Patrick Stewart blames Hollywood for violence on women

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=33085&cat=World

<snip>

In America, a woman is beaten by her husband every 15 seconds and one is raped every 90 seconds, while in France there are 25,000 rapes each year.

Moreover, five women a week are murdered by a male partner or family friend in Zambia.

Each year two million girls between the ages of five and 15 are forced into prostitution and the traffic in women is up to 4.6 billion pounds a year, Amnesty said.

But such is the stigma attached to rape victims that the level of reporting is just a fraction of the truth.

In sub-Saharan Africa- the epicentre of the HIV/Aids pandemic, almost 60 per cent of infected people are women, a trend exacerbated by the belief in some countries that raping a virgin would cure the disease. (ANI)

<snip>

Mods, this teeters on the LBN edge, but the numbers are such that I felt it deserved notice by our LBN crowd in that they are newly reported. If you feel it needs to be moved, I understand and apologise for my guessing it was right for this forum.

[havocmom]

1. So, there was no violence against women for eons before Hollywood?

Umm, how about there is violence against women because too many cultures/people throughout history consider women as property instead of human beings?

How about: there is violence against women because they are usually smaller and bullies like easy targets?

How about: there is violence against women because many men feel rage at their own powerlessness to control their circumstances and turn that rage on the handy target next to them?

How about: there is violence against women because women have been conditioned to expect/accept that it is natural? They are culturally conditioned to be passive and take only what they are given instead of encouraged to take an active part in their own lives in most cultures?

Mr. Stewart flatters the entertainment industry. It is not the cause of, nor the solution to, violence against women. It can reinforce long held beliefs. It can also challenge those beliefs.

Now, let's talk privacy for medical records - women's vs men's privacy. Let's talk about who gets to make decisions regarding women's reproduction and the decades involved as primary caregivers for children. Let's talk about gender segregated education and what disparities that enables as we careen toward theocracy just like the Taliban has.

Hollywood? Most of the women I see portrayed on the big screen actually have more control over their circumstances than most I see in real life. Maybe Mr. Stewart needs to broaden the list of films he views.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Great points... Add to the list that there are probably not that many

people influenced by Hollywood in Sub-Sahara Africa.

[Just Me]

16. I like your post,...but, Mr. Stewart's remarks appear consistent,...

,...with yours. He merely points out that the media also perpetuates those basic cultural problems that we still have failed to overcome. Kinda like a catch-22 situation,...at least, that is how I am interpreting his remarks. I could be wrong.

[frylock]

3. i blame video games myself..

but the problem with that is movies and video games have only been around for half a century or so, whereas violence towards women has been around since.. forever. Go figure.

[donsu]

4. Not forever - people used to worship the female

you don't hear men speaking to other men about their violence toward women. you don't hear men say STOP. you don't see men make laws to stop, really stop, themselves.

the male race needs serious therapy.

[Lindacooks]

6. I beg to differ

My husband was the director of a woman's shelter, and he spoke out constantly against domestic abuse and violence toward women.

He would speak at men's groups and many there would ask how they could help spread the word that real men don't hurt women.

He was just starting a campaign of men speaking out against violence toward women when he was fired, thanks to asshole Tim "wiener" Pawlenty and his draconian budget cuts.

[donsu]

7. thank you to your husband but

he is a rare man

[Lindacooks]

22. I sure know that!

:)

[private_ryan]

17. are you serious?

what kind of males you hang around with, that advocate beating women? That's not "macho" at all. Insecure losers beat women to feel powerful. True men don't.

[MikeG]

5. Patrick Stewart is depressing.

Imagine. 300 years in the future. Still no cure for baldness.

[Mushroom]

11. film industry PARTLY to blame

His hair is located on an area of his anatomy that counts.

[renegade000]

14. well...300 years in the future

french people apparently have english accents as well :P

[cally]

8. I appreciate Patrick Stewart speaking out on this

Much more attention needs to be paid to violence against women and children. Hollywood and popular magazines does portray women as victims and I believe does contribute to a culture of violence. I don't blame what happens around the world on Hollywood and American entertainment, but American entertainment is adding to the problem.

[Piperay]

19. Good points

I agree.

[Robb]

9. I blame erotic cake shops.

"Well, why don't we take a look at our catalogue.... Now, you see this, it shows every sexy, titilating cake we offer.... Oh, now here's a woman squatting behind some bushes - the leaves are made of spun sugar. And...ha! Here's a lady using a little mazipan port-o-potty!" :D

[roguevalley]

23. heh-heh-heh. I love that bit. He likes off the wall humor.

[theHandpuppet]

10. The headline is misleading

Obviously the paper wanted to sensationalize Mr Stewart's message. I actually READ what he did say in the article, a snippet of which I will post here:


Patrick Stewart blames Hollywood for violence on women!
London | March 07, 2004 8:28:31 PM IST
 
'Star Trek' actor Patrick Stewart said that the film industry is partly to blame for the global culture of violence against women, says a report in 'The Telegraph'.

"The entertainment industry has been extremely irresponsible in perpetuating and stereotyping the violent attitudes of men to women," Patrick told the London launch of an Amnesty International campaign against assault on women.

I for one applaud Mr Stewart for speaking out on this issue and for his continued, dedicated and very public efforts on behalf of Amnesty International and many progressive causes. He's the real deal and doesn't deserve such scorn and derision as I've seen here.

[theHandpuppet]

12. I'm ASHAMED of these responses!

Is there something about this topic -- violence against women -- that some of you folks here on DU find so hilariously funny? Do discussions of racism, homophobia and hate crimes also tickle the collective funnybone? Or is it just another opportunity for juvenile jokes?

Thank the goddess at least Mr Stewart is willing to speak out on this very serious issue and doesn't make a mockery of it as I have seen here. I have rarely been so disappointed on this forum as I am right now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. I'm not really ashamed of them and not surpised.

It isn't that the posters cracking the jokes are unaware of the severity of the issues and many of them usually post thoughtful posts on other subjects...but the WHOLE issue of violence against women cuts to the CORE of all that is debated regarding pop culture today...people railing against PC as though the entire idea of political correctness is about NOT OFFENDING people rather than looking at how the manner in which we language ourselves literally creates the world we live in, therby reinforcing negative interpretations and stereoypes.

[Karenina]

15. and behaviour...

Language matters.

[Steven_S]

20. I agree with you ....

I applaud Mr. Stewarts's attempt to bring attention to this matter, and his courage in critisizing Hollywood.

I also denounce this knee-jerk stupidity on DU and what passes as intellegent discourse.

[Serendipity36]

18. People Who rape and torture little 5 year olds

ought to be banished from society forever. Solitude is a fit punishment for those who torture children.

Peace

[leesa]

21. So, since Canada watches the same Hollywood stuff, they will have the same

statistics? Doubt it. America is a violent country because our government promotes violence in their every act. Blame our government and their war mongering friends for the violence.
They have taught us in the last three years alone that it's OK to carpet bomb a country to try to apprehend a few criminals. What would this be like if people tried this in our own cities.
They have taught us that it's OK to lie in order to start wars so that we can steal the resources we want.
Blame our government, not Hollywood.