Petition · PE01521 · Session 4
No More Page 3 in the Scottish Sun and Scottish Parliament
Signatures
0
Comments
100
Considered
3 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the editorial team of the Sun and Scottish Sun to voluntarily remove the page 3 feature permanently.
Furthermore, until the Sun/Scottish Sun ceases its page 3 feature we request the Scottish Parliament no longer stock/sell The Sun or Scottish Sun newspaper given its objectification of women and gender stereotyping both seem at odds with the Scottish Parliament’s equalities framework.
Furthermore, until the Sun/Scottish Sun ceases its page 3 feature we request the Scottish Parliament no longer stock/sell The Sun or Scottish Sun newspaper given its objectification of women and gender stereotyping both seem at odds with the Scottish Parliament’s equalities framework.
What the petitioner did first
The No More Page 3 campaign has attracted 187,000 signatures to an online petition at change.org over the last 12 months, over 50,000 in the last 2 weeks, seeking to request David Dinsmore, editor of the Sun Newspaper and by default Gordon Smart editor of the Scottish Sun, to take a mature editorial decision to remove the page 3 feature of a semi-naked women from his publication.
In a Scottish context a number of campaigners have contacted local councillors, MSPs, MPs and other civic institutions asking them to commit their support publicly through the signing of a standard letter, public expression of support or the signing of the online petition.
The issue of the No More Page 3 has been debated as part of a members motion led by Jackie Baillie MSP on 6 November 2013. The text of the S4M-07500 motion was:
That the Parliament notes with concern reports regarding a connection between the portrayal of sexualised images of women in the media and attitudes that reinforce sexist attitudes, sexual harassment, abuse and violence towards women; believes that this has been demonstrated by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the UK Government-commissioned Sexualisation of young people review; welcomes the No More Page 3 campaign, which calls on The Sun to refrain from printing pictures of topless women; applauds the campaign for what it considers a successful first year in operation; recognises that a motion in support of the campaign was agreed by the National Assembly of Wales and that numerous organisations, including UNISON, the British Youth Council, UK Girlguiding, the National Union of Teachers, the National Association of Head Teachers, and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have also shown their support for the campaign, and notes calls in Dumbarton and across the country for The Sun in Scotland to stop printing pictures of topless women.
Individual members of the No More Page 3 campaign have written and corresponded via social media with various members of the editorial team at the Scottish Sun on a number of related matters, including articulating concerns over the recent sexualisation of cancer awareness public health messages, but have yet to receive a response answering the wide range of concerns articulated and fundamental request for them to remove page 3.
We have corresponded with a number of organisations on this issue. For example:
Response to the recent Scottish Government consultation, which closed on 28 February 2014, on the forthcoming End Violence Against Women and Children Strategy: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/76320413772/prioritising-prevention-evaw
Letter to the Editor of the Scottish Sun on the specific recent editorial decision to sexualise cancer prevention on Tuesday’s via the page 3 feature: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/78678765846/sexualising-cancer-prevention-a-step-too-far
And also general correspondence with the First Minister to raise awareness of the campaign: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/74701321365/dear-first-minister-i-write-to-ask-you-to-support
We have as a campaign received replies from Police Scotland: http://nomorepage3.org/news/letter-from-a-deputy-chief-constable/
And Scottish Government: http://nomorepage3.org/news/letter-of-support-from-scottish-government/
We would also request that until The Sun removes page 3 from its publication, that the Scottish Parliament ceases to purchase or stock with its premises the publication. This request we believe is in line with your current equalities framework: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/16483.aspx
In a Scottish context a number of campaigners have contacted local councillors, MSPs, MPs and other civic institutions asking them to commit their support publicly through the signing of a standard letter, public expression of support or the signing of the online petition.
