Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero-c!nadel
From: mjm@ahimsa.intel.com (Marjorie Panditji)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Erotic images on display in the workplace
Message-ID: <1991Jun13.155936.12964@aero.org>
Date: 13 Jun 91 01:51:40 GMT
Sender: news@aero.org
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Lines: 47
Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Status: R
Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org



I've seen some interesting followups to my posting, but they seemed a
little off the main point I wanted to address.  I guess that's the price
you pay for putting too many ideas into one posting.

Actually, my main question was, why look at these type of pictures (GIFs
or paper, for that matter) at the office?  The "jerk off" comments were pure
sarcasm (even spelled it out, but some took it seriously).  But I do wonder
about why people *display* these pictures *in the office* (not why people
enjoy them in the first place).

First, wouldn't such sexually arousing pictures be distracting from their
work?  I can understand some novelty affect with GIFs ("hey, that's neat"),
but that should wear off.  I can't understand why some people display them,
or similar pictures on posters on the wall, continuously.  Okay, maybe
these pictures are not sexually arousing to those who display them.  Then
why display these types of pictures as opposed to some other types of
pictures?  Also, if not sexually arousing, why are these pictures so
similar to those types of pictures in magazines that are sold purely to
be sexually arousing?  

Second, ignoring why people want to look at them in the office, why should
people display them so that others can see them, instead of just for their
personal use?  This is especially confusing since I think it is pretty
well known that these pictures can be offensive to some people and that
there are usually company guidelines about displaying these images to
prevent charges of sexual harassment.  There must be some pretty good
reason if you are willing to offend others and risk sexual harassment
charges (or maybe people are largely ignorant of these consequences).

I can't figure out the reason.  I don't even want to speculate, because
last time I did that, someone took my purely hypothetical reasons as serious
proposals on my part.  But the reason I posted in the first place was
because I don't even have enough information to make an informed guess.
I do wonder if there are some other reasons than just the images in themselves
(i.e., some secondary reasons for displaying the images).  I just don't know
what the reasons are.

I'd like to hear some opinions on this point, not on GIFs in general.

I hope that this is still related to soc.feminism.  I think the tie in
is that there may be (are?) differences between men and women with regard
to displaying erotic/nude/sexually explicit images in the workplace.
--
Marjorie Panditji
mjm@ahimsa.intel.com  -or-  uunet!intelhf!ahimsa!mjm