A popular nightclub was today slammed for offering women free entry – for showing their CLEAVAGE.
The Casino Rooms is advertising a National Cleavage Weekender on three nights with posters showing seven scantily dressed pairs of breasts with the strapline ‘It is not about the size, it is about the presentation’.
The event has been described as “lighthearted and fun” by club boss Aaron Stone after organising the night to coincide with Wonderbra’s National Cleavage Day.
Casino Rooms, in Rochester, Kent, is a popular clubnight for students at the Universities at Medway – but now the event has upset some women on campus.
Student Michelle Gleaves, 20, said: “I usually go to the club with my friends. But I won’t be going to this.
“I saw it on Facebook and I was a bit shocked. Girls can dress how they want, that’s not the issue.
“It is the fact that you can use your cleavage to get free entry. They are all male doorman and they’ll be ogling at the women.
“I think guys will see it differently to girls. They might think that if a girl is willing to show off her cleavage to get free entry into a club, then what else is she up for.”
Cllr Vince Maple has slammed the event, between April 4 and April 6, as totally unacceptable.
He said: “This is not something I would expect to see in a nightclub in the 21st century. It sends all the worst possible messages when it comes to body image.”
Mother, and part-time DJ, Nina Page, 37, said: “It’s all very well to say this is a bit of fun to celebrate the female form.
“But I’d like to know how staff would feel if it was their own young daughter/wife/sister being leered at and judged by male door staff to determine whether they fit the criteria to enter their establishment.”
“If we’re celebrating the female form, why not go for a bit of equality?
“How about pencilling a date in the Casino diary for national ‘Tackle Out Weekender’ for the lads?”
Club boss Aaron Stone said: “It is a celebration of the female form. It is not meant to degrade anyone or embarrass anyone.
“It is a little bit cheeky, I’m not going to apologise for that. But it is lighthearted and fun. We are not trying to offend anyone.
“We are in no way sexist. If a bloke comes along and gets his pecs out, they will get free entry too.”
NUS Women’s Officer, Kelley Temple, slammed the sexualisation of the club night and demanded that the promotions be withdrawn.
She said: “It’s disgusting that club promoters think it is in any way acceptable to advertise their events like this.
“From the complete dehumanisation of the faceless women in the poster, reduced to nothing but a cleavage, through to the to reinforce women’s value as being based on their appearance, this is disgusting on every level.
“The impact of this is not just on those women who will attend but on all those who’s social life is restricted because they want to avoid sexism and harassment.
“NUS’ ‘That’s What She Said’ report on lad culture showed that this kind of sexism and objectification reaches into every part of society and that many women encounter lad culture on virtually every night out.
“It must be tackled head-on and those who are complicit in it must be made to realise that their actions are not harmless fun.
“These promotions should be immediately withdrawn.”
