Sun editor David Dinsmore named 2014 sexist of the year
Last year saw Robin Thicke, with his lyrical confusion over the fact that no really does mean no, named 2013 sexist of the year. This year Sun editor David Dinsmore has taken the crown for “peddling pornography under the guise of ‘news’.”
Following a poll run by feminist campaigning coalition, End Violence Against Women (EVAW), Dinsmore managed to beat off Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 5, which allows players to murder prostitutes, Richard Dawkins for his views on rape and “mild paedophilia”, and Nigel Farage’s suggestion that breast-feeding mothers could ‘perhaps sit in a corner.’
Dinsmore was named a worthy winner for having “dug his heels in over the daily circulation of pornography in a freely available bottom shelf newspaper, despite a powerful national campaign led by young women against Page 3.” He will be sent a No More Page 3 t-shirt as a prize.
The Sun, which has a national circulation of almost 2 million, was recently called into question following a campaign by feminist group No More Page 3, which revealed the newspaper’s sexist representation of women compared to men.
Since being founded in 2012 by Lucy-Anne Holmes, No More Page 3 has garnered over 40,000 likes on Facebook and 213,000 signatures in support of the campaign, which asks Dinsmore to “drop the bare boobs.”
Commenting on the latest results, Sarah Green of EVAW said: “Our warmest congratulations to David Dinsmore for his valiant persistence in peddling pornography under the guise of ‘news’.
“Mr Dinsmore no doubt provoked more nominations than any other sexist this year for his additional daring in creating a cancer prevention campaign as a blatant cover for continued daily sexual objectification of women. Transparent!”
Responding to the news a Sun spokesperson said: “On a day in which 150 women were executed by the Islamic State for refusing to marry IS militants, to target a newspaper that has run high-profile campaigns against domestic violence and supported the causes of rape victims and victims of serial abuse is both absurd and ridiculous.
“EVAW has undermined its own cause in the desire for a bit of cheap publicity. The ‘cancer prevention campaign’ they admonish has won industry awards, and independent polling has shown it has had a hugely beneficial effect on rates of breast cancer awareness and detection among Sun readers.
“At least four female Sun readers have said they owe their lives to The Sun‘s Check ’em Tuesday campaign, which only the most closed-minded would deny is a great outcome.”
No More Page 3 said: “In all honesty, whilst it makes us giggle a little, it would be amazing if David saw this as an opportunity to make much needed changes, to move with the times and start featuring women just as they do men – for their abilities, their talents and the stuff they have done.
“The Sun’s initial statement suggests they are unwilling to look at themselves, instead pointing out other terrible things happening to women in the world.
“Whilst those things are valid, what we hope is that after this initial somewhat off the cuff answer, they might take some time to reflect on the fact that this was an entirely public vote and that what has been shown here quite clearly, is that people do feel that women’s representation in the tabloids matters, that it is important in terms of the way it affects how women are viewed and treated and that it needs to change now.”