The Sacred cover image

The Sacred

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.

01:06:27

Creator website

Episode guests

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Sarah Ditum critiques the commodification of misogyny in media, highlighting its damaging effects on women's mental health and societal perceptions.

The podcast discusses the evolution of feminism, emphasizing the need for constructive disagreement and engagement with diverse perspectives to better understand gender issues.

The term 'upskirt decade' is explored in relation to how invasive celebrity culture objectified women, perpetuating harmful narratives about femininity and autonomy.

Deep dives

The Impact of Misogyny on Women's Mental Health

Misogyny has been commodified in culture, leading to significant negative consequences for women's mental health. This episode discusses how societal narratives have weaponized sexism for profit, particularly affecting women’s image and well-being. For instance, the portrayal of women in the media often highlights their vulnerabilities while promoting harmful stereotypes. As a result, this creates a culture that normalizes exploitation and diminishes the value of women's mental health and self-worth.

1.

Intro

2min

2.

Navigating Gender Identity and Professional Integrity

2min

3.

The Value of Disagreement in Journalism and Relationships

2min

4.

Exploring the Intersection of Eros and Spirituality

2min

5.

From Childhood to Feminism: A Personal Journey

19min

6.

The Upskirt Decade: Media's Exploitation of Women

15min

7.

Shifting Narratives: Women in Media and Celebrity Culture

24min

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with writer and columnist Sarah Ditum

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

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

App store banner

Play store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode