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Playboy SA under fire for anti-rape cover

Cape Town - Playboy SA's new anti-woman abuse campaign, which was launched in their latest issue, has come under fire from various organisations, reports IOL.

Bearing the coverline "SA Sex Survey: No means?" with a number of options which all read "No", the cover also displays a provocative image of a woman's bare back and buttocks against a black background.

"Playboy is happy-man space. But this month we pulled our scheduled cover to bring home a loud and clear message that there is no place for happiness if not shared by women in our society," Playboy SA editor-in-chief Charl du Plessis wrote in his editor's letter.

Although some have welcomed the magazine's risk-taking move, many gender-based organisations have come out against the cover, saying it perpetuates a vast array of stereotypes.

Patrick Godana from the Sonke Gender Justice Network slammed Playboy's cover as a marketing strategy.

'Playboy misses the point'

"We oppose any picture or graphic that depicts women as any less of a human being," said Godana. "These pictures continue to perpetuate stereotypes and strip the dignity of women."

Du Plessis said the magazine chose the picture because it was "just suggestive enough to attract the reader's eye without distracting from the main message."

Chief executive of Gender Links Collen Lowe believes though it is important for all industries to join in on anti-rape campaigns, Playboy missed out on a key point through their cover and campaign.

"Where Playboy misses the point is that in our society it's almost always women who are presented as objects for men's pleasure, not men. Are women not also entitled to enjoy their sexuality and to admire beautiful men?"

Du Plessis defended the March 2013 cover, saying: "It is part of our mission to promote a mature and respectful enjoyment of sexuality, by men and women alike."

"As a men's lifestyle publication, and especially one that promotes the enjoyment of sexuality in a responsible and respectful manner, it is natural for us to reach out to a male audience and offer them deeper insight as well as practical steps on how to make a change and to get involved," he added.

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