The issue of the No More Page 3 has been debated as part of a members motion led by Jackie Baillie MSP on 6 November 2013. The text of the S4M-07500 motion was:
That the Parliament notes with concern reports regarding a connection between the portrayal of sexualised images of women in the media and attitudes that reinforce sexist attitudes, sexual harassment, abuse and violence towards women; believes that this has been demonstrated by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the UK Government-commissioned Sexualisation of young people review; welcomes the No More Page 3 campaign, which calls on The Sun to refrain from printing pictures of topless women; applauds the campaign for what it considers a successful first year in operation; recognises that a motion in support of the campaign was agreed by the National Assembly of Wales and that numerous organisations, including UNISON, the British Youth Council, UK Girlguiding, the National Union of Teachers, the National Association of Head Teachers, and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers have also shown their support for the campaign, and notes calls in Dumbarton and across the country for The Sun in Scotland to stop printing pictures of topless women.
Individual members of the No More Page 3 campaign have written and corresponded via social media with various members of the editorial team at the Scottish Sun on a number of related matters, including articulating concerns over the recent sexualisation of cancer awareness public health messages, but have yet to receive a response answering the wide range of concerns articulated and fundamental request for them to remove page 3.
We have corresponded with a number of organisations on this issue. For example:
Response to the recent Scottish Government consultation, which closed on 28 February 2014, on the forthcoming End Violence Against Women and Children Strategy: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/76320413772/prioritising-prevention-evaw
Letter to the Editor of the Scottish Sun on the specific recent editorial decision to sexualise cancer prevention on Tuesday’s via the page 3 feature: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/78678765846/sexualising-cancer-prevention-a-step-too-far
And also general correspondence with the First Minister to raise awareness of the campaign: http://nmp3.tumblr.com/post/74701321365/dear-first-minister-i-write-to-ask-you-to-support
We have as a campaign received replies from Police Scotland: http://nomorepage3.org/news/letter-from-a-deputy-chief-constable/
And Scottish Government: http://nomorepage3.org/news/letter-of-support-from-scottish-government/
We would also request that until The Sun removes page 3 from its publication, that the Scottish Parliament ceases to purchase or stock with its premises the publication. This request we believe is in line with your current equalities framework: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/16483.aspx
Where it was considered
Official Report-
17 Jun 20141 mention
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11 Nov 20141 mention
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27 Jan 20151 mention
Signatures by country
2,679 online signaturesComments
100 comments, oldest first100 comments · showing 1–50
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Holly McLaughlin 7 Apr 2014Page Three is not news. The naked women on page three does not deserve to be the the largest picture of a women in a national newspaper. A women's body is not entertainment, and nor should it be treated as such IN A FAMILY NEWSPAPER.
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Mark Stickley 7 Apr 2014Good idea. It's an outdated institution that needs tearing down to make way for progress and enlightenment.
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Patricia Mullen 7 Apr 2014Long overdue!!!
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Rachel Fitzpatrick 7 Apr 2014It's a daily reminder to society that woman should be sexually available and desired. As if that's all they have to offer. It's harmful.
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Lauren Jones 7 Apr 2014No more page 3!
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Hazel Williams 7 Apr 2014We don't need naked women in a newspaper, no excuses
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Terri smith 7 Apr 2014Scotland's next generation of newsreaders are against page 3, it's time for change.
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Eleanor Hill 7 Apr 2014No more page 3!
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Dan Wheeler 7 Apr 2014Time for it to go
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Chloe Tisnley-Hall 7 Apr 2014Page Three is out-dated! Women are not objects!
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Pearl Jackson 7 Apr 2014It's time the 'Sun' woke up to the fact that they are old fashioned, outdated and shameful!
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C 7 Apr 2014Embarrassing. No place in Scotland.
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Lynne Coulstock 7 Apr 2014Sorry what year are we in again? Why is this still acceptable?
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Rachel Moss 7 Apr 2014It's 2014
- boobs are not news. -
Lesley Mcilwraith 7 Apr 2014Page 3 is degrading to women and embarrassing to Scotland as nation
- it has to stop! -
Lee shanks 7 Apr 2014Page 3 has no place in modern society
- it's about time the sun came in to the 21st century. -
Jill smith 7 Apr 2014Why is page 3 still in existence? All it does is perpetuate the notion that women are 2nd class citizens who contribute noting to society except their breasts
- is this the message you really want to be conveying to young scots, it's time for long overdue change. -
Victoria Brown 7 Apr 2014Scotland can really lead the way on this issue and take a stand against the objectivation of women in the media.
