Have you seen WOW bumper stickers all over the road lately? No, not NOW (I wish it was the case), but WOW. The Opie and Anthony show, broadcast in the afternoons on WNEW FM, 102.7 of Infinity Broadcasting and owned by VIACOM, has an outrageously sexist ad campaign entitled "WOW," or "Whip 'em out Wednesdays," which urges women to flash their breasts in public.
Recently, Westchester County buses displayed the ad all over Westchester County. After one week of the ads being public, an anonymous person complained and the ads were taken off the buses. Thankfully, Westchester County realized how offensive and degrading these ads are to women; however, the question lies, was the County wrong in initially putting the huge ads on their buses? I think the County either knew about the meaning of WOW and disregarded the implications, or they should have known, and should not have placed ads that urge women to flash their breasts on their buses. The whole idea creates an extremely hostile environment toward Westchester County women. I am personally disgusted by this radio program and others, such as Howard Stern's show, which are downright mean and degrading toward women. What can be done about it?
One member in our organization, Eliza Filipowski, who saw a car with several WOW bumper stickers on it, placed a note on the individual's car to show her extreme annoyance. Other ideas are writing, calling, and boycotting the following:
Infinity Broadcasting 40 W. 57th Street, 14th Floor New York, NY 10029 (212) 314-9200
VIACOM Sumner M. Redstone, Chairman of Board and Chief Executive Officer 1515 Broadway, 51st Floor New York, NY 10036
Protests regarding highly indecent programming toward women should be made to the FCC at:
Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington DC 20554 1-888-225-5322
To contact the FCC by e-mail send your message to either Chairman Michael K. Powell at mpowell@fcc.gov or to Commissioner Gloria Tristani at gtristan@fcc.gov.
Maybe a class action suit against the FCC for failure to properly regulate these shows is in order? We must consider all avenues to stop this hostile and extremely sexist environment.
NOW-New York State has also taken up the cause against the WOW campaign, adding it to their web site "Walk of Shame." NOW-NYS has counter bumper stickers available. Place it on your car and let Opie & Anthony (and their sponsors) know that we will not tolerate this truly appalling practice. Call NOW - NYS at (716) 285-5598 to request one.¨
