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An Open Letter to Prime Minister John Key about his 'hot list'

3/2/2011

5 Comments

 
John Key photo
'I think [Liz Hurley] will be thrilled by the endorsement'
Dear John Key,

My team and I at Enlighten Education support girls to understand that it's NOT all about who is hot and who is not, that it's NOT all about who is the sexiest and who is not.

But John, your comments recently tell us that it IS all about being hot.  Did you really need to publicly mull over which women would make it on to your hot 'wish list'?  You have succumbed to the media's preoccupation with women as body parts, women as sex objects whose bodies are there to please males. How about a media conversation focussing on the top female scientists, the top female educators, the top  female writers, the top female business leaders?

I would never lambast men for having a private 'hot' discussion. But John, as the prime minister, what you say and how you act publicly has greater repercussions.  I understand that you are trying to appeal to the 'average kiwi bloke', but  in doing so you have lowered yourself to the lowest common denominator. You are providing fantastic fodder for the media, further objectifying women.

I look forward to further 'high achiever' lists, this time not based on 'hotness' please. 

I will start it off - congratulations to 17 year old Jamie Fenton who has just been awarded Young New Zealander of The Year for her all-round abilities as a youth role model, academic achiever and inventor. Amazing girl, fantastic achievements!

Kind regards,

Rachel Hansen

*Postscript: The fact that John Key's original conversation took place live on air with a man who hopitalised his partner in a domestic violence incident (fracturing her back) makes this talk about women all the more inappropriate.

5 Comments
Boganette link
3/2/2011 04:11:06 am

Well said. He's our prime minister. It shouldn't be too much to ask that he treats female voters with respect by not engaging in bullshit lists and sucking up to a man who viciously bashed a woman.

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Boganette link
3/2/2011 04:14:59 am

Also let's not forget that Phil Goff joined in: ‎"Meanwhile, Labour leader Phil Goff said Liz Hurley “was pretty close” to being on his top five hot women list". When he could have refused to answer the question on the basis that it's ridiculous, inane, sexist, pointless, insulting etc.

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Francesca
3/2/2011 05:37:46 am

Well said, Rachel. It seems even leaders with all their knowledge of right and wrong need to be reminded of what is not acceptable.

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Rachel Hansen link
3/2/2011 06:03:54 am

@Boganette - yes, I was so disappointed that Goff also engaged in this. It's fuelled by the media, and these men are giving them exactly what they want. *big sigh* On a more lighthearted note, at least Goff ranked his wife at #1. Where has Key ranked Bronagh?!

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savvy_1
3/2/2011 12:01:09 pm

I am disgusted that the Prime Minister would even lower himself to talk to Tony Veitch let alone enter into a discussion as demeaning and trite as this with someone who has been convicted of seriously assaulting a woman. Disappointing that Phil Goff also joined in. They will never be considered statesmen and they are rapidly losing the respect of the public. New low for them both.

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    Rachel is a writer and educator whose fields of interest include sexuality education, gender, feminism and youth development.

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