Why?
OBJECT is one of the only human rights organisations dedicated to challenging the sexual objectification of women in the media and popular culture. We were formally established in 2003 - with a constitution and trustees - because of an ever-accelerating culture of objectification. Lads' mags were becoming increasingly popular, internet porn and lap dancing clubs were more and more mainstreamed. Despite the social effects of this culture, there was little or no public debate on these issues. Many individuals concerned by what they saw felt alienated and silenced.
The scene was set for the 'pornification' of society – a culture saturated by sexualised and one dimensional representation of women and girls, in a way which has little or no parallel for men or boys. This has been so successfully accomplished that today mainstream retailers market pole dancing kits (Amazon) or Playboy bedding (Argos) to children and jobcentres carry adverts for lap dancing clubs and escort agencies.
What?
We are not anti-sex, anti-nudity or linked to any religious or moralistic stance. We challenge ‘sex object culture’ because of the role it plays in reinforcing sexism and the attitudes it promotes, which underpin inequality and violence against women.
Our vision is of a society free of sexism, in which women are represented in their full diversity. This will be a crucial step to achieving full human rights for women and must involve tackling gender stereotyping and the objectification of women in the media - as has been consistently pointed out by the UN Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) since 1979 (1).
How?
We produce information, including the information on this website, a regular newsletter and political briefings; campaign with regular London meetings, regional OBJECT groups, a yahoo and facebook group and twitter and lobby decision makers - from MPs, peers and councillors to media regulators.
Successes
Much of our work and success of 2008-2009, is highlighted in our Annual Report 2009
Some of our key milestones include:
2009: Our lap dancing campaign, Stripping the Illusion, sees an end to the licensing of strip clubs as cafes. Our partnership with EAVES, Demand Change!, sees reform to the law on prostitution. We received the Emma Humphrey's Memorial Prize for our work on violence against women, a Government-backed Capacity Builders Award and were 'highly commended' in the leading Third Sector Charity Awards.
2006: Our Sport Challenge saw Parliament voting for the principle of independent, socially responsible regulation of the press and achieved new codes over how lads' mags should be displayed in shops.
2003: Our lobbying of London Transport helped pave the way for new anti-sexism guidelines over advertising on the London transport network.
Who?
How OBJECT is governed
OBJECT is governed by a constitution and overseen by a management committee (trustees).
Our constitution can be downloaded here
More details of how the organisation is organised can be downloaded here
The Management Committee (Trustees)
The management committee oversee the work of OBJECT and are legally responsible for how its operated. Trustees cannot be paid, yet they play a vital role. The ensure the organisation is operating within the law, that the best possible structure and processes are in place and that we are adheing to our overall goals.
Members of the committee will have expertise in areas important to the organisation - such as fundraising or management.
The Management Committee is elected annually at our Annual General Meeting, at which all members may elect prospective candidates.
Current serving Managment Committee members:
Jeremy Coutinho - on the committee since OBJECT was established, is currently a performance manager for the NHS after having managed a welfare benefits team at a psychiatric hospital for several years.
Wendy Davis - former Director of the Women's Design Service, with extensive experience of managment and trusteeship.
Janice Williams - with a background in parenting training and consultation, she frequents numerous activist events, helped establish OBJECT's Fundraising Working Group and is now setting up an Educational Working Group.
Sareyeh Hadian - a lawyer, long term Object supporter and activist, and talented violinist.
Alison Dear - a long term OBJECT activist who now runs our Feminist Fridays.
Colleagues
OBJECT works closely with grassroots organisations across the UK and in 2008 our first regional OBJECT group, OBJECT Leeds, was created. Colleagues in the women’s sector include Rape Crisis, White Ribbon Campaign, The Fawcett Society (with whom we are lobbying for tougher licensing of lap dancing clubs) and Eaves Housing for Women (with whom we are campaigning over prostitution). We are partners with the Women's National Commission, members of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, advisors to Amnesty International UK, mandated to work with the National Union of Students and affiliated with Unison.
We provide educational material to groups such as WOMANKIND Worldwide, Rape Crisis and Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum. Our campaign to see lads' mags and The Sport adequately regulated was supported by a wide range of organisations from the Truth About Rape Campaign to the European Women's Lobby.
(1) 1979 Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Article 5.
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