“More Australian men buy and read ZOO than any other magazine in the country – that’s a fact.” – ACP Magazines, Zoo Magazine distributor
28000 – That’s the number of boys aged 14-17 estimated to read Zoo magazine each week. Despite its pornographic nature Zoo magazine is classified as ‘men’s lifestyle’ and therefore unrestricted – anyone can buy it. Zoo is conveniently positioned and priced for young readers to purchase in convenience stores, service stations and Coles and Woolworths. Zoo boasts that it is the largest selling ‘men’s magazine’ in Australia.
Another way Zoo magazine promotes itself is through Facebook. Zoo’s Facebook posts consist mainly of images of semi naked women and women’s body parts. Some of the images are from it’s ‘strip search’ promotion. This is where a Zoo representative approaches women on the street and invites them to strip down and be photographed for Zoo. “We hit the streets and somehow convince girls to get their kit off.”
Zoo features a full page advertisement for its Facebook page in the magazine – a photo of breasts in a bikini top and the text “Two reasons to like our Facebook page.” (image here – caution when opening) The ad promises “heaps more” for those who go ahead and ‘like’ the page using their smart phone. Zoo regularly posts images of women – or their body parts – on its Facebook page, asking the reader to choose which one they prefer. “Left or Right” is a regular feature on its Facebook page and Website.
“This week, Zoo magazine posted the following image on its Facebook page, asking the question “Left or right, but you’ve got to tell us how you got to that decision.”
The comments came rolling in, here are some (warning – highly offensive comments):
You can’t get much more sexually objectifying than to dissect women’s bodies and discuss which parts you would like to use or abuse. However, after Zoo magazine’s ‘hottest asylum seeker’ competition, in which refugees were invited to submit photos and explain why they have exchanged ‘persecution for sexiness’ not much surprises us anymore.
A scan through Zoo’s Facebook page shows that along with its ‘strip search’ promotion, Zoo also uses its Facebook page to solicit semi naked photos from women. Zoo invites Facebook fans to “Send hot pics of you and a Zoo” and provides an email address. These images are then shared with their Facebook fans which Zoo says reaches men from ‘teens all the way to their forties.’
With so much print and online material to choose from, you’d think readers would be satisfied. But Zoo knows that their readers want more, and are only too happy to point the way. Among their advertising, in each edition Zoo also promotes ‘unrestricted’ ‘explicit’ ‘hardcore’ ‘xxx’ telephone sex lines (for example “Misbehaving Girls Home Alone”, alongside a picture of a young looking woman with her hair in pigtails) along with other products of the sex industry products such as “oriental hardcore shows.” (Image of ads here and here, caution when opening)
Zoo magazine is sold at BP, Spar, Coles, Woolies. In fact it is sold in most major and independent grocery stores. Why do these stores allow themselves to be used to promote such obvious sexism and objectification? Guy Sigley from The World Tells Me asked both Coles and Woolworths that question. He received responses from both, dodging the question and defending the magazine’s placement in stores.
Perhaps it is time for us all to ask Coles and Woolworths that question too.
Take Action!
Contact Coles here: https://www.coles.com.au/Coles/Coles-Feedback.aspx
Contact Woolworths here: http://woolworths.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/woolworths/contact+us
Make a complaint to the Ad Standards Board about the way Zoo magazine advertises on its Facebook page (The Ad Standards Board now considers the content of Facebook pages, including comments from “fans”, to be a form of advertising and therefore subject to the Advertising Code of Ethics). Read more about that here.
You can submit your complaint through the online form here: www.adstandards.com.au
If you have any questions about submitting a complaint to the Ad Standards Board, contact us here or post a question in the comments below.
Zoo Weekly slammed over Facebook pictures that degraded and exploited women, Herald Sun, November 29, 2012
As posted at Collective Shout
October 26th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Complaint made to the ASB. If our community is offended by private text messages sent by an MP, surely it should be offended by this public fb page!
October 26th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Shocking. I read the comments and I noticed how the girl became an “it.” She was no longer a person to them, but an “it.” Ugh.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
I have selected some of the more misogynist remarks- some have proudly stated what company they work for I have emailed your article with screen shot asking the company- for a copy of its policy on diversity in the work place, and if this is tolerated by employees claiming to represent them ( quick answer -it isn’t in any corporate social media policy) stay tuned for results.
October 26th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Disgusting. I’ve been searching some of these sicko’s who commented facebook profiles and am tempted to message the women who they are in relationships with a copy of this so that they can see what misogynists their partners are…
October 27th, 2012 at 10:25 am
I have shared this on my facebook last night, written to Coles, Woolies and the ASB. A quick perusal of the Zoo Weekly facebook page shows reams of disgusting content.. and more of these offensive ‘left or right’ images. Many people have been disgusted, both male and female on this one. I hope there is a groundswell of support to get Zoo, and retail outlets that stock them to be accountable.
October 27th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Thanks porn, for creating + reinforcing hardcore woman hatred