CELEBS: MAYBE THEY DON’T ACTUALLY LIKE THIS HARASSMENT DEAL?

In today’s society one type of institution runs by a different set of rules, an array of distorted decrees which only come into question when controversy strikes and the damage has been done. The media and the paparazzi are the modern day Bonnie and Clyde.

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Home. It’s where the proverbial heart is, where you can get a decent mayo sandwich, where you can pee with the door open and pick your nose. Now, imagine a home filled with fear and anxiety as the clamour of maleficent strangers outside fills you with fear. Perhaps they are even looking in at the bathroom window. This is but a day in the life of a celebrity. On a daily basis, the famous people are being hunted down by paparazzi or ‘The Paps’, just so they can get the so called ‘perfect shot’ which they will exchange for blood money from the editor at Controversial News inc.

Why is it that in today’s civil society, it is considered acceptable for a celebrity to be ruthlessly stalked by the paparazzi?

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In a recent television debate, publicist Neil Wallis said that significant figures in popular culture “deserve to be stalked by paparazzi” as they knew what they were letting themselves in for when they signed up. I’m not so sure about that. Is it fair for a bus driver to be verbally abused because it is ‘part of the job’? Suggesting that celebrities knew they were going to be stalked by paparazzi when they began their quest for fame is both facetious and a large stretch of the truth. When a child actor begins  their journey in ‘The Industry’, they shouldn’t have to think of the downsides of the job (which they likely wildly underestimate), but to envisage the rewards.

Whatever the downsides of celebrity culture and the fame game, it does seem unreasonable to permit celebrities constant stalking, pursuing and surveilling simply due to their unlikely career path (and possible talent!). Why should they be penalised merely for possessing a skill?

Some celebrities have even taken drastic measures in order to protect their privacy! Australian singer Sia has never shown her face in a public performance, performing with her back to the camera in order for her to be unrecognisable by photographers. Singer Taylor Swift has resorted to walking backwards out of her house so that not a single cameraman can get a shot of her face. Furthermore, Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe wore the same T-shirt and jeans combo every day for a year so that all photographers would achieve ‘the same old shot’.

Maybe you think I’m being overly sympathetic to people who really have a pretty cool life? I have two words for you – Princess Diana. In a debate against the freedom of the press, Princess Diana is widely considered the top trump. The mere mention of the former Princess of Wales can precede a series of groans from the opposition. However, these groans should not be interpreted as an individual’s disapproval of the use of an extreme a case study, but instead as an admission of defeat.

Not only is the Diana case a prime example of the dangers of the press overstepping the line, but it also shows how totally untouchable the press are. Why?

Because nothing has changed.

Nothing has changed, not even in the slightest. Talks between the media and governmental bodies have been held, but nonetheless, those in the public eye are pursued by photographers every waking minute. I’m certain that if these weren’t ‘celebrities’, it would be considered stalking and/or harassment, both of which are illegalised under the Protection from Harassment Act (1997).

Unfortunately such legislation does not affect the paparazzi. The entire conundrum is fuelled by our very real/urgent demand for photos of celebrities going about their day – wearing ripped jeans or eating *not a salad* or whatever. There is no legislation which instructs news editors on which photos they can or cannot use.

However, I reckon those who purchase these celebrity photographs (in whatever form) should take it upon themselves to reject any photos which have obviously been taken in an unethical manner. Although TBF, this is wildly optimistic as magazines with sensational headlines accompanied by “striking” pictures of pale-faced celebrities on bad-hair-days tend to hold great appeal – and I’m not taking a moral high-ground here. This is the reality of our society.

I’m going to argue that the society we live in today is a dictatorship. The mass media, who thoughtlessly plaster the shelves of newsagents with black market photos, are Rasputin and the so called professional celebrity photographers are the Secret Police. Whenever you visit a media outlet filled to the brim with tabloid newspapers or visit a news website with a controversial headline think,“Do I want to be fuelling this unscrupulous industry?”

written by Louis, Year 12

Boys Do Cry

Feminism for Men

So today (16/02/2015), I heard it announced on the radio that suicide levels have reached an all new high, increasing 4% from last year. And the largest group of people committing suicide? Men. In fact one quarter of all deaths of males aged between 20 and 34 in England and Wales in 2013 were from suicide.

Now, this seems off topic from my title, (which I’m sure some of you have already groaned at) but let me explain where I’m going with this –

Toxic masculinity.

For those of you who don’t know toxic masculinity is defined as, “the socially-constructed attitudes that describe the masculine gender role as violent, unemotional, sexually aggressive, and so forth.”

Personally, I’m a proud raging feminist and I think that women throughout history have had it pretty shitty. Generally, this seems to be accepted as fact even by people who don’t accept the feminist label. And following this logic, one would expect suicide rates to be higher among women, right?

Wrong.

UK suicide rates of men are roughly 3.5 times higher than that of women.

But why?

In an ideal world, where gender equality was a reality, although not eradicated, the suicide rate for men would be greatly reduced falling a lot closer to that of the female rate, because suicides due to gender would be reduced. (Gender related suicides don’t just include those of transgender individuals but simply the everyday pressure of gender stereotypes and pressures).

Out of the two genders men are more often than not viewed as the villainous sex; they’re more likely to be verbally or physically aggressive and sexually abusive. Obviously it’s only a small proportion of men who meet this branding or criteria and it’s an unfortunate label to live with.

As well as being given a bad name, there is an inherent expectation of men to be stronger than women – both physically and emotionally.

This belief undeniably leads to many men bottling up issues or feeling (until it eventually becomes too much).

On the other hand, women are known to talk a lot: always communicating and sharing. This sharing allows us to de-stress and let other people help us with our problems (“a problem shared is a problem halved.”)

ALSO – Sexism means that men are expected to be better than women: have a more demanding job, earn more money and complain less.

A lot of the time when a woman can’t deal with the stress of her job, she’ll go and see a friend, maybe have a bit of a cry and be able to look at the problem with fresh eyes in the morning. But what if a man had an emotional outburst? Well heavens no, that just wouldn’t do! The likely result would be an onslaught of gay and effeminate comments thrown his way.

It seems men are often forced down a route of appearing calm and collected on top, even if under the water they’re paddling like crazy and soon won’t be able to go fast enough.

Now obviously I’m casting some stereotypes and generalisations, but these need to be used to make the point.

The point being: men need feminism.

They need it just as much as women do, who knows, maybe more.

If gender equality was a reality then the pressure on men to outperform women would be erased.

Alongside this, mocking of emotions or feeling would become feeble (crying “like a girl” would no longer be a thing).

Last month I attended a debate about male rights activists, where some friends of mine made the glaring error of naming themselves feminist but saying that they did not support male rights activism, making me cringe internally.

Feminism is about supporting both genders and their rights equally, and to not acknowledge that men too need help, although for different reasons, is simply foolish.

So I guess what I’m asking you to take away from this is that men have it hard too; the figures don’t lie. So let’s try and end toxic masculinity by doing small things. If you see a man in tears, don’t tell him not to cry about it, even jokily, ask him if he wants to talk.

If you see a woman being abusive or violent, don’t let her get away for just because she’s female, call her out on it.

If a guys wearing make up to cover up acne scars or just to make himself look better, tell him that he looks good, not that he’s queer.

Simple things. Remember that an unequal society is unhealthy for all of us, because forgetting that Boys Do Cry, is detrimental.

– Melanie McAllister