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The purpose of this letter is
to express my resentment and
disgust over the ad appearing
in the Summer Nebraskan by
Backstage Ltd.
Backstage obviously thinks
they are very liberal and
express sexual freedom in their
ads however, they are still
adhering to the stifling double
standards. The woman in the
ad is portrayed in a passive,
subservient role "something
comfortable to be slipped into".
Is this sexual freedom?
Throughout history women
have been conditioned into the
sexually subservient role that
is portrayed in this ad. When is
this going to stop? When are
stores like Backstage going to
start using more good taste and
creativity in their ads? When
are newspapers like the
Summer Nebraskan going to
stop taking this offensive trash
and start printing quality ads?
Mary Heppner
To the EMitor,
Although naked bodies are
beautiful, that beauty dimin
ishes when used commercially.
We are objecting specifically to
the ads for Backstage Ltd. in
the Summer Nebraskan. Why
is a naked woman selling men's
shoes? Why isn't a naked man
selling men's shoes?
The double entendre 'slip
into something comfortable' is
the type of humor found at
fraternity rush parties. We will
make it a point to slip into some
comfortable shoes from another
store.
Mary Emanuel and Bill Ganzel
To The Editor:
As a reader of and advertiser
in the Daily and Summer
Nebraskan. I was disgusted by
your acceptance of the ad
vertisement for Backstage,
Ltd. in the July 30, 1974 issue
of the Summer Nebraskan.
In my opinion this is
degrading to all women and
shows a lack of taste and
judgment on the part of the
Summer Nebraskan staff.
I hope such advertising
policies are corrected in the
future.
Sincerely,
Kathy S. Smith, Director
Student Y
r
i
I
Gateway
Mon. Wed. Th. I VL 10-9
Tuc. Sat. 105:30
To: Backstage Ltd.--12th & Q
(c.c. sent to Summer
Nebraskan)
The ad run by Backstage
Ltd., on July 30, 1974 in the
Summer Nebraskan, was in
extremely bad taste. It is again
using a woman's body as a
reward gained from buying
men's shoes. Women are tired
of always being shown as
bodies which are reward's for
'men's behavior. This is blatant
sexism showing a man buying
shoes and getting the "prize" of
"slip into something comfort
able" a nude woman.
Backstage says they've run
ads with nude men but there is
a Catch-22, a man is given
credit or praised for "scoring"a
woman is still downgraded. No
person - male or female - should
be treated in this manner. The
"open" contemporary attitude
of sexuality doesn't mean that
we should be openly sexist or
demeaning to both sexes now
instead of just one. It doesn't
make it any better by running
bad ads about men as sex
objects. The sex roles expected
of people are changing but this
ad only reinforces the old
double standards.
The people at Backstage Ltd.
think that we, as women,
should be laughing at our
selveswe are too serious all
the time. But how often do they
expect us to laugh when we're
the object of the joke because
ads like this are on TV and
radio during all the on air
hours; and magazines and
newspapers during each issue.
Women have stopped
laughing. Many of us are very
angry.
From a woman who will
never buy shoes at Backstage
Ltd. again.
Sue Aitcheson
Editor:
In attempting to develop a
new and different type of ad.
Backstage Ltd. has fallen back
on the old stand-by of exploiting
the female. I would think that a
supposedly young & progres
sive business would show
young & progressive thinking.
Such ads show poor planning on
the manager's part. If he want3
to sell shoes, he should
advertise shoes, not the female
body.
Jan Hicks
-J.
i
mnann
0- M
Serving Lincoln Sinca 1905
REGISTERED J EWELERS AMERICAN GEM SOCIETY
To the Editor:
A curse on Backstage Ltd,
May its business shrivel into
the small size, of its manager's
mind.
A disgusting ad in the July
30, 1974 Summer Nebraskan
has precipitated a boycott
against the store by members
of these organizations and all
feminist supporters.
Such senseless advertise
ments demean women and
reflect poorly on 'the news
papers carrying "them.
"Slip into something Com
fortable" couched above a nude
woman caressing the shoe of a
fashionably funky male. Can
anyone deny the implications?
Such sexual innuendoes
have no place in newspapers,
where the use of "hell" in news
columns is an editorial decision.
Do editors believe obscenities
in advertisements don't offend
readers, while those in the
news columns do?
Future Summer Nebraskan
ads, we understand, further
emphasize women's sexual
servant image. The ads include,
we understand, a front view of
a naked woman hugging a
man's boots between her
breasts, and another, a naked
woman lying on the floor
caressing the boot, of a fully
clothed male standing over her.
Don't men object to the
suggestion that they must wear
aviator sunglasses and a shag
hair cut to "slip into some
thing"? Plastic people must be
removed from ads. That's
advertisers' responsibility. But
newspapers also have a re
sponsibility to resist blatantly
offensive ads.
I'm sure few papers wguU
consider an ad showing a nude
biack man pushing water
melons. Nude women pushing
shoes is no more absurd.
