Porn, Feminism and Misogyny in the Media with Sarah Ditum

Nov 6, 2024

Sarah Ditum, a writer and columnist for The Times, shares her journey through feminism and the troubling 'upskirt decade' that objectified women in media. She analyzes how contemporary pornography shapes cultural attitudes and reflects on the evolving roles of women in celebrity culture. Ditum emphasizes the importance of disagreement in journalism and how personal experiences, such as motherhood, have influenced her views on feminism. This insightful conversation offers a critical look at societal narratives surrounding misogyny and women's autonomy.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Navigating Gender Identity and Professional Integrity

01:51 • 2min

The Value of Disagreement in Journalism and Relationships

03:55 • 2min

Exploring the Intersection of Eros and Spirituality

06:24 • 2min

From Childhood to Feminism: A Personal Journey

08:41 • 19min

The Upskirt Decade: Media's Exploitation of Women

27:23 • 15min

Shifting Narratives: Women in Media and Celebrity Culture

42:25 • 24min

Sarah Ditum delves into her journey through the strands of feminism, the misogynistic "upskirt decade" - the invasive celebrity culture of the late 90s and 2000s that often exploited and shamed young women, and her views on the role of pornography and its impact on mainstream culture. Sarah is a critic and columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times, and author of the book "Toxic: Women and the Noughties." This wide-ranging conversation provides a nuanced look at the evolution of feminist thought, the power of media narratives, and the personal experiences that have informed Sarah Ditum's worldview. If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred don't forget to hit subscribe to be notified whenever we release an episode! 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 📕 See Sarah's book "Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61783796-toxic Referenced text: Choice Feminism and the Fear of Politics http://www.jstor.org/stable/25698532 CHAPTERS 00:00 What is Sacred to you? Sarah Ditum answers 02:54 Navigating Gender Identity and Journalism 06:14 The Importance of Disagreement in Politics 09:10 Childhood Influences and Upbringing 11:48 Feminism and Personal Identity 15:11 The Impact of Motherhood on Feminist Views 19:11 The Upskirt Decade: Media and Women 28:03 The Intersection of Privacy and Gender 34:03 The Reasonable Expectation of Privacy 35:56 Cultural Norms and the Sexualisation of Women 39:05 Cultural Poisoning and Media Influence 41:53 Nihilism and the Impact of 9/11 on Culture 44:10 Changing Narratives: Celebrity Women Today 47:59 The Evolution of Language Around Abuse 51:21 The Normalisation of Sexualisation and Pornography 57:50 The Exploitative Nature of the Porn Industry 01:01:35 Cultural Stories and Their Impact on Identity Keywords pornography, feminism, gender identity, motherhood, media, privacy, women's rights, sacred values, upskirt decade, journalism, privacy, cultural norms, sexualization, sexualisation, media influence, nihilism, celebrity culture, abuse language, pornography, exploitation, identity