I don't count it). Having those images thrown at me against my will, as well as exposing my little boys to women presented as tools to achieve visual sexual stimulation, are not things I look forward to.
So I got excited when I saw this:
Grace Gregson, store manager of the Barnes and Noble SouthTowne Marketplace location, referred to the chain’s corporate censorship policy, which states in part: "Some customers may strongly oppose the content of a particular title and choose not to purchase it. We respect their opinions. In return, we ask that our customers respect our responsibility to offer a selection of reading materials as diverse as the society in which we live, the very society that grants the freedom for these materials to exist."
Okay. I get it. First Ammendment. I work in a world of lawyers, I know how important that right is. And while I have some strong opinions about pornography (normalized and otherwise) and allegories to yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded public space, I won't get on that soapbox for now. Instead, I'll talk about "freedom for these materials to exist."
Yes. They do have a right to publish the continued objectification of women, and they have the right to promote the idea that women are designed purely for the visual stimulation of others. They have the right to suggest that athletic, professional, personal, charitable, and familial merits are not as important as one's ability to arouse members of the opposite sex. And in a world where often the promotion of freedom and rights applies to individuals who oppose traditional values, this right is protected vehemently and adamently, with those who oppose labeled as closed-minded and insecure.
But in a world where people are spending so much time fighting for the rights of the marginalized, can't we recognize that we're stomping on the rights of others to accomplish this?
While I'll consent that those publishing these materials have the right to do so, I disagree that they also have a right to flaunt them in the face of those whose ideals differ to the point of finding these materials obscene and offensive. Why should I have to avoid going to the grocery store if I don't want to see the cover of this magazine? Why should I strategize what errands to run with my sons so they aren't exposed to something I find to be incredibly inappropriate, and what has been empirically shown to have a negative impact on the way they view (and thus treat) women? Why is it okay for their freedom to infringe on the time I get as their mother to teach them things that I find to be adding to their development, rather than expend that precious time attempting to do damage control to prevent this nonconsensual exposure from having a lasting impact on their developing psyche?
You have the right to create it. But you don't have the right to shove it in my face, or the face of my children.
I have the right to walk out of a movie if something is presented that I find offensive. I have the right to close a book if the content is something I find distasteful. But when displays are placed so that I can't even purchase groceries without these images staring back at me, there's a problem.
Looks like Costco will be getting all of my grocery budget for the next month.
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