Page 3, freedom of speech and a great big blob of inequality

Photo by Bridget Hodgson

With the title 'Jealous flat-chested bints' and the speaker one Caroline Lucas MP, it was hardly a surprise that the Brighton and Sussex NUJ talk on Thursday 23 January at the Red Roaster was packed. Tickets sold out in a few days and people hoping to nab a return on the night were turned away disappointed.

The debate on sexism in the media, centred around the No More Page 3 campaign, was hosted by radio producer and presenter Melita Dennett. Since the campaign began in the summer of 2012 it has elicited a strong response from a wide cross-section of the population – both women and men – who think images of topless women in family newspapers should be consigned to history. In the past few days both the parenting website Mumsnet and comedian and actor Russell Brand have given their considerable support to the campaign.

Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, explained that the campaign is not asking for an all out ban across all media, but is instead asking for a voluntary agreement from The Sun's editor David Dinsmore to stop picturing topless women on Page 3 where children as well as adults can easily see them. But it's not just involuntary exposure that is worrying the campaigners: amongst numerous reports cited by them on the No More Page 3 website is the government-commissioned Sexualisation of Young People Review by Dr Linda Papadopoulos, published in February 2010, which reported: "Exposure to the sexualised female ideal is linked with lower self-esteem, negative moods and depression in young women and girls." It also concluded there is "a clear link between consumption of sexualised images, a tendency to view women as objects and the acceptance of aggressive attitudes and behaviour as the norm."

To those who suggested that the campaign could be accused of crushing freedom of speech, Lucas responded: "Women have the freedom not to be denigrated or abused. it's not calling for a total ban – to me it seems pretty reasonable."

Other questions centred on whether enough is being done in schools to educate children in how to behave online – no, in Lucas's opinion. Given the government's current narrow focus on traditional curriculum, she explained, other extra-curriculum subjects are being left out. "It's incredibly frustrating that this is seen as a divergence from education, as to me it is an essential part of education," said Lucas. "Education is going to be at the bottom of this. No matter how sophisticated the porn filters...they will always find a way if they are determined enough."

When asked how she would respond to accusations that there are more important issues to be debated, Lucas replied: "We will look at those too. That [accusation] is a very lazy way of dealing with a subject when people don't want to debate it. There are bigger problems, so let's get on with this one and then move on."

Tweeting Rupert Murdoch, the founder of The Sun's owner News Corp, and other publishers was discussed as being a good way to effect change. "I do get the sense that the more annoyed he [Murdoch] gets on a personal level, that he might drop it," said Lucas. Targeting advertisers and embarrassing them with their complicity was another approach that was discussed as being profitable.

Lucas was confident that the end of Page 3 will be soon. Opponents may be vocal – and on Twitter, frequently vicious – but she maintained that they have a weak argument. "There is certainly a lot of righteous anger out there that doesn't stand up to a lot of challenge." Another reason for her confidence is the younger generation: "We're at a time when young people are more politicised, and their willingness to stand up and call out sexism is so much greater. There is a real kickback happening."

The Irish Sun stopped printing pictures of topless women in August 2013 and with a specific domestic abuse law looking likely within the next few years, perhaps women can start to feel hopeful that true equality is possible. Before that happens, the House of Commons could do with a look at its own affairs – only 22.6% of UK MPs are female, a lower percentage than in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. As Dennett put it so succinctly: "A great big blob of inequality is staring us in the face." The campaigners for No More Page 3 are hopeful that they can start to shrink that blob.

Rachael Glazier

If you'd like to hear the debate then listen to Radio Reverb soon.