Together We CAN Make a Difference
October 22, 2008
by The New Agenda
|Members: It’s nice to be able to write about some good news for a change.
Last week, we posted an article, Kitty Genovese and Sarah Palin: The “Bystander Effect” and Women of the Democratic Party, in which we cited some fairly disturbing examples of the misogyny feast aimed at Governor Palin. One of the examples of offensive sexism was a video called “Drill Baby Drill” produced by Ezra Stead which featured inferences of the rape of a number of politically prominent women, including Governor Palin, Barbara Bush and Tipper Gore.
We decided last week to give our members a chance to do something about it! We posted a piece called Does anyone know this boy’s parents?, and many of you took the time to write to Ezra, his employer or his college. Some of you even called his employer or his college.
One of our members, Valerie Eastwood, wrote the following letter to the Academic Dean at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (which we post with Valerie’s permission):
Re: Pro-Rape VideoDear Dean **:
I am one of thousands of women who are outraged over the pro-rape, hate speech video produced by one of your students with the support of Minneapolis Community & Technical College. I do not believe in censorship, but this video, “Drill Baby Drill,” crosses the line in its promotion of rape and hatred toward women.
I understand the film student who made this video has removed MCTC’s name from its credits, and re-posted the video online. Regardless of the removal of the school’s name from the video, if it was made with the direct or indirect support of your school, I sincerely hope that you will immediately take the necessary steps to disassociate MCTC from this offensive hate speech, and then take appropriate academic action against this student.
The advocacy of violence of against women, whether they are public figures or not, should not be tolerated.
Thank you.
Valerie Eastwood
Yesterday, Valerie received news that the college is investigating Ezra Stead and his video. The college Judicial Affairs Officer noted that she felt there was enough substantiation to start the investigation process.
Members: Thanks to all of you who voiced or wrote your protest of this hateful video. Speaking out does work. We can and will make a difference. We are in this together to make this world a better place for us, our children and our grandchildren. Sexism has no place in this society. Together, we can and will make a difference!!!! Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors. There is power in numbers.
- a good bit of civic duty done there, congrats to one and all who went on the offensive
Thanks also for putting out the contact information for the Reebok p.r. guy so we could sound off about the “Terry Tate” video.
way to go! congrats to TNA and to Valerie.
Ezra Stead has renamed his video “One Serious Joke” and has reposted it both at YouTube and MySpace. I hope the college follows through. I have once again flagged the video as inappropriate. YouTube will respond if enough of us do that, but MySpace is not as cooperative.
Well done, folks!
Samanthasmom, Thank you. I have alerted the college that the video is back up (they wanted to see it anyway), minus the original credit given to the college.
I have some other follow-up plans, but won’t get into that here.
The college policies are clear, I’m sure it will take the appropriate action. My suggestion is that we let this run its natural course without further “conversations” with this person. Neither he nor his professed “intent” in making this video is important.
Thanks for posting this. I just sent a couple emails myself to the college.
And from Reebok:
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Diane Zappas
Date: Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Subject: Reebok Response
To: _________
Dear _________,
Thank you for your note. We appreciate your interest and, yes, we’re well aware of this new video. However, let me reassure you that Reebok International has no connection today to Lester Speight or his fictional alter-ego, ‘Terry Tate’, and we disavow this personal new video and its content in full.
The confusion, regrettably, arises from our former association with the ‘Terry Tate’ character. In 2001, Reebok licensed the ‘Terry Tate’ character for a series of commercials, on a short-term basis – and our connection then ended. Reebok, therefore, does not control use of the character or the commercials. Any use of the ‘Terry Tate’ character today or in the future, therefore, does not reflect the views of Reebok, and we regret any confusion this might cause.
In fact, Reebok has a long and proud history of supporting women’s health and fitness. In 2006, Reebok announced its partnership with the Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer. A series of walks to raise funds for breast cancer research, the walk has seen more than 50 cities worldwide raise awareness and money for this important cause. We’re proud of this sponsorship, and believe this more accurately reflects Reebok’s brand values – and views – in regards to women.
Thank you again for your inquiry.
Diane
Great work Samanthasmom! Reebok has “disavowed” the video. I’m satisfied with Reebok’s response. Are you?
I’m very pleased with Reebok’s response and have taken my sneakers out of the trash. What next?
Great work all!
This is terrific.
[...] Greta Van Susteren I was tipped off to a website that has been identifying and fighting sexism (click here.) The group and their website is [...]
[...] out The New Agenda: a new non-partisan group for women’s [...]
[...] Our pre-election journey has been shaped by unforeseen factors. First, Senator McCain picked the Republican Party’s first female Vice Presidential Candidate. Within 48 hours, The New Agenda issued a press release that we would act as a watchdog organization for all female candidates. Shortly thereafter, we were again pinged into a new direction as NOW chose to endorse an all male ticket for the first time in the history of the organization: we were again compelled to speak out. Before we could catch our collective breathe, the misogyny against Gov. Palin grew to disturbing proportions. The New Agenda, at this point a nationwide effort, was pinged again and this time our members worked together to speak out and bring about change against a sexist article in Slate, a misogynistic video, and a video of Gov. Palin being knocked unconscious. In all three cases, through our work together, change occurred and we reported: Together We CAN Make a Difference. [...]
I mean this is no disrespectful way but after watching the said video I must say that the video in no way refers to violence, sexual or otherwise, against women. I hope that by stating that my comment isn’t taking off but after seeing the video it seems to obviouslly be well within the boundries of satire or humor, tasteless as it may be. It seems rather un-american to attack someone else’s free speech over what is essentially a harmless video made by some harmless college student.
here is a link with an interview with the man behind the video;
http://filmthreat.com/index.ph.....mp;Id=1218
all respect, Zach Hoffman
I have known Ezra for a couple of years. When I heard that one of his videos had blown up into a huge controversy, I asked him to see the video.
Ezra knows me to be a feminist with strong opinions and who is not afraid to say what I think.
While I can agree that some of his humor is a quite tasteless, it is just that – humor. It was immediately clear to me that the video was satirical. I interpreted it to be taking on not only political issues but also the kind of rap video after which it was modeled.
When I read the blogs and outrage blown far our of proportion my first reaction was to think, “these people have clearly never seen a rap video before.”
Ezra’s work is SATIRICAL. Quite a bit of gangster rap is not. If you want to believe something is dangerous, take a look at the music of the masses – the music your kids are listening to on the radio.
Dr. Dre’s “Housewife” for example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Ecbeq514c
When Ezra asked me what I thought about his video, I was in the process of trying to find music videos to analyze in my class using feminist literary theory. That week Britney Spear’s “Womanizer” was #1 on the charts. I told him that I didn’t find his video as insulting as I found “Womanizer.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY
This is more insidious evil. It professes to be empowering to women. But we are creating more double standards. Change the gender roles in the video and this video would provoke mass outrage. I think true feminists are fighting for equality, not preferential treatment.
In addition, Britney spends a good deal of time naked and writhing in a sauna. Then putting herself in provocative positions with men all the while saying “no.” Then we wonder why men don’t get it when we say “no.” Our society teaches that “no” means “maybe later.” We teach our girls to play these “hard to get’ games that men must attempt to decipher.
Let’s fight something worth fighting against rather than a satirical music video by a local artist. Fight the Top 40 brought to you every week by Clearchannel. Fight sexual trafficking of young girls. Fight the marketing of Swiffers sweepers exclusively to females. Fight the unattainable images of physical perfection for our daughters. Fight for equality not preferential treatment.
But for god’s sake, have a sense of humor. This is how feminists get a bad name.
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