I like articulate, elegant and intelligent women

There has been an incredible volume of column inches printed in the past week debating the sexualisation of girls and the general dumbing down of women as society continues to objectify women. I think this is quite frankly a travesty which roles back the accomplishments of courageous women who promoted women's rights and equality. Noteably Emily Pankhurst, leader of the British suffragette movement.

I find the double standards in media regarding this matter abhorrent. This is best illustrated by Saturday's The Times, (18th June 2011). Page ten was dedicated to a commentary about this very subject with a further two opinion pieces below, but on the page opposite was a full page advertisement for a Dior VIII watch with a beautiful blonde woman wearing only a black suit jacket. Does this not epitomise the advertisements the argument on the sexualisation girls through excessive glamorous and raunchy content?

I found this completely hypocritical of The Times because the article on the adjacent page had essentially blamed celebrity culture and the music industry for eroding morals and dumbing down young women who chase a celebrity inspired life style with expensive tastes.

I would like to however put my own male perspective on the narrative. Women are fantastic! However I do think that women need to actually take less interest in the images portrayed in glossy celebrity and fashion magazines.

I don't what to come across as a grumpy old man long before my time but I do find that our society is presently in a terminal state of decline. I find town and city centres at night threatening with feral men and women. Moreover I find the outfits that women wear out degrading and a clear example of the many of the problems and derogatory opinions men have towards women.

I am not expecting women to completely cover themselves with Victoriana or the Niqab, but simple dress more appropriately with elegance, grace and dignity.

Above all else I think that language is the most telling and interesting. I wince when I hear men my age describe women as 'fit'. What is wrong with other words in the English language? How about, attractive, beautiful, elegant, gorgeous and stunning? Surely these are the comments and attitudes we want to reinforce in order to dispel the increasing vulgarity attributed to the laddish and ladette culture? Or maybe it's just me.

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