PLEASE READ AND FORWARD!
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Action Alert: Glamorizing Violence Against Women IS Violence Against Women

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Dear UVM students, faculty, staff and community,

A recent episode of America?s Next Top Model committed a trespass  
against young women so disturbing that we are asking you to raise your  
voice in protest against this act of media violence. The exploitation  
of women occurs throughout our media and entertainment outlets. We are  
bombarded with negative, demoralizing stereotypes at a seemingly  
unstoppable daily rate. Here is a chance to respond.

On Wednesday March 21, 2007, the CW television network aired an  
episode of their ?reality? show, America's Next Top Model, where the  
young female contestants engaged in a ?crime scene? photo shoot  
contest.  The goal of this segment was for the women to look  
beautiful, sexy, fashionable and glamorous even though they were  
posing as the murdered victims of a violent crime.  Some of the  
comments given to the models on the show included:
-?What's great about this is that you can also look beautiful in death.?
-?This is a fashion shot, but you don't look dead to me. You look like  
you're dying.?
-?It's a great shot. Death becomes you, young lady.?
-?These are broken-down dolls. These are busted up, broken-down dolls,  
marionettes.?

Women as objects of beauty and victims of violence are harmful  
stereotypes that exploit and demoralize women.  How can we stop  
violence against women?  How can we stop blaming women who are victims  
of violence?  The culture of violence against women must be rejected.

To voice your opinion regarding the glamorization of violent crime  
against woman that aired on America's Next Top Model 8: Week Four:  
Crime Scene Victims, write to one or all of these outlets:  
[log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask] and:
The CW Network
Attn: President of Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd.,
Burbank, CA 91522

(note: included below is a sample letter if you wish to simply copy and paste)

Sincerely,
Health Promotion Services (UVM Center for Health & Wellbeing)

Addendum:  The images that resulted from this photo shoot can be found  
on various websites by searching for: America's Next Top Model 8: Week  
Four: Crime Scene Victims.  Our goal in writing this letter is to heal  
by combating the culture of violence against women.  With that in  
mind, we are conflicted over exposing more young women to these images  
of violence.  Please contact the Women?s Center at: 656-7892 for  
discussion and support, or the UVM Counseling Center at: 656-3340.

Sample letter, feel free to personalize:

Dear CW Television and Bankable Productions,

I reject the episode of America?s Next Top Model that aired on  
Wednesday March 21, 2007.

Glamorizing the violent death of young women on a show that targets  
young women is not only in bad taste, but the broadcast of this  
episode was an act of violence against women. Too many women are  
victims of violent crimes every day in this country for this topic to  
ever be taken lightly, much less idealized.
The CW TV network states on their website that,
?Tyra and company strive to create mass appeal entertainment for all  
ages, developing material with strong, empowered female  
characters?while blurring racial and social stereotypes.?
The images broadcast in this episode re-created the worst stereotypes,  
they were depictions of young women with their potential ruined,  
joyless, void of compassion, stripped of their power.  The images  
created in this episode commit an act of violence on the consciousness  
of your target audience?young women, and they undermine the wellbeing  
of women everywhere.

Please do something to reverse the harm you have caused by this episode.

Sincerely,
(your name)


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Gabriela Helfgott, MPH
Peer Health Programs Director
University of Vermont
Center for Health & Wellbeing
436 South Prospect Street/CWP
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-0505
http://www.uvm.edu/health


"It is not difference that immobilizes us, but silence." ~Audre Lorde