We invite everyone to join in
a boycott against advertisers
guilty of stupid, sexist come
ons. A copy of this letter has been
sent to Backstage Ltd.
University Women's Action
Group 1
UN-L Women's Resource
Center
Wanted:
Waitresses and Hostess
. Lunches 11-2:00 Mon.
through Fri.
Waitress needed for Friday
nights also.
Apply at Mr. Steak 56th and
"0".
See Mrs. Price
is often the prettiest-for the
simple uncluttered design of th
mounting shows off the center
diamond to its best advantage.
We feature a large selection of
simple (but effective) settings
and invite you to select just the
right diamond to complete the
set.
Downtown
Mon. -Sat 105:30
Thurs. 10-9:00
to tne n;cutor:
Backstage Ltd. in response
to criticisms of its recent
advertisement would like to
thank those individuals who
have taken time to present
their views concerning
"blatant" sexual exploitation of
the once thought-of artistic
beauty of the male and female
physique. However, as with all
present and historically famous
art forms relating to "le
natural" we find it hard to
interpret our ads as offensive
or in bad taste. We are, in turn,
most aware of the fact that the
business of covering feet
fashionably can be as aes
thetically attractive as a well
formed sapien's anatomy in its
own artistically appreciable
sense.
We believe in this day and
age that the culturally aware
individual who is more
conscious of the appreciable
value of advertising in its public
media takes a much lighter
view of what is to be considered
appealing to prurient interests.
Also, in a ruling by the United
States Supreme Court, Roth
vs. The United States, a
precedent was set defining
obscenity. "(1) The material
must be patently offensive and
(2) must appeal to prurient
interest." The opinions of the
Supreme Court Justice, Mr.
Brennan, and Mr. Justice
Harlan reaffirmed the Supreme
Court's long-held position that
mere nudity was not enough to
support a conviction for
I.MII Miil.fliilHllitiiilTHiil.rrtrtii'iriTillill.ii l' ll'lll' 11,1 ' W
CLIFFS LOUNGE
DOWNTOWN'S MOST
POPULAR
RENDEZVOUS
Lunches 11:30-2:30
Entertainment Nightly
1204 0 St.
Tuesday, August 6
Nebraska Repertory Theatre,
"School for Wives", 8:00 p.m.,
Hrwell Theater,
Wednesday, August 7
Summer Film Safari. "Bi
centennial and the Film",
12:00-1:30 p.m., student union.
Nebraska Repertory Theatre,
"Cohan". 8:00 p.m., Howell
Theater.
Thursday, August 8
Nebraska Repertory Theatre,
"School for Wives", 8:00 p.m.,
Howell Theater.
Summer
Editor Lucy Lien
Business Manager Jodi Kopf
Published each Tuesday
Office: 112 Avery Lab.
Phone:472-2557
obscenity. The girls in the
Backstage ads were in fact, not
even nude, but wore bathing
suits and were covered by long
hair or precise positioning of
their arms. No part of their
bodies was shown that would
not have been in a lingere or
bathing suit advertisement.
Why is it that throughout
this country, streakers are held
on a higher level by onwatching
youth than the conventionally
dressed modern? Why are
sculptures and paintings of
masters such as Michaelango
displayed in prominence for
world-wide viewing without
question. What manner of
thinking is it that interprets
sexual connotations from a
headline advertising . a fine
fitting shoe.
We hope that our perspective
has shed some light on our
present advertising. We are
appreciative of those persons
who are in their own world,
free thinkers, but arc sorry
that the beholder's eyes are
often blind to beauty.
In consideration to our
customers who are open
minded enough to view our ads
in their proper perspective, we
will continue using our judg
ment in future ads. And for
those who protest only the fact
that a male was not shown
equally, we have an upcoming
ad to prove we are not sexist
nor that we maintain double
standards.
Chris McLean
Backstage Ltd.
r ' -i v t
I , . H .,
These are the two ads readers
are objecting to.
Volunteers needed in the
following areas:
As a big brother, as a tutor
in basic reading skills, to
work with crafts, or to be a
friend to someone from the
Regional Center. Interested
students should contact
Mary Dean, Student Volun
teer Services, Room 200,
Nebraska Union.
Friday, August 9
Deadline for oral exams.
Sheldon Film Theater, "Burn",
7:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sheldon Art
Gallery. Nebraska Repertory
Theatre, "Birthday Party",
p.m., nowtfii i neater.
Saturday, August 10
Sheldon Film Theater, "Burn",
7:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sheldon Art
Gallery. Nebraska Repertory
Theatre, "Cohan", 8:00 p.m.
Howell Theater.
Monday, August 12
Nebraska Repertory Theatre.
"Cohan", 8:00 p.m., Howell
Theater.
tkbmi
tuesday, august 6, 1374
summer nebraskan
H. jf M- 4, 4 t, -A '