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Jack Fletcher 7 Apr 2014The Scottish Government needs to make more of a stand against media sexism and promote gender equality.
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Making Herstory 7 Apr 2014There is no place for a Page Three in any country which declares to be striving for equality between men and women: its very existence, belittles and degrades one half of the population in they eyes of BOTH halves of the population. The Scottish government must make its stance on Page 3 clear and act towards its demise: to not do so, suggests the biggest fans of this kind of 'literature' sits within...
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Rebecca Walker 7 Apr 2014This is an extremely worthwhile campaign which draws attention to misrepresentation in the media, paving the way sexual violence.
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Sarah-Jane James 7 Apr 2014It's great that Scotland has a vision of gender equality but any vision or strategy needs action, not just policy and empty words. By taking the action we ask, not only will you lead the way for other parliaments to follow, you will be greatly helping to shift cultural attitudes by saying: we won't tolerate sexism and neither should you. Without a shift in cultural attitudes, we will never create a gender-equal society. The media, especially a paper with such large readership as The Sun that is available to children and teenagers to see, is negatively affecting cultural attitudes by perpetuating and reinforcing sexism.
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louise munro 7 Apr 2014Please sign
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Mark Skipsey 7 Apr 2014Society has significantly changed since 1970. I wonder if the Sun newspaper has the bottle and the foresight to reflect this fact.
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Jessica Shenton 7 Apr 2014Page 3 and the associated gender inequality fed to the nation every day in the Sun newspaper normalises the objectification of women in wider society. This feature does not exist within a cultural vacuum, and if women are to be taken seriously in politics, law, business, academics and the wide array of unequal professions in our society, our media must treat them as equals. Page 3 does not fit in with the aims of our progressive scottish parliament.
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Adam Cook 7 Apr 2014Porn should be kept with porn not in our newspapers!
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Joanne 8 Apr 2014Please get rid of page 3. It's disgusting and objectifying. My little sister reads is and things she should look like these big busted women. She is wanting a breastfeeding enlargement. On the news they don't interrupt it for a show of tips. It's making the readers stupid. I'm sure you should respect that women read this too! If you continue it took should be equal with naked men on page 3 every second day! It's pathetic, outdated, and embarrassing!
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Tracy James 8 Apr 2014Every day sexism. This hangover from the sexist 70s should have been abolished decades ago. Even The Mirror stopped this in the 80s stating it was degrading to women. It is degrading and offensive.
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Kenneth Donaldson 9 Apr 2014Page 3 has got to be stopped! It has caused so much harm to lives of young women already, don't let it continue. The women of our good Scottish nation deserve better than this.
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Jade 9 Apr 2014A THINKING world will give us equality. EQUALITY will give us a thinking world. To save this planet, to respect the inhabitants of this planet we need to THINK. WE can do that can't we!?
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Bianca Pymont 9 Apr 2014Get the degrading smut out of the sun and fill it with what it's meant to contain
- NEWS! -
Mari 10 Apr 2014Why do so many men think it is okay to buy a newspaper and look at nude or semi nude women?
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Diane Carton 11 Apr 2014A Newspaper should not show Women as Naked Objects. A newspaper is that it inform's the public of important issues. It isn't supposed objectify half the population.
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laure 12 Apr 2014For the THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN ! MORE RESPECT !! NO BOOBS IN MAGAZINES !!
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Elizabeth Harley 15 Apr 2014In view of today's comments re how women are portrayed in the UK media
- I would think this is a matter of urgency. Decades overdue! -
Lyn 18 Apr 2014News not boobs please!!
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Marie Priest 18 Apr 2014How amazing if the Scottish parliament took the lead to end this relic from the past. Please do it for the sake of women everywhere in the U.K.
