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 August 16, 2011
 

A provocative article at BNET.com suggests that falling revenues at the wDaniel Weissorld's most recognizable p*rnographic brand are leading it to move away from s*x entertainment and more toward merely licensing its brand. This restructuring at Playb*y may lead many to cheer, but as Mark Twain once quipped, "Reports of my death are exaggerated."

 

If anything, the changing face of Playb*y provides a window into how clever and persistent the p*rnography industry is. Playb*y is not going away. Instead, it is positioning itself to become even more visible. Example one is this fall's new TV show, The Playb*y Club, airing on NBC. Now, in addition warping young boys' minds in the back of a closet (which is bad enough), Playb*y will be mainstreaming its lies to potentially millions of children on primetime television. With the show airing at 10/9c on Mondays, you can bet Al Michaels and Chris Collingsworth will be promoting the show on NBC's Sunday Night Football. It's the ultimate endorsement of "women as s*xual sport."

 

Even if mainstream p*rnography companies can no longer compete with a glut of free p*rnography, the overall p*rnofication of society continues unabated. One new study finds that women have become increasingly sexualized in mainstream media over the past forty years. After studying 43 years of Rolling Stone, University of Buffalo sociology professors Erin Hatton and Mary Nell Trautner concluded that 89 percent of women appearing on covers in the 2000s were s*xualized, more than ten times as often as men. Hatton wrote:

 

"S*xualized portrayals of women have been found to legitimize or exacerbate violence against women and girls, as well as s*xual harassment and anti-women attitudes among men and boys. Such images also have been shown to increase rates of body dissatisfaction and/or eating disorders among men, women and girls; and they have even been shown to decrease s*xual satisfaction among both men and women. For these reasons, we find the frequency of s*xualized images of women in popular media, combined with the extreme intensity of their s*xualization, to be cause for concern."

 

It's not enough to shut down one business or one website. Concerned citizens need to stand up to p*rnographic s*xuality where ever it is found. It may seem difficult to win large battles against the p*rnography juggernaut, but small, steady efforts send a message that crass objectification and degrading depictions of women are not acceptable. One NBC affiliate has already announced it will not carry the show. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem has called for a boycott based on her investigation of the club in the early 1960s. Our friends at Morality in Media have set up an online petition to allow average folks to voice their concerns directly to NBC.

 

Standing up and voicing your concern may not always be easy, but it is one way to set those "brushfires" in people's minds that can lead to lasting change.

 

Daniel Weiss

Director of Research and National Outreach

 

Citizen calls prompt investigation into s*x business
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The Courier-Journal recently reported a bust of a Jeffersonville, Ind. s*x business allegedly promoting prostitution. According to news reports, this investigation was started after the city received several calls from concerned citizens. ROCK applauds Jefferonsville city officials for responding to citizen calls. The business had apparently either expanded or relocated to southern Indiana after Louisville's Metro ordinance was upheld by the Kentucky Supreme Court. ROCK has been concerned that some Louisville s*x businesses would move into southern Indiana once that ordinance was enforced.  

 

Concerned citizens on both sides of the river will need to continue to stand strong for their families and communities. While Louisville has one of the strongest ordinances in the nation, which is being used to issue citations for violations, the s*x industry is continuing to pour money into an effort to fight these citations and to mediate an agreement with the city on which parts of the law it will and will not follow. For enforcing the ordinance they passed and the courts have upheld, your Louisville Metro Council member needs to know this a priority to you. If you haven't called already, will you contact your council member today? Please call 311 or find your council member here. You have been involved in this process every step by making your voices heard. Tell your council member that you want them to ask Metro attorneys what "arrangements" are being made with local s*x clubs and that you support immediate and full enforcement of the ordinance for the protection of your children and family. Remember to be polite and respectful and let us know your council member's response to your call. The number for the ROCK office is (502) 297-9892. 

Spread the word about the "IN GOD WE TRUST" plate!

If you want an In God We Trust plate but are waiting for your license plate renewal to fill out an application, you might not receive the plate when you want it. Please help us collect 900 applications so that the state can start producing and distributing these plates! You can help today by downloading the application to share with friends, family and groups with whom you are associated. Encourage them to fill it out and mail it with a $25 check made payable to the ROCK Cares Foundation. The address is ROCK Cares Foundation, 1717 Alliant Ave., Suite 21A, Louisville, KY 40299.

 

Each license plate requested will require a separate application but one check may be used to pay the fee. For example, the Smith family has three cars. Three applications will be printed and filled out with one check for $75 ($25x3 license plates) written to the address above. 

 

The actual cost of the plate is $44, of which the ROCK Cares Foundation can receive $10 to support projects and programs. As one of the first 900 applicants, your $25 fee will be applied to the specialty license plate fee. Once your application is submitted by ROCK Cares to the Kentucky Transportation Department, the state will send a voucher through the mail. A personalized specialty plate may be requested at your local county clerk's office for an additional $25.

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 ROCK is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists to defend and sustain the founding principles upon which our country was built. Through active involvement in our community, through education, and cooperation with like-minded citizens we work to promote a wholesome culture in which all families can flourish.  To contact ROCK, please call (502) 297-9892 or go to

www.myrocktoday.org.