in brief: droolia julia – offensive or just a bit of fun?
A new chew toy for dogs has entered the market in Adelaide called the ‘Droolia Julia’ depicting a caricature of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Since the inception of this toy, opinions about its tastefulness have been divisive.
On the one hand, we can take it as a bit of harmless fun. We can take P & K Pets, the store in which this product is stocked, and their co-owner Donna Lindsay at face value with her statement that she ‘never meant to offend anyone at all’.
We can also take this, however unfortunate we may find it, as a by-product of living in a democracy. After all, we pride ourselves on allowing everyone to have the freedom to be able to express their opinions openly to the public; and this product is nothing if not the expression of an opinion.
On the other hand, however, it is clearly degrading and insulting to our Prime Minister. No matter what the toy’s makers think of her, she does deserve their respect as the leader of our nation.
Feminist author Dr Leslie Cannold has stated that Ms. Gillard is another female leader who is the victim of ‘vicious ridicule’ due to her appearance, and for her this is yet another example that the world does not treat its leaders equally. Cannold clarifies this with the fact that male leaders have never been the victim of this kind of abuse due to their appearance.
In a poll put to the public asking whether or not they find the Droolia Julia doll offensive, an overwhelming 76% voted no.
By Alexandra Van Schilt
If it was a doll for adults to buy would it be a problem, or is it because it’s for dogs to chew on?
This is something that should not even rate on an offensive radar as it’s so inane it’s ridiculous. Boston got bombed, the world sucks in general, and people are getting offended by a bloody dog toy.
If this offends people they need to sit down and have a damn good think about their ethics and morals, if a simple chew toy offends them then something is seriously wrong with the way they think.
As for being “clearly degrading and insulting to our prime minister” that’s a grand statement. It’s a damn chew toy, get over it.
People seem to forget how they viciously ridiculed all the male prime ministers for their glasses, their eyebrows, their suits, their tracksuits, their crying etc. So if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander. You CANNOT not insult a FEMALE prime minister because she’s female. It’s equality people, you insult the men, you insult the women, you don’t NOT do it because she’s female and it would be insulting.
This is where people’s arguments are falling apart, by claiming you can’t insult her because she’s female, yet you insult the males.
Double standards much!
And yet, on the same night that this article was published, you unleased a tirade against Channel 9 on your own website. Why? Because they didn’t air a show you wanted to watch. Um…
Boston got bombed, the world sucks in general, and you are getting your knickers in a twist over a TV show?
Go put your feet up. You seem a little tense.
And where is the Tony Abbott chew toy, might I ask?
well Ruth the male toy is in production as we speak or have you not heard that on the media? The Droolia toy has been on the market since September last year and why the sudden popularity? Well because a small few complained to the media which turned a small pet product into a national headline causing them to sell out and have more put into production so they are to thank for its publicity and no one else. Why do people jump up and down because it is a female toy? Why do those same people ask where the male version is? Isn’t our society supposed to believe in equality or is that only when it suits people? Ms Gillard accepted one herself and seemed to see the humour in it see http://video.news.ninemsn.com.au/?uuid=75269c2b-d92c-4233-95da-a28856544b12.
I hadn’t heard. Well, that doesn’t surprise me as the nature of publicity seems to work that way. We jump up and down because Gillard, as our first female Prime Minister has been submitted to more than most. Anne Summers’ piece called ‘Her Rights At Work’ demonstrates the extent of discrimination and hatred that our female Prime Minister has experienced, and continues to experience during her term, from both the media and the general public. It is unprecedented. Of course Gillard accepted it and ‘saw the humour in it’ – to do otherwise, to openly show that it caused offence would be to draw ire from people crying, ‘Can’t she take a joke?!’.
Just some things to consider.
http://annesummers.com.au/speeches/her-rights-at-work-r-rated/
I glad all these complaints helped out a small business for once for a week. It’s about time the government helped out small business!!!