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Karina Kelly 18 Apr 2014Women are degraded as sex objects throughout the western world. Page 3 is only the tip of the iceberg, but a very important tip. It was when Page 3 was introduced in the 1970s that pornography and degradation of women became more acceptable
- the fact that this was allowed in a national "newspaper" (if you can you really call this rag a newspaper) obviously made exploiting women in this way more acceptable. I feel that banning Page 3 would be a huge landmark and hopefully it would reverse the process that Page 3 started. There is very powerful evidence that pornography and the whole general western culture of treating women as sex objects leads to rape and sexual abuse. Why else do we have advertising if it doesn't have an effect on people's minds? -
amy duff 19 Apr 2014I work with more males than females. I have to sit in the staff room while the guys gather round and discuss the size of the breasts on page p3 and I have to sit there listening to there disgusting attitudes. This is the only time I hear them talk like this Though. Its because its there their attitudes change. Sometimes being the only female there I not only get embarrassed but feel like am being ogled, I dont know what goes through there heads. What if they ganged up on me to see what my breasts looked like. No witnesses so my word against theres. There is a time & a place for images like these. But not in any paper during the day where women & children can see it, on a bus or train. They may not have bought the paper but can still see the images when other people are looking at it. It makes me feel disgusted to be female. I am only here for men to stare at my breasts, im not here to try and get through a tough day but just to be laughed at. The tables will never be changed. Naked pictures of men will never appear on page 3. So women will never get the chance to sit together and laugh at what they look like, point at random men in the street and shout disgustin crude things and let us laugh at you. Men would have alot to say if they were made to feel worthless. They are celebrated in national papers, women are shown to be just sex objects. Times need to change. Both men and women should be celebrated, give hope & inspiration to the younger generation
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Ryan A 23 Apr 2014I personally signed this petition because I have always hated the idea that papers make women feel absolutely worthless. I would be happy to see all nude magazines removed and page 3 in newspapers taken out. How would other men feel if it was them on page 3? Ashamed and worthless so why should we allow women to have the same pain?
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Sohani Gonzalez 1 May 2014The old paradigm of male dominance and basically ignorance is over , we are in the Aquarian Age now where recognition of equality will happen ,no longer will women put up with abuse ,ridicule and harsh treatment .
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Debbie 1 May 2014I hate feeling like a sexual object and even though I have a professional job, I'm still subjected to comments which I'd rather not hear. It must be even worse for women who work in environments where these awful topless pictures are on display. I despise the banter that men and teenage boys indulge in about women. We still have a long way to go before women are respected as equals. Banning page 3 is a step towards helping achieve this.
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Ani Sathe 1 May 2014There are 100s of freely available sources in our society today that people can go to if they wish to see page 3 type of models in bare glory & more. The sun is classified as a newspaper and makes its way into family homes with kids, page 3 is not needed here
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Ebonee Gregory 1 May 2014It's just plain wrong.
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Beyant Bath 1 May 2014I'm sick and tired of this degradation of women, it
has to stop now. -
Alan 1 May 2014Thank you Ryan A
- I totally agree. -
Jill Bassett 1 May 2014We must protect women and children
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Tracy G 1 May 2014Women are objectivised the world over and it is time it stopped. Societies that are striving for equality and humanity should not be fostering this outdated attitude towards 50% of the population in this day and age. Whilst these attitudes not only prevail but are tacitly supported by society, females will not achieve equality and society will not benefit to the full extent from their efforts. We really ought to be ashamed of ourselves for continuing to perpetuate a situation that puts females at risk and dishonours our mothers, sisters and daughters
- let's be the generation that walks the walk. -
Amy Thompson 1 May 2014Please do the right thing and set an example of a sexism-free media, so the next generation of Scots (and Brits) do not buy into the same sexist and demeaning attitude towards women (known to contribute to rape culture) that we have right now.
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Jamie 1 May 2014It's entirely to possible to enjoy the female form but understand there is a time and a place. No more topless models in newspapers please!